In a previous post, I wrote about Resolve to Trust God where we looked at Joseph’s life. His brothers hated him and sold him into slavery. After about a decade of slavery, his master’s wife accused him of attempted rape. That false accusation landed Joseph in prison.

Both as a slave and as a prisoner, Joseph trusted God. That is evident as God’s favor was upon Joseph. (See Gen 39:21.)

While in prison, the Lord was with Joseph and whatever Joseph did while incarcerated was successful.

In Genesis 40, we read that after some time in prison, two inmates were processed into the same housing unit as Joseph. These new inmates were the Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker. Both men had a dream on the same night. Joseph saw their downcast countenance and asked them what was wrong. They explained they had dreams but no one was available to interpret those dreams. Joseph told them that God interprets dreams and asked them to share the dreams with him.

Joseph heard the cupbearer’s dream, then shared the interpretation that he would be restored to his job. Joseph asked the cupbearer to remember him when it came to pass and to tell the Pharaoh so he can get out of prison.

Then the baker shared his dream and Joseph told him his dream was not so good. The dream meant the baker would be hanged the next day.

After these interpretations were given, the cupbearer and the baker were called out. (They caught chain.) And just as Joseph interpreted, the cupbearer was restored to his job and the baker was hanged.

But the cupbearer forgot Joseph.

Joseph’s father thinks he’s dead. His brothers were glad to be rid of him. No one remembered him. Yet life continued around him while he was confined to prison. Stuck.

At times, we feel forgotten like Joseph. Life goes on around us, but we feel stuck. Trapped…

  • inside prison walls
  • in a dead-end job with no promotion potential
  • with circumstances that seem unchanging
  • with a chronic illness
  • with more month than money

We may cry out—Who remembers me? Who cares where I am?

To find the answer, let’s move on to the next chapter—Genesis 41. As long as we are breathing, we can turn the page with each rising dawn. We do not have to keep rereading our past chapters. It’s time to turn the page.

Two years passed by. Now that may seem like a long time, but God determines the times and places we live (Acts 17:26). Pharaoh had two dreams that troubled him greatly. However, his magicians and wise men could not interpret the dreams.

Then the cupbearer had an “ah ha” moment. He remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh how Joseph correctly interpreted the dreams in prison.

Now Pharaoh called for Joseph to be brought up out of the pit. After showering, shaving, and putting on clean clothes, Joseph found himself before the Pharaoh.

Pharaoh asked Joseph if he could interpret his dreams. Joseph responded, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” (Genesis 41:16)

Pharaoh shared the dreams. Joseph then immediately gave the interpretation of the dreams that there would be seven years of plenty and seven years of famine. Joseph then stated:

“And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:32-33).

And guess what? Pharaoh liked Joseph’s idea! Pharaoh said, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?”

“Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.’” (Genesis 41:38-40)

Pharaoh recognized that the Spirit of God was in Joseph and promoted him to the second highest ranking position in all the land! Though everyone else forgot Joseph, God remembered him.

After 13 years of captivity, Joseph went from the pit to the palace because the Spirit of God was in him. He was then given a wife and they had two sons.

Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” (Genesis 41:51-52)

And guess what? Just like God remembered Joseph, God remembers you!

Keep seeking the Lord, enter in His presence and be filled with His Spirit. Meditate on His Word and pray. You never know which dawn will spawn your “suddenly” moment. Trust in the Lord.

“The LORD has remembered us; he will bless us” (Psalm 115:12a).

God remembers you!

Let’s pray:

Lord, I give You praise and honor for You are the one true God. Lord, I thank You that You are a God who remembers me. I thank You that You desire to bless me. I thank You that when I feel all alone, I know You are with me for You promise to never leave me or forsake me. You know my coming and my going. You know all my circumstances and promise to meet all my needs. You promise to perfect all that concern me. Lord, I ask You to keep my heart tender and compassionate in Your ways. I bless those with whom I feel have forgotten me. You know the number of my days and You determine the times and the places that I live. I thank You for the life I have in Christ Jesus. Amen.