Hang In There!

O.T. #85  "Hang In There!"
July 16, 2013
Genesis 40-Part 1

LET IT GLOW

Have you seen the poster of the cat hanging from a bar? Poor kitty is about to drop.The caption
tells us to Hang in There. Problems come, trials, and testings in life seem to stay forever. What are we hanging onto friend?
Is it things, positions, money? Who are we going to put our faith in-God or man? Are you ready
to give up? Can we hang on just a little bit longer?

Joseph was put into the royal prison because of something he did not do. Potiphar's wife
accused him of trying to have his way with her, when in fact it was the other way around.
While in prison, Joseph's character took him to the top again. After a while, he was put in
charge of the other prisoners. His positive attitude, good work ethic, and trustworthiness
caused the keeper of the prison to have confidence in him. Here was Joseph waiting for the
day when his prophetic dreams would come true.

Then Pharaoh became angry with his chief baker and chief butler. the butler was the king's cupbearer who gave him his drinks. (If the drink was a poison intended for the king, then the cupbearer would taste it and die instead of the king. The baker cooked the king's bread. Both men had to be trustworthy.)
So the king put them in prison where Joseph was. We know that God arranged their arrest for Joseph's sake. While there, each man had a dream one night which they couldn't understand.
Since the baker and butler were looking sad, Joseph asked them why. They told him.

Verse 8 NIV says, Then Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God" Tell me your dreams."

The chief butler's dream meant that he would be reinstated as the king's cup bearer in three
days. Joseph asked the butler to remember him so he could be freed from the prison.
The chief baker's dream meant a different end result-he would die hanging from a tree.

LET IT GROW

The story continues. On the third day, it was the Pharaoh's birthday. At this party Pharaoh held for his servants, he rendered two different kind of judgments. What Joseph said happened. The
cupbearer, butler, was restored to his position while the baker was hanged. Yet Joseph was
left in prison. The butler quickly forgot about Joseph for the next 2 years. Later we will see
that it was prompted at just the right moment.

Do we wonder why others experience the blessings that we so desperately need? Do we
continue to trust in God's plan and His timing? Or do we trust in men rather than in God?

God was ultimately going to use the butler's bad memory to deliver Joseph, but the right time
had not yet come. The butler forgot Joseph, but God did not forget him!  (Wiersbe)

How strong is our faith? Will we hang in there until God's ultimate will is accomplished?

LET IT GO

Trust Jesus through it all.

Surrender to His will, His way.