The Chief Cup-bearer did not Remember Joseph:
He Forgot Him
40: 20-23
The chief cup-bearer did not remember Joseph: he forgot him DIG: Why might the chief cup-bearer forget Joseph? How long did Yosef continue to be imprisoned? What did he learn during that time? In what way did Joseph foreshadow the life of Christ?
REFLECT: Is there anyone that you have forgotten to repay a debt? How does your relationship with God maintain your hope despite life’s circumstances to the contrary?
Now three days later, on Pharaoh’s birthday, he gave a feast for all his officials. Joseph’s interpretation of the dreams was correct. Pharaoh waited until his birthday to announce the results of his investigation. One might speculate that whatever plot had been laid against Pharaoh might have been intended to be consummated on this occasion; if so, that would lend peculiar significance to its exposure and punishment at that time.626 So Pharaoh lifted up the heads of the chief cup-bearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials (40:20). The rabbis teach that just as Isra’el is nearer to ADONAI, therefore will He punish them more severely; a king punishes more harshly one who is closest to him because the servant knows more than anyone what the king wants.
42. The words of both Joseph and Jesus came true. The Eastern kings celebrated their birthdays by holding feasts and granting pardon to offenders.627 Here, Pharaoh availed himself of this custom to pardon the chief cup-bearer. He restored the chief cup-bearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand (40:21). But when Pharaoh turned to his former chief baker, he was angry. Here was the culprit, guilty as charged, and the penalty was death.628 So he hanged the chief baker as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation (40:22). And just as Yosef’s predictions came true, so will Messiah’s: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away (Matthew 24:35).
There is a play on words here. When the verse says: He restored the chief cup-bearer to his position, the word position literally means cup-bearing. So it literally reads: He restored the chief cup-bearer to his cup-bearing. This is for emphasis, signifying that the cup-bearer was not given a different position in the royal court, but he was restored to exactly the same position that he held before.629 The chief cup-bearer, however, did not remember Yosef. He forgot him, but God did not (40:23). Humanly speaking, this was ingratitude, but spiritually speaking, it was not yet time for Joseph to be raised up. He would have to wait for two more years.
Joseph’s faith was not destroyed by his circumstances. We cannot doubt that those years had a steadying effect on Yosef’s character as he waited for the fulfillment of the LORD’s purpose concerning him. He continued to focus on El Shaddai, God Almighty, not his circumstances (49:24). This is without exception the deepest joy in life.
These two years of waiting must also have had the effect of maturing while steadying Yosef’s character. It is not too much to say that the confidence and dignity which he showed when he stood before Pharaoh had their foundations laid during these two years. No doubt from time to time he would hear what was going on in Egypt, and perhaps even in connection with the court, and yet day after day passed without any remembrance from the chief cup-bearer. But can be sure that he never regretted putting God first and allowing Him to take care of His servant’s interests. If we will take care of our character, ADONAI will take care of our interests and reputation either in this life or the next.
Daily faithfulness in ordinary duties is the very best preparation for future service. Joseph found plenty of work to do and occupied his time by ministering to the needs of others. Those two years were in some ways the most important of his entire life. The deeper the foundation, the more durable the building; and in those two years the foundation of his future influence was laid deep and strong. Some might have thought that the forty years spent by Moses in Midian keeping the sheep were unworthy of his position. But the keeping of sheep was the making of Moses. So also those two years of quiet endurance in prison went far in making Joseph the faithful man that he became.630
Haftarah vaYeshev: ‘Amos (Amos) 2:6-3:8
(see my commentary on Deuteronomy, to see link click Af – Parashah)
In His grace, ADONAI seeks to overlook the three sins that lead to loss of eternal life for a nation: idolatry, adultery, and murder. A nation that provides for the poor can yet borrow time, even in the face of cardinal sins. However, the lion roars (Amos 3:8) over the fourth sin! Ha’Shem cannot tolerate that Isra’el is selling the poor for silver. In poetry, God appeals to the people of Isra’el (Amos 3:1-8). Punishment looms (Amos 3:13-15). Lions roar only after prey is taken (Amos 3:4 and 8). The poor are being preyed upon. In the courts there is no care for their guilt or innocence (Amos 2:6). Worse, clothing is taken in pledge (Amos 2:8) – a man can freeze from the cold of night when his only garment is taken. Such exploitation cannot be tolerated. God roars out His warning (Amos 3:7-8) – repent, or judgment comes swiftly (Amos 8:4). Alas, a righteous one is sold for silver, and he is Joseph.
B’rit Chadashah suggested reading for Parashah vaYeshev:
Acts 7:9-16 (specifically verses 8-10)
Following the flow of salvation history, Stephen moved into the patriarchal period. Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. So he became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day, and so Isaac with Jacob, and Jacob with the twelve patriarchs, the heads of the twelve tribes of Isra’el. For the sake of brevity, Stephen chose to bypass the stories of Isaac and Jacob and move directly to Joseph. The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him. He rescued him out of all his troubles and granted him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him governor over Egypt and all his household (7:8-10). Joseph’s revelation also came to him outside the Promised Land.
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