Dr. Michael D. Halsey
"TESTING, ONE, TWO, THREE"
GENESIS 40
INTRODUCTION
Joseph's life is a series of unexpected reversals. One day he's his
father's golden boy. The next day, his brothers grab him and throw him
into a pit. One day, he has divine revelation of becoming the leader of
the family. The next day, his own family hates him and debates whether to
kill him or sell him. One day he's enjoying the warmth of hearth and home,
and the next day, he's chained up in a caravan headed toward Egypt. One
day he's head of all the property of the head of the Egyptian secret service.
The next day, his name and reputation are gone and he's in prison.
How go the dreams, Joseph? It looks impossible for you to become the
family leader from the hell that is an Egyptian prison. We have a divine
description of what it was like for Joseph in jail in Ps. 105:17-19. There
we read that this jail experience is another test for Joseph. We'll see
what that test is in Genesis 40.
But in the middle of these reversals, God is on the move. It doesn't make
any difference what the reversals are, nobody can stop God's destiny for Joseph,
any more than anybody can stop God's destiny for you.
In his whole life, this is the lowest point God will allow him to go. A
strange thing begins to happen to Joseph . . . again. Joseph's fortunes
begin to rise . . . again. In prison, he starts to rise again.
Joseph doesn't know it, but God is arranging a meeting, the meeting of Joseph
and a certain prisoner, a cupbearer. Once this meeting occurs, everything
changes. (vs. 1-4). Here we see that Moses is making a point out of
the fact that the cupbearer lands in the same jail Joseph is in, and not only
that, the guard places Joseph in charge of the cupbearer. Joseph was to
supervise him, so they're in direct contact. Of all the jails in Egypt, of
all the others to whom the cupbearer could be in direct contact, it's Joseph.
It's here that the test occurs. The cupbearer and the baker have these
dreams. The dreams leave them sad because they don't understand them.
They have no idea anyone in prison can tell them anything about the dreams.
When Joseph checks on them the next morning, he notices that they're depressed.
He asks them, "What's wrong?"
They tell him that they've had these disturbing dreams, both of them in the same
night. It's right here that the test occurs. Put yourself in
Joseph's place: you too once had dreams which signified that you would become
the ruler of the family. The question is, "Joseph, do you still have
confidence in the dreams God gave you? Or do you now believe that dreams
are just a bunch of stuff and there's nothing to them? Which is it?
Do you still believe or not? And better yet, do you still believe that you
can interpret dreams correctly? Do you still believe the earlier interpretation
is correct? God has designed this meeting to reveal the answer. (vs.
5-8a)
Right in the middle of verse 8 we see where Joseph is spiritually. He
could have been bitter and told them that he had no idea what dreams mean
because he thought he did once, but that was all just whistling in the dark. He
could have said that he had no idea. He could have become an atheist. Some
have for just the same circumstances Joseph is in. Some Christians have
quit the faith for just the same circumstances Joseph is in.
In verse 8b, Joseph shows that he still believes that God would interpret
dreams. His faith is still in tact, the leader is emerging faithful.
In verse 8b, he shows that he knows that God will interpret the dreams.
The cupbearer relates the dream and Joseph interprets it for him-vss. 9-13.
He then appeals to the cupbearer to tell Pharaoh about him. This shows us
that Joseph is certain the cupbearer will get out, just as God has said. Vss
14-15
He interprets the baker's dream as well and it comes true. (vss. 16-23)
Both dreams come true. This would be a tremendous encouragement to Joseph.
His destiny is on the way! He hasn't misunderstood things; he hasn't
misinterpreted his own dreams. It's been 11 years, but his destiny is on
the way.
The imprisonment goes on. The cupbearer forgets him, doesn't bring it up.
(Maybe he's so glad to get out and back to his position, he doesn't want to
bring up Joseph's name, doesn't want to rock the boat as long as he's fine.)
Moses wants us to know that although the cupbearer has forgotten, God hasn't.
Others may forget, God doesn't.
What is God doing here?-He's making a leader whose faith you can't shake. No
person can shake it, even his family. No events can shake it, even those
miserable events that have happened to him. Every time a new setback takes
place, Joseph still exercises his faith.
A leader's faith cannot be destroyed by circumstances. This is what God is
looking for in a leader. The circumstances were very discouraging, but God
tests His people's faith before He entrusts them with greater responsibilities.
When we contrast the Old Testament priest with the New Testament church leaders,
we see a radical difference. The Old Testament priests were priests by
right of birth, from the tribe of Levi. They received their position by
birth. Yet, when the church comes into existence in Acts 2, there is an
absence of family line. Instead the focus is on ethical character.
Titus 1:8 and I Tim. 3:7. The basis for leadership in ministry is
character and gift, and those two passages emphasize character, while Eph. 4
emphasizes gift.
There is not a qualification that says the spiritual leaders are to be
therapists in the pulpit dispensing the latest pop psychological advice, but
instead they are to dispense a "Thus saith the Lord." The spiritual leader
as a therapist has the task of making people feel good about themselves and
showing them how to relate successfully to others. IN this setting,
"church" becomes the Oprah Winfrey Show.
There is not a qualification that points to spiritual leaders as leaders because
they are income generators.
Spiritual leaders in the ministry were expected to pass several tests before
assuming leadership:
1. Their salvation experience must be genuine
2. Their moral character must be acceptable
3. Their calling must be genuine
4. Their doctrine must be correct
5. Their preparation must be adequate.
If Joseph is to be the leader of the family, he must have their respect. When
God reunites him with his brothers, he will have that respect. He's stayed
the course and been faithful. They will respect the gifts God has given
him and they will respect the dreams.
The tests are over. God's leader is ready.