Joseph ChallengeSample

Point to God

The Chief Cupbearer and the Baker would have been trusted workers in Pharaoh’s Palace; responsible for his food and drink. They were the ones who would taste Pharaoh’s meals before he ate, just in case there was any poison or influence of black magic aka ‘juju’. These men must have been suspected of a serious crime to be in prison.

I love Joseph’s response when the subject of dreams came up. He said in verse 8, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams." (NIV). The New Living Translation puts it like this, "Interpreting dreams is God's business”.

Joseph did not use the situation to make himself look good; instead he directed everyone’s attention to God and acknowledged that the power to interpret dreams came from God.

This is how we ought to respond to those who praise us or even come to us to find solutions to their problems. We are signposts that point to God and lights that reflect the ultimate Light Giver. We must always point people back to God, even when you feel that you have the best answer, interpretation or method. Always consult God via His word and prayer, so that your response is not simply based on human wisdom, but also has the backing of the Holy Spirit.

This scenario reminds us of the scripture in 1 Corinthians 2:14. The prisoners couldn’t understand the dream through human wisdom.

Whenever you are faced with something that you don’t understand, ask the Holy Spirit who gives power to understand all things, to empower you. This can range from not understanding your homework/assignment, to not understanding why you’re going through a hard time. He begins when we end. His strength is made perfect when we are weak.

Forgotten

There was a major contrast in the interpretations of both dreams, which lets on to the fact that the Baker may have been at fault while the Chief Cupbearer was not. However, the Cupbearer forgot about Joseph when he was released. You’ve probably experienced this, when you felt unappreciated, overlooked and forgotten. Don’t be surprised that people can be ungrateful and do not allow it to stop you from doing good to others. Moreover, it is important to honour and remember those that have served you.

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