Genesis 39:19-40:19
Genesis 39:19-40:19
Joseph was the favored son of a wealthy landowner. His jealous older brothers plotted his death, but instead threw him into a “pit” until they could decide what they would do with him. What we see in our passage today is, from Joseph’s perspective, he never made it out of that pit.
I’m sure when Joseph worked as a slave in Egypt he had the thought, “Woe is me, look how far I’ve fallen. Things can’t get any worse.” Yet, in verse 20, Joseph he sunk even further.
The story of Joseph in prison interpreting the dreams of the other inmates is well-known. Coincidentally, this passage was preached very recently on Sunday in our Restoration series. Instead of focusing on the dreams and interpretations, what encourages me most in today’s passage are two things…
First, in verse 3:21 we get God’s perspective on all this—" But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” The word “steadfast love” in Hebrew is the word hesed. This is a very important term in the Old Testament especially. This refers to God’s “loyal love.” This is the love he had toward his people because of his promise.
As a slave and then as a prisoner, I imagine it took a great deal to recognize God’s love. It probably didn’t feel like the Lord was “with” Joseph and that Joseph had God’s “favor.” Yet, it was never-the-less true.
Second, after Joseph delivered the first interpretation, he asked the cupbearer to remember him, “For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.” The word “pit” (Hebrew bor) refers to a cistern, but like in this use, often got used metaphorically.
Originally, Joseph was thrown into a literal cistern by his brothers. A cistern was a deep hole in the ground that was plastered to hold water. The plaster cracked over time and had to be re-plastered until eventually it no longer held water. The bottom of a cistern was gross—it was a murky, silty mess that would trap your feet. It’s the kind of place from which a person cannot get themselves out. You cannot unstick yourself or climb out of a cistern, you need help. You needed a rescuer. That’s what Joseph was asking the cupbearer to be.
As we consider our own circumstances, we all know the feeling of being stuck. The more I fight, the more my feet sink. In the same way the Lord was “with” Joseph, the Lord is with us whether we feel like it or not (Romans 8). The Lord is with us in our pit of hurt and loneliness, in our pit of uncertainty, and in our pit of unceasing toil. Whether our pit is as severe as the loss of a loved one, or as seemingly less significant as trouble with a coworker, the Lord is with us and loves us.
As I consider this passage, I’m reminded of Psalm 40. Take a moment and pray through this Psalm as you reflect on the deliverance we have in Christ. Although we could never have delivered ourselves, we have a deliverer.
1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.
11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
ever preserve me!
12 For evils have encompassed me
beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
my heart fails me.
13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!
O Lord, make haste to help me!
By: Tyler Short
Joseph was the favored son of a wealthy landowner. His jealous older brothers plotted his death, but instead threw him into a “pit” until they could decide what they would do with him. What we see in our passage today is, from Joseph’s perspective, he never made it out of that pit.
I’m sure when Joseph worked as a slave in Egypt he had the thought, “Woe is me, look how far I’ve fallen. Things can’t get any worse.” Yet, in verse 20, Joseph he sunk even further.
The story of Joseph in prison interpreting the dreams of the other inmates is well-known. Coincidentally, this passage was preached very recently on Sunday in our Restoration series. Instead of focusing on the dreams and interpretations, what encourages me most in today’s passage are two things…
First, in verse 3:21 we get God’s perspective on all this—" But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” The word “steadfast love” in Hebrew is the word hesed. This is a very important term in the Old Testament especially. This refers to God’s “loyal love.” This is the love he had toward his people because of his promise.
As a slave and then as a prisoner, I imagine it took a great deal to recognize God’s love. It probably didn’t feel like the Lord was “with” Joseph and that Joseph had God’s “favor.” Yet, it was never-the-less true.
Second, after Joseph delivered the first interpretation, he asked the cupbearer to remember him, “For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.” The word “pit” (Hebrew bor) refers to a cistern, but like in this use, often got used metaphorically.
Originally, Joseph was thrown into a literal cistern by his brothers. A cistern was a deep hole in the ground that was plastered to hold water. The plaster cracked over time and had to be re-plastered until eventually it no longer held water. The bottom of a cistern was gross—it was a murky, silty mess that would trap your feet. It’s the kind of place from which a person cannot get themselves out. You cannot unstick yourself or climb out of a cistern, you need help. You needed a rescuer. That’s what Joseph was asking the cupbearer to be.
As we consider our own circumstances, we all know the feeling of being stuck. The more I fight, the more my feet sink. In the same way the Lord was “with” Joseph, the Lord is with us whether we feel like it or not (Romans 8). The Lord is with us in our pit of hurt and loneliness, in our pit of uncertainty, and in our pit of unceasing toil. Whether our pit is as severe as the loss of a loved one, or as seemingly less significant as trouble with a coworker, the Lord is with us and loves us.
As I consider this passage, I’m reminded of Psalm 40. Take a moment and pray through this Psalm as you reflect on the deliverance we have in Christ. Although we could never have delivered ourselves, we have a deliverer.
1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.
11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
ever preserve me!
12 For evils have encompassed me
beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
my heart fails me.
13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!
O Lord, make haste to help me!
By: Tyler Short
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