God hasn’t forgotten about you.

Anyone know Joseph? Joseph and his coat of many colors may ring a bell. Joseph was born to Jacob, the youngest of 12 brothers. Scripture tells us that Joseph had an impeccable gift of interpreting dreams, in fact that gift coupled with the fact that he was most beloved by his father landed him sold into ishmaelite slavery by his own brothers. Did you catch that? HIS OWN BROTHERS! Can you imagine his life? Being hated by your siblings for no fault of your own, hated so much they plot to kill you, but instead settle on selling you into slavery. How awful.

Joseph is sold to an ishmaelite caravan and taken to Egypt. The ishmaelites then sell him in Egypt to Potiphar, captain of Pharoh’s guard. Scripture says “ the Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered… the Lord gave him success in all that he did.” Gen 39:2-3 Because Potiphar saw the Lord’s favor on Joseph, he put him in charge of his whole household. Potiphar’s wife desired Joseph and because he wouldn’t sleep with her she became angry, stole his coat, and told her husband that he tried to take advantage of her.

Because of this false accusation, Joseph is thrown in prison. “But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him… and he was successful in all that he did.” Gen 39:20 Because of God’s great favor and the fact that he was successful in all that he did, the warden put him in charge of the prison. “Sometime later” Gen 40:1, the chief cupbearer and baker landed themselves under Joseph’s watch and he successfully interpreted two dreams for the men. He told the cupbearer that he would be reappointed to his position as chief cupbearer and the baker would be killed. He asked that when the dream came to pass and the cupbearer was reappointed to remember him and mention him to pharaoh so that he might be released from prison because he hadn’t done anything to justify being there to begin with. The chief cupbearer assured him he would.

Highlight of this story and what I want you to remember is Genesis 40 and 41 says the cupbearer forgot and it nonchalantly says it was two full years later before anything monumental happened again for Joseph. Wait, I’m sorry, what? TWO FULL YEARS. I think I would have thought God had forgotten me. I would have been discouraged, angry, frustrated. I would have probably given up hope in knowing that God still had a plan for my life. My family wanted me dead, nothing goes right for me, what is the point of my life, why would you have created me? God are you getting joy in this?

Back to the story – Two years later, pharaoh had a dream that needed interpretation and the cupbearer remembered Joseph from prison. Pharaoh calls on Joseph to interpret his dreams and he does so successfully in the name of the Lord. Joseph tells Pharaoh God is warning him in the dream of seven years of famine coming to all the land and that he must prepare his storehouses that the peoples don’t perish because of it. Pharaoh sees the wisdom the Lord has provided Joseph and he appoints him second in command over all of Egypt. Pharaoh says to Joseph, “I am pharaoh but without your word no one will lift hand nor foot in Egypt.” Gen 41:44

Joseph was sold into slavery at 17 years old, was sold again, wrongfully imprisoned, and at 30 years old, because of the Lord’s favor, became second in command in Egypt, not to live life lavishly for all his days, but for the purposes of 1. Glorifying God in and making God’s name known throughout a worldly kingdom 2. Being used as a vessel to save all the world from famine 3. To forgive and make right his relationships with his father and brothers and 4. All which ultimately points to Jesus. Scripture tells us “all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.” Gen 41:57

I can’t imagine the thoughts and discouragement Joseph faced, maybe thoughts of insecurity, insufficiency, maybe suicide? I’m sure he spent many nights begging God to change his circumstances, but had it not been for his circumstances he would not have been used to preserve all of humanity. Had he not been sold into slavery he would not have been sent to Egypt. Had he not been sent to Egypt he would not have made it to Potiphar. Had he not been sold to Potiphar, he would not have made it to the kingdom. Had he not made it to kingdom and falsely accused, he would not have made it to the king’s prison. Had he not made it to the king’s prison, he would not have been in the position to be used by God to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. Had there not been one to interpret pharaoh’s dream, all the world would have perished of famine and starvation.

Friends, how often are we in a season of suffering? How often does life feel unfair? How often do we feel mistreated? Misunderstood? Friends gossip about us, family betrays us, work doesn’t seem to be going according to plan? Others steal our ideas, claim them as their own. How often do we think God has forgotten about us? What is our purpose? Look at our circumstances, they seem hopeless, our dreams, imprisoned.

I’m here to tell you, God’s not done with you. Whether your in your own season of prison or kingdom, be faithful with the gifts God’s given you, do everything to the glory of God, for what the devil meant for evil God will always use for good.

The same gift that got Joseph sold into slavery was the same gift that freed him from prison. God uses your greatest struggles to pave the way for His greatest triumphs. He’s not done with you yet.