Dreaming with Joseph: Trust and Risk

July 22^nd, 2018   “Trust and Risk”       Rev. Heather Jepsen

Summer Sermon Series: Dreaming with Joseph

Genesis 43

         This morning we continue our summer sermon series “Dreaming with Joseph”.  Last week we left Joseph in the midst of family conflict and another stalemate in the quest for family harmony and reconciliation.  The famine of Pharaoh’s dreams has spread beyond the land of Egypt and into the land of Canaan.  Jacob had sent 10 of his sons into Egypt to buy grain there, and of course, the master of the grain selling operation is Joseph himself.  Joseph recognizes the brothers who sold him into slavery but they do not recognize him, since it has been over 20 years since they presumed him dead.

         Last week Joseph dealt harshly with the brothers, claiming that they were untrustworthy spies.  After holding them in prison for several days, he decided to send them home, keeping Simeon behind as collateral.  He is asking the brothers to return with the youngest, Benjamin, to prove that they are telling the truth about who they are.  He also has a great desire to see Benjamin himself, as they are sons of the same mother.  As an additional test, Joseph had the money the brothers brought to purchase grain returned to their sacks.  If the brothers return, they face the possibility of being accused as thieves.

         When the brothers returned home to Canaan and told their father Jacob all that had happened he was dismayed.  He doesn’t trust his sons and he refuses to allow Benjamin into their care, even if it means the loss of his son Simeon.  When we left them last week, Joseph remained in power in Egypt, Simeon remained in prison, and the other brothers remained in the land of Canaan.  Let’s find out what happens next.

         (Read Genesis 43:1-10)

         The grain that the brothers got in their first journey is now gone and once again the family of Israel is hungry in the land of Canaan.  Jacob orders the sons back to Egypt to buy more grain, but Judah reminds him that they must not return to Egypt unless they have Benjamin in tow.  Jacob complains, asking why the brothers even mentioned Benjamin in the first place.  And the brothers declare that the leader of Egypt, Joseph, specifically asked about other brothers.  This isn’t true, and once again we witness the dishonest nature of these brothers.  Those that were here last week will remember that when asked who they were, the brothers willingly offered up the information about all being brothers and the youngest at home. 

         Judah takes the lead in trying to convince Jacob to send Benjamin with them into Egypt.  The families are hungry and the situation is becoming dire “send the boy with me, and let us be on our way, so that we may live and not die – you and we and also our little ones.”  Judah offers his own life as security for Benjamin.  If anything should happen Judah agrees to bear the weight of his loss forever.  Too bad Judah didn’t care that much when it was the life of Joseph that was on the line.

         (Read Genesis 43:11-15)

         Jacob relents and agrees to send Benjamin along with his other sons to secure food for their families.  Jacob suggests that the brothers bring two things to help sway their case.  One, a gift of the finest goods of the land as a present for the master in Egypt and two, double the money for the grain.  Remember Joseph sent the money for their first haul of grain back with the brothers as a test of their integrity.  It appears that they may have failed that test, for it is Jacob and not his sons who suggests that they bring double the money, enough to cover the last amount of grain and this new amount. 

         Jacob places his sons in the trust of God, saying a prayer for mercy, before he sends them away to Egypt.

         (Read Genesis 43:16-25)

         When the brothers arrive back in Egypt they immediately get special treatment.  Joseph sees Benjamin in their company and makes preparations to share a meal with them.  The brothers though, are afraid at this.  Having been taken into Joseph’s house and stripped of their bags and donkeys, they feel trapped.  If Joseph should attack them now, all the brothers are doomed and without chance of escape. 

         When the steward arrives they plead their case, telling the story about the money in their sacks and declaring that they have brought double the money on this visit.  The steward’s response is significant; “your God and the God of your father must have put treasure in your sacks for you.”  While it is true that the steward acts for Joseph, it is also true that he is an Egyptian and an outsider to the Hebrew faith.  And yet here, an outsider truly offers a message from God to these brothers.

         Simeon is released from prison, and now together the 11 brothers prepare to dine with the master of Egypt, their own brother, Joseph.

         (Read Genesis 43:26-34)

         Joseph returns and the brothers present their offerings and again bow down to him, reminding Joseph of that second dream as twice now the brothers have bowed before him.  Joseph asks after the family and takes special notice of Benjamin.  Joseph is so moved by deep emotion at seeing his little brother again after so many years that he has to excuse himself to weep.  As much as he longs to reconnect with Benjamin, he is still not sure about the trustworthiness of these brothers, and so he must keep his identity a secret.

         The meal is served and everyone dines at separate tables.  Even though all 12 brothers are united, there is still division among them.  The brothers are placed in order at the table, from oldest to youngest, which amazes them to no end.  How could this master of Egypt possibly guess all their ages correctly?  Benjamin is favored at the meal and given extra portions, again something that makes the brothers wonder as they still have no idea who Joseph is.

         And so our chapter ends.  The brothers are closer together, and yet still divided.  And having once been at the mercy of his brothers, Joseph is now clearly the one holding all the cards.

         In this chapter we find that once again God has moved into center stage in this story.  First of all, Jacob clearly calls on the mercy of God to watch over his sons on this second journey into Egypt.  “May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man.”  This is a clear example of Jacob showing his trust in God. 

         Jacob has grown as a character in this story.  Gone is the man willing to show such favoritism for one son that it puts the entire family harmony at risk.  As much as Jacob would like to keep Benjamin at home, he knows that really protecting his family is out of his hands, and only something that God can do.  Jacob knows that the family will die from hunger if he doesn’t risk the life of Benjamin.  And so Jacob offers Benjamin up to God’s mercy, trusting that God will cover this risk and protect the family. 

         God is also front and center in the brothers interactions with Joseph.  As the steward expresses God’s mercy to the brothers they become more aware of the situation.  Remember last week, when they found the money in their sacks, the brothers worried that God was punishing them for their sins, “What is this that God has done to us?”  Now the steward declares that the money was actually a blessing from God, “Rest assured, do not be afraid; your God and the God of your father must have put treasure in your sacks for you; I received your money.”  If the brothers are willing to trust the voice of this Egyptian outsider, then they will hear the message of God’s grace to them.

         Throughout this sermon series we have been looking for places where Joseph’s story connects with our own, and I find a lot of places to plug in with these ideas of trust, risk, and the voices of outsiders.  As you know, I and four of my best friends, am about to journey to Africa on behalf of our church.  This is all about trust, risk, and relying on the mercy of God.  Anyone who knows me knows I am not a big fan of flying.  Like Jacob, I’m not totally into putting the things I love and my own life in jeopardy.  And yet, I go, trusting in the mercy of God to be with me and our team. 

         This mission team trusts in God, and is willing to face personal risk to share the gospel and the love of this church with our friends in Africa.  Like the brothers, and the steward, we go to hear the voice of the outsider as they offer to us the word of God.  Though most that we visit are Christian like us, they certainly are not the same as us.  We go to learn from their culture, to learn from their faith stories, and to share with them.  We go to connect their stories of life in Malawi, with our stories of life here in Missouri.  We go to share and find the love of God there, trusting all along in the midst of risk, fear, and the unknown.

         I am sure that you too, have places in your life where you feel this heady mix of trust and fear.  Places where like Jacob, you offer up your beloved to God’s mercy and protection.  Moments, like Joseph, where you look for God’s grace in the return of that which has hurt you in the past.  And times of wonder, where like the brothers, you find an outsider, someone different than you, sharing a surprising divine word.  The Old Testament stories are not so different than our own, for while our world has changed, the roots of human drama and our relationship with God have stayed the same.

         I will be gone for two weeks and so we leave Joseph here at a precipice.  The 12 brothers dine in the same room, but at different tables.  The division between them is smaller than ever, but it is still very much there.  Is now the time for reconciliation?  Should Joseph reveal his identity?  Or do the brothers still need to prove themselves ready to account for their wrong doing?  Join me in August and we will continue “Dreaming with Joseph”.  Amen.

Dreaming with Joseph: Brothers

July 15^th, 2018        “Brothers”     Rev. Heather Jepsen

Summer Sermon Series: Dreaming with Joseph

Genesis 42

         This summer we have been following the story of Joseph throughout the book of Genesis.  We began with a study of his family, one mired in jealousy and hatred.  In a jealous rage his brothers threw him in a pit and left him for dead.  Joseph was pulled out of the pit and sold into slavery in Egypt.  Unjustly accused of wrongdoing in his master’s house, Joseph was put into prison.  After more than a dozen years in captivity, Joseph got the chance to use his God given gift of dream interpretation along with his people skills to impress Pharaoh the king of Egypt.  Joseph was then put in charge of a complex grain operation, saving and storing grain all over the land of Egypt during seven years of abundance and then handing it out during a period of great famine.  God has been a deep part of Joseph’s story, blessing him in the midst of harsh circumstances.  But this week, we will find that God once again disappears from the page as Joseph’s family drama again takes center stage.

         (Read Genesis 42:1-5)

         Suddenly our narrative turns back to where it began, Jacob’s family, the budding nation of Israel, within the land of Canaan.  The famine has reached their home town and Jacob has heard that there is grain to be had in Egypt.  His sons can’t seem to get it together yet “Why do you keep looking at one another?” so Jacob himself comes up with a plan.  He sends 10 of the brothers into Egypt to buy grain for the entire house of Israel there.  Benjamin, who is the youngest and probably Jacob’s new favorite, is kept behind.  Remember it has been over 20 years since Joseph was sold into slavery, and now the 10 brothers who threw him in the pit are suddenly in line with everyone else to buy grain.

         (Read Genesis 42:6-17)

         As soon as the brothers appear Joseph recognizes who they are, and as they bow down before him Joseph remembers the dreams he had so many years ago.  Dreams of a harvest, where their sheaves of wheat would all bow down to his have now come to fruition.  The brothers though, have no idea at all who Joseph is.  Having assumed him dead over 20 years ago, there is no space in their minds to recognize this brother from the past.

         Even though Joseph knows who they are, or perhaps especially because he knows who they are, Joseph does not treat the brothers with leniency.  Instead, he speaks harshly to them, accusing them of being spies.  He speaks of the nakedness of the land which means the borders or the defenses.  Remember the brothers have come from the land of Canaan so Joseph is accusing them of being spies in the land of Egypt.

         The brothers insist that they are not spies and they offer defensives that might hold up if they weren’t speaking to Joseph.  First they claim they cannot be spies since they are all of the same family.  It would not make sense for an opposing force to send all of one family into a hostile situation.  But this defense relies on the value placed on the family, and with Joseph knowing that his very flesh and blood left him for dead, he knows that family ties are of little value to these brothers.

         The other defense the brothers offer is that they are honest men.  This defense too, falls flat in front of Joseph.  He knows that these brothers are capable of concocting great lies, like the one they told his father about him being eaten by wild animals when the truth was that he nearly suffered death at their very hands. 

         No, these brothers do not value family and they are not honest men.  Joseph knows in his heart that they are probably not spies but he also knows they are not people he can trust.  And so Joseph concocts a plan.  He asks them all to stay behind and send one brother away to get the last brother.  Joseph really has a desire to see Benjamin, as they share the same mother, Rachel.  Benjamin is Joseph’s full little brother and he asks the others to bring Benjamin to him.

         As they ponder their decision of who should go get Benjamin, Joseph puts them all in prison.  Not only does this echo the brothers’ treatment of Joseph, it also gives them some time to think.

         (Read Genesis 42:18-25)

         After three days of holding the brothers captive, Joseph comes up with a more lenient option.  Instead of holding all brothers in Egypt and sending one brother home, Joseph offers to hold one brother in Egypt and send the others home to fetch Benjamin.  It is a test of character, will the brothers return for the one left behind, or will this brother too, be forgotten and left for dead?

         The brothers agree to the plan, and after spending some time in captivity they have begun to reflect on their past actions.  Suddenly the brother they forgot, the brother they left for dead, has once again arisen in their minds.  “Alas, we are paying the penalty for what we did to our brother.”  Reuben says “I told you so!” reminding them that he had warned that whatever harm they did to their own blood would come back upon them in the end.  Joseph seems to overhear this conversation, as the brothers assume he cannot speak Hebrew since he has only spoken Egyptian to them.  At hearing his brothers acknowledge the pain they caused him so many years ago, Joseph is moved to tears, but he hides his emotion from them.

         Joseph has Simeon, the second oldest, tied and bound in front of the other brothers, forcing them to watch his suffering.  Then he sends them on their way with full bags of grain as well as with provisions for their journey, which is a sign of compassion and grace.

         (Read Genesis 42:26-28)

         On the journey home, the brothers discover that they still have the money they brought to buy grain.  Joseph had deliberately put the money back in the sacks, but the brothers have no knowledge of this.  Now they are totally dismayed.  For if they return with Benjamin in tow, to bring Simeon home, as they have been ordered, they will now be accused of being thieves. 

         (Read Genesis 42:29-38)

         Upon returning to Canaan and Jacob’s house, the brothers share the story of what happened in Egypt.  Yes, they have the grain, but they have lost Simeon.  They have also returned with all the money in their bags, marking them now as thieves in the land.

         Jacob is dismayed.  Joseph is gone, Simeon is gone, and now he cannot bear the thought of losing Benjamin.  Even though Reuben offers up the lives of two of his sons as collateral (how is this a good thing?!?) Jacob refuses to let them take Benjamin into Egypt.  And so again we are at a stalemate.  Joseph remains in power in Egypt and once again the brothers have abandoned one of their own to death, as Simeon is left behind in the Egyptian prison.

         Again in our narrative we find that God has moved behind the scenes.  There is no mention of God’s blessing Joseph, or of Joseph looking to God for guidance, although Joseph does declare that he is a God fearing man.  The most significant mention of God in this chapter is in verse 28 when the brothers discover the money in their sacks “What is this that God has done to us?”  It is clear that they believe God will pay them back for the wrongdoing the carried out so many years before.

         We have spoken a lot about Joseph’s integrity and character in this sermon series and the events of this chapter at first seem to bring those things into question.  Joseph appears mean to the brothers, speaking to them harshly and accusing them of being spies.  He throws them in prison for several days and he places demands upon the family.  He orders that the money be put back in their sacks, setting them up to be accused as thieves.  At first glance these actions appear dishonest.

         But throughout this series we have also discussed Joseph’s people skills and in this chapter his skills are on full display.  It’s been over 20 years since his brothers have forgotten him and basically got away with murder.  What good would it do to simply reward them now for bad behavior?  Joseph knows that if he is going to work to heal this family rift, he needs to go about things carefully and offer the brothers the chance to move into a space of reconciliation.  I am guessing that his own heart needs that time as well.

         The time in prison gives the brothers a chance to stew in their juices, so to speak.  It is only after their imprisonment that they begin to discuss the sins of their past and the wrong they caused Joseph.  The test of leaving Simeon behind asks the brothers to consider whether or not they are willing to stand for the lives of one another.  If Simeon is left in Egypt permanently then the brothers have learned nothing and are not in a place of reconciliation.  The money is a test of integrity.  Will the brothers simply take the money and run as they did so many years ago when they sold Joseph into slavery for a meager profit?  Or will the brothers return, offering back the money as a step toward honesty?

         All of these tests and nudgings are ways that Joseph is using his people skills to gain knowledge of the family situation.  In keeping his identity hidden, Joseph is able to observe the family as an outsider.  Are the brothers in a place where reconciliation is possible, or are they still the young men of years before, capable of inflicting great pain in their own jealous wrath?

         Joseph truly desires to see Benjamin and his hope is that the brothers would return with this youngest, his true and full brother.  But his father, Jacob will not hear of it.  And so we leave our story for today.  Joseph remains dead to his family but firmly in power and authority in Egypt.  Simeon languishes alone in an Egyptian prison, another son abandoned by his brothers and father.  And Jacob and his remaining 10 sons remain in the land of Canaan.  Is there any chance for family reconciliation?  Come back next week to see what happens next as we continue “Dreaming with Joseph”.  Amen.

Dreaming with Joseph: Dreams 2

July 8^th, 2018       “Dreams 2”        Rev. Heather Jepsen

Summer Sermon Series: Dreaming with Joseph

Genesis 41

         This is a full Sunday here in the life of the church.  We are celebrating communion, welcoming new members, and I’m playing the harp.  My hands are already full and to add on top of things this is the longest chapter yet in our reading of the Joseph narrative in Genesis.  Though we have a lot to read thankfully it is an exciting story as today Joseph’s fortunes finally change.  Let’s dive right in.

         (Read Genesis 41:1-13)

         Two years have passed since our reading from last Sunday and now Pharaoh is the one who dreams.  None of his spiritual authorities can offer a satisfactory interpretation to these visions and finally the cupbearer whom we met last Sunday remembers Joseph. 

         The cupbearer remembers that he was supposed to mention Joseph to Pharaoh and he acknowledges this wrongdoing.  “I remember my faults today.”  Now finally, he brings Joseph’s name before Pharaoh as one who could possibly interpret these dreams.

         Although he has languished in prison for another two years, perhaps this delay was a blessing.  For now that Pharaoh has need of an interpreter of dreams, perhaps he will be more willing to hear Joseph plead his case and to respond with leniency.

         (Read Genesis 41:14-36)

         Finally Joseph is brought up out of the dungeon and the word used is connected with the word for the pit, into which Joseph was thrown by his brothers at the beginning of the story.  Joseph is brought up out of the pit and he is cleaned up and made presentable.  Clean clothes and a fresh shave and he is a new man and ready to be seen by the king of Egypt.

         Before Pharaoh can even tell Joseph his dreams, Joseph offers up credit to God.  It is God who will give an interpretation.  Joseph promises that the interpretation will be favorable which seems like a risky promise to make before he even hears the details of the dream.  But Joseph isn’t really promising that the interpretation will benefit Pharaoh or be good news, he simply means that the interpretation will satisfy Pharaoh as to the dream’s meaning.  Something Pharaoh’s own advisors could not offer.

         The dream is told and now Joseph’s people skills are on full display.  Before interpreting the dream Joseph declares that “God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.”  For Joseph to connect God and Pharaoh in this way is a signal that Joseph recognizes Pharaoh’s position and authority.  Joseph is implying that God is communicating directly with Pharaoh, and it is an excellent way to stoke the ego of the ruler of Egypt.

         The meaning of the dreams is pretty self-explanatory, seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine.  And now, Joseph takes a big risk.  Instead of just interpreting the dream, Joseph boldly offers a proposed plan to deal with the problem the dream represents.  Joseph suggests that Pharaoh locate “a man who is discerning and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.”  Joseph is clearly hoping that he himself might rise to such a position as he lays out the details of a plan for the nation’s survival.  Joseph proposes that the entire nation save 20% of their harvest through the seven years of abundance, and then these grain stores will allow the nation to survive the seven years of famine. 

Joseph clearly is confident in his dream interpretation and he has a lot riding on his proposed plan.  At this point it’s entirely up to Pharaoh what happens.  Joseph could be sent back to the pit of prison, or he could be kept in the court as a dream interpreter, or maybe he will actually be able to see this plan to fulfillment.

(Read Genesis 41:37-45)

Well, for Joseph the dreamer it is finally a dream come true.  Pharaoh accepts the interpretation of the dream, and the plan Joseph offers.  More than that, Pharaoh puts Joseph in a high position of authority within the kingdom of Egypt to carry out this plan.  Joseph is basically the Prime Minister to Pharaoh’s kingly role. 

Joseph is given an Egyptian name “Zaphenath-paneah” which means “God speaks and lives” as well as an Egyptian wife who is of a royal line.  Like others before him in this story, Pharaoh acknowledges that Joseph is especially blessed by God and that the presence of the Lord is with Joseph.

(Read Genesis 41:46-57)

Joseph is now 30; it has been 13 years since his brothers threw him in a pit and declared him dead.  Now Joseph travels the land and organizes the storehouses of Egypt.  Pharaoh’s dream is as Joseph declared and for seven years the harvest is as abundant as the grains of sand.  Joseph too is fruitful in this time as he and his wife have two sons.  The overwhelming abundance of grain is stored in warehouses and as time passes the famine years begin to show themselves.  Joseph opens the store houses and sells the grain to the people of Egypt as well as the surrounding nations for the famine covers the whole world.

We find this week that God again appears to be a major part of this story.  Joseph credits God with the gift of the dreams to Pharaoh and Joseph declares that God is the one who will bring the abundance as well as the famine to the land.  Pharaoh renames Joseph as one who shows the nature of a God who “speaks and lives” and Joseph credits God in the naming of his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Joseph’s upright character and morality have played a major role in this story and they are again outstanding in this chapter.  Joseph uses the dream interpretation, and his God given people skills to secure a future for the whole nation of Egypt and beyond.  It didn’t have to be that way.  Joseph could have suggested that Pharaoh horde the grain and sell it for exorbitant prices, therefore becoming rich beyond his wildest dreams.  Joseph could have used his rise to power as a way to get back at those who had held him unjustly imprisoned and captive for 13 years.  But he doesn’t do those things.  Joseph uses his knowledge, his gifts, and his authority to benefit the most people possible as he sets out a plan for the famine and follows though in a fair and just fashion.  What a world this would be if more leaders followed Joseph’s path.  He is clearly an exceptional character and about as far away from his father Jacob as could be imagined.

We know that Joseph’s path up to this point has not been easy.  The names he gives his sons offer us some insight into his own personal struggles of faith.  The firstborn is named “Manasseh” which means “to forget” and as Joseph declares, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.”  Joseph considers it a gift from God that he has been able to move past his personal suffering.  He has been able to let go of the past, of his family that left him for dead, and of the wrongdoing that was caused to him in Egypt.  This gift of forgetfulness is a gift of forgiveness and grace.  Joseph can let go of his memories and pain, and make a new life for himself in Egypt.

That new life is celebrated in the name of his second son “Ephraim” which means “to be fruitful”.  As Joseph says, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my misfortune.”  Even though he was brought to Egypt in negative circumstances, and even though he languished in prison for 13 years, still God has blessed him and enabled him to thrive.  Joseph would not have chosen this life, and he certainly didn’t plan on it.  It is not where he wanted to be.  And yet, it is where he finds himself, and Joseph finds the blessing of God within these negative circumstances.

All of these are profound lessons on Joseph’s character and are good examples for us to follow.  Joseph models letting go of past pain and hardship, Joseph models the “bloom where you are planted mentality” as he makes the best out of every bad situation, and Joseph works for the up-building and success of others.  Joseph is truly an upright and godly man, unlike many of our other Old Testament patriarchs.

Now that all is well with Joseph, we can expect that our Genesis story tellers will throw him a curveball.  Come back next week to see what happens as we continue “Dreaming with Joseph”.  Amen.

Dreaming with Joseph: Dreams 1

July 1^st, 2018     “Dreams 1”       Rev. Heather Jepsen

Summer Sermon Series: Dreaming with Joseph

Genesis 40

         This morning we continue our summer sermon series “Dreaming with Joseph”.  When we began our story, Joseph was the favored one in a family of 12 sons.  Fueled by their jealousy, his brothers plotted his death.  Instead, Joseph was sold into slavery.  Last week we found Joseph wrapped up in a scandal with his master Potiphar’s wife.  Though the Lord’s blessing was with Joseph, that would not save him from going to prison on false charges.  While in prison, Joseph was shown favor by the jailor and put in charge of the care of the other prisoners.  That is where we find him today.

         (Read Genesis 40:1-8)

         While Joseph is in prison, two important prisoners come under his care; the Pharaoh’s own cupbearer and baker.  The reason for the imprisonment is not mentioned, but one possible explanation is poisoning.  If there had been an attempt to poison the king, both the baker, who prepares food for the king, as well as the cupbearer, who pours the wine and brings the cup to the king, would be under suspicion.  We might assume that both have been put into prison, while officials sort out who the guilty party might be.

         While in prison, Joseph has charge of the care of these important prisoners with ties to the Pharaoh.  One night both of the men have troubling dreams.  The following morning Joseph notices that they are upset.  His awareness of their agitated state and his compassion in offering to help them are signs again of Joseph’s upstanding moral character and they help make clear why the prison guard might give Joseph charge over the other prisoners.  Joseph is simply good with people.

         Upon hearing that the men are troubled with dreams, Joseph offers to aid in the interpretation of these dreams. 

         (Read Genesis 40:9-15)

         The cupbearer goes first relating the details of his dream to Joseph and upon hearing the dream Joseph offers an interpretation.  It is good to remind ourselves that in this time, dreams were seen as relating to the future, not to the past or the present.  They were also seen as messages from outside oneself, rather than something our own mind creates.

         Joseph takes time to interpret various details of the dream: three branches on the vine for three days’ time.  The vine ripens quickly so Joseph interprets this to mean that the events will happen soon.  Joseph says that Pharaoh will lift the cupbearers head, meaning he will recognize the cupbearer again and the fellow will be restored to his place of service within the king’s court.

         After he interprets the dream, Joseph asks the cupbearer to remember him before the King.  The Hebrew word here is hesed which implies showing kindness.  Joseph asks the cupbearer to show him a kindness and to remember his cause before Pharaoh.  Although much has happened to Joseph this is the first time we hear him complain.  “I was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews; and here also I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon.”  Although he is a good worker, Joseph has had enough of prison and his rotten string of luck.

         (Read Genesis 40:16-19)

         The baker too shares his dream for interpretation, but the explanation Joseph offers is much less favorable.  Three baskets for three days’ time and too the baker’s head will be lifted up, and right off of his body!  Joseph predicts that the baker will be convicted of his crime, (that possible poisoning) and he will be hung by Pharaoh.  The birds of the air will eat his carcass, as represented by the birds picking at the bread in his dream.  Joseph obviously doesn’t ask this fellow to remember him since this guy won’t be around much longer!

         (Read Genesis 40:20-23)

         After three days, Pharaoh throws himself a birthday party, and as Joseph predicted he lifts up the head of both the cupbearer and the baker.  The cupbearer is recognized and restored to service within Pharaoh’s court.  The baker is punished, and sentenced to hang, just as Joseph predicted he would be. 

         Unfortunately, the kindness and compassion Joseph shows to the prisoners is not remembered.  As the chief cupbearer returns to work, but does not remember Joseph.  Thus, once again, we leave Joseph in prison; accused of a crime he didn’t commit, with seemingly no opportunity to ever achieve his freedom.

         There are a few points to notice in our reading today.  Close studiers of the text will notice that once again God has moved into the background of the story.  Last week in chapter 39, God played a big role in the story; the Lord was with Joseph, the Lord blessed Joseph, and others saw the work of God in Joseph’s life.  Now, once again, Joseph seems alone.  In verse 9 he mentions to the cupbearer and the baker that interpretations belong to God, but other than that the Lord is not mentioned.

         So how about those dream interpretations?  Did God give Joseph a divine insight into these men’s dreams, or is Joseph using some talents of his own?  I am going to guess that it is a bit of both.  God has given Joseph a gift of insight into people’s lives, but Joseph himself also has a shrewd sense of character.  In interpreting the dreams, Joseph is harnessing his own natural skills for interpretation along with God’s gift of insight.

         We too are most able to succeed when we combine our own natural skills with the gifts that God has given us.  One example of this is the sermons I preach each week.  I use my natural insight into the congregation, my study of the scripture texts, and my observations of the world and I combine that with insight from God that I achieve through prayer and spiritual discipline.  I write the words of the sermon, but the Holy Spirit helps it to become a message from God to you.  It is a product that the Lord and I achieve together, as I bring the best of what I have to this moment each Sunday, and God meets us here and makes it a sermon.

         You too, can combine your work with the work of God to achieve great things. Perhaps you have a knack for organizing people and events.  You can use that skill, with inspiration from God, to help the church further its mission and ministry.  Or perhaps you have a strong sense of compassion and empathy.  You can notice when someone is hurting and then use the presence of the Holy Spirit within you to offer a friend comfort and care. 

         Joseph uses his own shrewdness, his own compassion, and his own confidence to work with the gifts God has given him as he interprets the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker.  We too, can achieve great things, when we combine our natural skills with our God given gifts.  It is a team effort between us and God that leads to the greatest impact on our world.

         And of course, it was that human effort that was missing so often in Joseph’s story.  Although God is with him, and although Joseph feels the blessing of the Lord in his life, the people around him continually let him down.  His brothers abandoned him to an unknown fate in Egypt.  His master’s wife conspired against him and his master sent him to prison without even questioning the charges.  And now, as he asks the cupbearer to remember his case before Pharaoh, he is again disappointed as the cupbearer forgets all about Joseph.  Although God is with him, Joseph cannot get by unless he has human help.

         This too should remind us of our obligation to use our skills and gifts for the up-building of others.  God can do nothing without the hands and feet of God’s people.  God needs us to act in the world and to remember the needs of our brothers and sisters.  When we experience grace like the cupbearer has, we need to remember those around us who are also in need.  If we are in positions of power, we need to remember those below us who are longing to be lifted up.  Joseph will not be saved until someone steps in to offer him help.  The same is true in our world, and often we are called to be the people who offer help and care to others.  God cannot work unless we allow God to work through us.

         And so today we leave Joseph much in the same position he was in last week.  He continues to serve in the prison, offering care for other prisoners within his midst.  And he continues to hone his natural people skills with his God given gift of dream interpretation.  Come back next week to find out if anyone ever decides to help him as we continue “Dreaming with Joseph.”  Amen.