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Genesis 40-41: Faith in Trials Leads to Triumph
January 20, 2026 · 15 min
Discover the importance of faith and service in adverse times through Joseph's story in Genesis 40-41
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Faithful Service in the Midst of Trials 0:10 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Right. How do you go from prisoner to prime minister in a day? Well, that's what we're gonna look at today as we look at Genesis chapters 40 and 41.0:22 Verse 38 of chapter 41, and Pharaoh said to his servants, can we find such a 1 as this, a man in whom is the spirit of God? Now this is 1 of the better known,0:35 accounts of scripture where Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dream of the impending famine. And as a result, he is made essentially prime minister of Egypt. Now, again, I encourage you to read the entire passage. If0:47 you're, new to our journey, and I and I hope we've got new folks joining each day, there's a chronological reading plan. This is a chronological right now, we're in Genesis. We're gonna be going to Job0:58 next. But there is a reading plan, and there are tools to help you on this journey. All of that is found at f r c dot o r g slash bible. Now,1:10 again, restating my goal here is in this, journey through the Bible is just to kinda lead this journey. The the Holy Spirit is our teacher. I'm just kinda pointing out, you know, some of the insights that1:22 may get overlooked, which can help each of us, myself included. Because I I tell you, every time I go on this journey, I find something new that is very practical1:34 in helping us live out our faith in such a way that we bring honor and glory to to the Lord. The process of sanctification that we read about in the New Testament is brought about by the1:46 word and the Holy Spirit, and that's what we're doing. We're in a in this journey, it's a sanctification process drawing us closer to the Lord as we abide in Christ in his word. So I'm excited, about1:58 what the Lord is doing already just 2 weeks into this journey, and I and I hope you are as well. Alright. So how do you go from prisoner to prime minister? Well, let's start with chapter 40 where2:10 pharaohs butler and baker are thrown into prison where Joseph is, and they both have dreams which Joseph interprets. But notice verse 4. And the captain of the guard2:22 charged Joseph Joseph with them, and he served them, so they were in custody for a while. So Joseph served them or ministered to them. Now remember,2:33 Joseph had been in Potiphar's house, falsely accused, thrown in prison. He could have sulked. He could have been angry for his mistreatment. He could have become bitter, but2:45 rather he chose to serve. Important. He could serve and minister from a place of disappointment because he had faith and confidence in God,2:56 that bad things that had happened to him would be used for good. He had a choice. Alright? He had a choice. He could ask the question, why? Why did this happen? Why3:08 did you allow this to happen, god? Or he could ask the question, what? Lord, what are you doing? Lord, what do you want me to do? Lord, what is your plan?3:20 And, you know, I I think it's evident that Joseph asked the latter, what are you doing, Lord, and how can I join you? Such a lesson here for us because, you know, life is3:32 filled with things that happen to us that are done by other people. We are, as, you know, I've talked about before about, you know, collateral damage. You know, we all3:44 suffer from decisions and actions that other people take, but we can either become angry, bitter, or we can say, lord, what do you wanna do through this brokenness in3:56 my life? How do you want me to respond? How can you use me? What what is your plan, lord? I think it's very important that we ask that rather than why. Alright. So he interprets4:08 the dream of the butler, and he makes a request. Verse 14. But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me. Make mention of me to4:19 pharaoh and get me out of this house. Nothing wrong with asking, but don't put your hope in people. Look at verse 23. Yet the chief butler did not remember4:31 Joseph, but forgot him. Ever been there before? I have. But here's the good news. Right? Here's the good news. Men may forget you and the good that you do for them and how you've helped them and4:43 how you've served them, but god remembers. And and we'll see in just a moment. 2 years had passed. Joseph may have been tempted to say,4:55 where's god? But there's no evidence that he did. I think Noah, who was, on the ark for a year and the forecast of the future didn't did not look certain. It did not look, like5:07 it was gonna work out. I mean, how did he know? The the gland was covered with water. Everything had been destroyed. A lot of uncertainty there. But look at Genesis 8 1. It says, then god remembered5:18 Noah. Baron Rachel waiting years for a child. Genesis 30 22 says, then god remembered Rachel. After 400 years in captivity, we're gonna read this later in5:30 Exodus, god remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God remembers. God has not forgotten you. Chapter 41. Then it came to pass at the end of 2 full years. 2 full5:42 years. He had interpreted these dreams. These his dreams that as he interpreted the interpretations were fulfilled. The the baker, is executed. The,God's Timing and Elevation to Leadership 5:53 butler goes back, but he's forgotten. You know, I think of, verse verse 1. Then it came to pass after 2 full years. When I I think of Psalm 37 34 where it says6:05 wait on the Lord. When it says wait, that word wait means wait with anticipation and hope. It's faith. It's faith filled waiting. It it's not, well, I6:17 hope God responds. It's an anticipation Lord and keep his way, and he shall exalt6:29 you to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. You know, waiting is often preparation. Verse 9. Then the chief butler spoke to6:41 Pharaoh saying, I remember my faults this day. I forgot. But in god's timing, when there was a need, an opportunity, he remembered. Right? It6:53 was right in god's timing. Verse 10, when Pharaoh was angry with his servant and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker, We each had a dream in 1 night, he and I, each7:05 of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. Now there was a young Hebrew man there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard, and we told him, and he interpreted our dreams for us. To each man,7:16 he interpreted according to his own dream. And it came to pass just as he interpreted for us, so it happened. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him. Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him7:28 quickly out of the dungeon, and he shaved, changed his clothes, and came to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, I have had a dream, and there is no 1 who can interpret it, but I have heard it said of you that you can7:39 interpret you can understand a dream to interpret it. So Joseph answered Pharaoh saying, it is not in me. God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace. Now7:51 compare this to 13 years earlier when he was boastful before his brothers lacking total discernment. Now Joseph was ready to be entrusted with the opportunity8:03 that God had for him. I do not believe that what Joseph was saying here was a was false a false sense of humility, But I think it was evident of God's8:15 deep abiding work in his life. And that only comes about when we're broken before the Lord, realizing that there is nothing in us. We cannot do this on our own. We need8:27 god. A person who has longed for and found mercy is 1 who is prone to extend mercy. They walk in humility. 1 who has suffered hunger can relate to the8:38 hungry. And and that's I believe god was preparing Joseph for this moment. But we we have to come to a place where we accept the wrong that is done to us and the8:50 difficulties that we have faced in the past, not with bitterness, but with gratitude. Yes. You heard me right. With gratitude that God will use them to9:02 shape us and mold us for his greater service. That's that's hard to accept, but, you know, we just have to to be thankful that Romans 89:14 28, all things work together, that that the lord is going to use these. What what the enemy meant for evil, god will use for good. Doesn't mean we have to be happy about it. Doesn't mean it just means9:26 we have to be grateful that God is working in us and through us and will will make the best of these things. Now, therefore, verse 33, let this is Joseph saying, now therefore,9:38 let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this and let him appoint officers over the land to collect 1 fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the 79:49 plentiful years. Now god not only gave Joseph the interpretation of the dream, but he gave him a plan to respond to the revelation of the coming famine. I mean, this is10:01 this is really good stuff. Alright? So I I I don't wanna pass up this important point. God positioned Joseph not only to interpret the dream and10:13 diagnose the problem and give a warning, but also to provide a solution, Like the sons of Issachar in first Chronicles chapter 30 chapter 12, the sons of Issachar who had an understanding of the times.10:25 They understood the times, but that's not the the end of this the the verse. They understood the times to know what Israel ought to do. As the the the church, followers of Christ, who are living in the10:37 power of the Holy Spirit, should not just be commentators on the chaos, but problem solvers. Alright? There's we the world doesn't need more critics to diagnose the10:49 problem. What they need are prophetic voices that will speak truth into the chaos. Back to, Genesis 41. Now therefore verse 33. Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man11:01 and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land to collect 1 fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt for the 7 plentiful years. And let them gather all the food of11:11 those good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for 7 years of famine, which shall be11:23 in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine. Now scripture does not tell us this, but but I think the word of God in Joseph's life the or the work of God,11:35 rather, in Joseph's life was so thorough that he was not suggestion suggesting or even thinking of himself when he laid out this plan to pharaoh. I don't think he was thinking, well, pick me.11:47 I think he was walking in such humility. As scripture said, humble yourself before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Verse 39, then Pharaoh said to Joseph, in as much as God has shown you all of this, there is no 1 as11:59 discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word. Only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, see, I have set you12:10 over all the land of Egypt. Joseph went from prisoner to prime minister in a day, but the preparation took over a decade. But12:22 amid the disappointment and the unfair treatment, Joseph didn't give in to despair. He gave in to God, allowing God to refine him for God's plans and12:34 God's purposes. You know, as I was reading this account of Joseph, I thought of the worship song that, has been 1 of my favorite and, it became 1 of my favorites over the last few years, Waymaker. You are here12:46 moving in our midst. I worship you. You are here working in this place. I worship you. You are here moving in our midst. I worship you. You are here working in this place. I worship12:57 you. You are waymaker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. My god, that is who you are. That is who God is, and and13:09 Joseph understood that even in the darkness of the dungeon. God is a promise keeper. That is who he is. Don't let bitterness and disappointment13:21 over past wrongs keep you from God's future for you. Father, we thank you for your word. And, lord, your word is true. And and, lord, these13:33 accounts of the lives of of those that you have used to carry forth your message of redemption and salvation, lord, we can learn so much of human nature,13:45 but, lord, also your divine intervention, your divine guidance, your provision. Lord, help us to learn through the Holy Spirit. Show us how to take these truths of who you13:57 are and who we are, and, Lord, surrender to you, allowing you to work through our lives. We thank you, father, for the hope the hope that we have in you, a hope that is certain.14:09 May we, may we wait with great anticipation, Lord, as you, lead us on this journey through life. We pray and ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen. Alright. Thanks for14:20 joining me this morning. Until next time, keep standing on the word.14:27 Today's study comes from the Stand on the Word Bible Reading Plan available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you14:39 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 Faithful Service in the Midst of Trials5:44 God's Timing and Elevation to Leadership
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