The Book of Genesis
Part 81
Chapter 41:1-24
Unrighteous To Forget
If the assumption that the attention and confidence of Joseph had been diverted from the Lord and placed upon man be in any degree true, Joseph was soon to discover how unreliable, neglectful, and forgetful man can be, and that over a prolonged period of time.
The Time
The butler to whom Joseph had said, “Think on me when it shall be well with thee,” forgot all about his benefactor for two full years. He did not forget Pharaoh’s wrath in those former years, or days spent “in ward in the captain of the guards house,” but he did forget about Joseph. Not until he was prompted by circumstances did he recall the man of godly wisdom and deep understanding. Thus does man reward the wisdom that solves his problems, the kindness that enables him joyously to anticipate his freedom, and the prediction that assures him of restoration.
The attitude of man to his fellow was the subject of Job’s lamentation when he said, “My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me” (Job 19:14). There are times when, like the Psalmist, we think of God as such an one as man, and we ask, “Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up His tender mercies?” (Psa. 77:9). How precious are the words of testimony and comfort to the Hebrew Christian, “God is not unrighteous to forget” (Heb. 6:10)! Even a woman may forget her child, “yet will I not forget thee,” said the Lord to His ancient people (Isa. 49:15).
In two full years Pharaoh would have celebrated his birthday twice; therefore, the butler would have passed through two occasions which might well have stirred his memory. It was no pleasant celebration that caused him to remember, but, rather, a gravely deep experience for the entire court of his monarch.
The Circumstance
These dreams of Pharaoh actually are manifestations of divine grace to one given over to idolatry. In his dream he stood by the river Nile, considered by the ancient Egyptians as a deity, one of their several objects of veneration. Centuries later when God executed judgment against all the gods of Egypt (Ex. 12:12), the river, as well as the other objects of worship, became a plague, the water was turned to blood (Ex. 7:14-25). Without doubt, in his dream Pharaoh imagined himself engaged in some religious ritual at the river, and there he saw the first parabolic vision.
The two dreams visualized a strange circumstance that devoured the choicest vegetable and animal foods intended for man. The foods were consumed, the amount depleted, the supply exhausted, and yet the need constantly increased.
This divine communication was not understood by the monarch, therefore, we are not surprised that he sent for his diviners, the magicians and the wise men of Egypt. As we consider the learning and prestige of these men and their apparent inability in this matter, we might well ask with Paul, “Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” “The world by wisdom knew not God” (1 Cor. 1:20-21).
The Recollection
Memory possesses the faculty of storing incidents, events, and circumstances and filing them in minute detail. At times the individual may be quite unconscious of the depth of the impressions recorded; nevertheless, these are all ready for some future occasion.
One of the means used to stimulate recollection is the association of ideas, both comparative and contrastive. The fact that Pharaoh had a dream that troubled him would induce the butler to recall his own dream, and that no one could interpret the dream would remind him of the young man who was able to reveal the strange meaning of his own dream. Once he had remembered his experience in the prison, he did not hesitate to relate the whole matter to Pharaoh. He told of the young Hebrew prisoner who with remarkable accuracy had foretold by the butler’s own dream events then future.
The Presentation
There were few preliminaries in the presentation of Joseph to the court. He was suitably groomed and dressed, all being accomplished in haste. No one on seeing him would have suspected that he had been released from prison. This complete change would have a definite psychological effect upon Joseph and those who knew his circumstance, but it did not produce pride and self-sufficiency in his heart. Joseph had been in the school of God for years, and in that school he had been taught how to behave himself not only in a prison but in a palace, the two extremes of social life.
Joseph’s conduct in the presence of earthly majesty was the result of true spirituality. There are several commendable qualities of character on display here:
Humility: When Pharaoh explained why he had sent for him and made reference to his dreams, expressing the hope that Joseph might help by giving an interpretation, immediately the reply was, “ It is not in me.” No claim to superior knowledge or wisdom was made. This statement, had it been made alone, would have troubled an already disturbed mind, for it was quite contrary to the commendation of the butler, who had said, “An Hebrew servant … he interpreted to us our dreams.”
Confidence: Dr. Moule in one of his expositions of Philippians 3:3 affirms that this verse contains four positive statements, not three positives and one negative. He suggests this reading, “We are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have confidence, but not in the flesh.”
How true this final statement was of Joseph! He said to Pharaoh, “It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” He not only confided in the Lord himself, but he directed Pharaoh to God as the All Wise who could give the interpretation of the dreams and peace to the distressed mind.
The demeanour of the erstwhile prisoner so inspired the faith of Egypt’s monarch that he not only related his dreams, but told them with the definite expectancy of a genuine answer.