Devotion for Thursday, September 3rd

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Kevin Peterson

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Sep 3, 2009, 1:22:55 PM9/3/09

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Devotional Text: Genesis 40 (To read and even listen to this text for free, click here.)

Verse in Focus: “On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him” (Genesis 40:20-23).

Related Verse: “My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you” (Psalms 25:15-21).

Devotional Thought:

I know of no one who likes to be forgotten. I recall a time—one time only, mind you!—that we forgot my mother’s birthday. And by “we” I mean myself, my younger sister, my younger brother, and my father. As I recall, I was a teenager at the time—perhaps around 13 or so—but that offers no excuse. My birthday comes just a couple of weeks before my mother’s, so I should have remembered. I kid you not—and it should come as no surprise—that the next few weeks after the missed birthday in our house were pure hell. And, rightfully so, my father bore the brunt of it. When we get together as a family now, we can laugh about it. But not then. As my Mom has pointed out since, it was never about the birthday—she hadn’t been thrilled about having them for a while anyway—it was that her family, whom she dearly loved, had forgotten her.

As I said, it is definitely no fun being forgotten. I recall the feeling of sitting there at the soccer practice field, watching and waving as all my teammates are picked up by their parents. One by one they go, until I’m the only one left. It’s a sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach when you have been forgotten and have to walk home. What I am describing, of course, is not unique to me. Nor was it a common experience. My childhood was actually a good one, which is why the moments of being forgotten stand out so prominently in my memory. They were unusual—out of the ordinary—but that did not make them any less painful. Just the opposite, actually.

Joseph is a singularly impressive young man who has been blessed by God. The good Lord has seen fit to grant him personal, intimate contact with Himself by way of dreams. His own father, Jacob, showered him with love, affection, and personal gifts. He was the favorite. He was as far from being forgotten as one can get. He was the center of attention. And then, in an instant, it all changed. Before he knew it, he was bound for Egypt as a slave. As far as he could see, he had been forgotten. Worse than that—abandoned. Did he wonder if the Lord had abandoned and forgotten him as well? I suspect so, though the text does not indicate it.

When he got to Potiphar’s house, things obviously improved. As we are told in the text, the Lord was with him so that whatever he touched prospered. I wonder if he realized that at the time—namely, that the prospering was actually the Lord’s doing and not his own? He might have, especially considering what he said to his master’s wife when she tried to seduce him. At the very least, it is clear that Joseph had not forgotten the God of his fathers. But how discouraging it must have been to land in prison, especially for a crime he had not committed. True, he prospered there as well, but we can tell from our text for today that he was not happy there—and who can blame him?

How wonderful it must have seemed to him to have the opportunity to offer a positive interpretation to the Pharaoh’s cupbearer. And then to have it come true! Oh, how it must have seemed that the opportunity had been arranged by God Himself. I wonder if Joseph had gathered and bundled his meager belongings together, ready to leave at a moment’s notice? How crushing that must have been when the days stretched into weeks and months. He had been forgotten again. Well, that’s not true, even if it is how he must have felt. Despite all appearances, the Lord God had not forgotten him at all—even if the cupbearer did. And he doesn’t forget us either. Blessings on your day!

Vaya con Dios!

Pastor Peterson

REMINDER: You can check out previous email devotions from Shepherd of the Valley Devotions by going to http://groups.google.com/group/salmonlutheran