City Life Starter

Written by Aisha Darwesh

The Word

¹⁶ When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, ¹⁷ and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.” ¹⁸ And Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. ¹⁹ In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.”²⁰ 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. ²¹ He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. ²² But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. ²³ Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

–Genesis 40:16-23 (ESV)

³ At the very moment I called out to you, you answered me!

You strengthened me deep within my soul

and breathed fresh courage into me.

⁴ One day all the kings of the earth

will rise to give you thanks when they hear the living words

that I have heard you speak.

⁵ They too will sing of your wonderful ways,

for your ineffable glory is great!

⁶ For though you are lofty and exalted,

you stoop to embrace the lowly.

Yet you keep your distance from those filled with pride.

⁷ By your mighty power I can walk through any devastation,

and you will keep me alive, reviving me.

Your power set me free from the hatred of my enemies.

⁸ You keep every promise you’ve ever made to me!

Since your love for me is constant and endless,

I ask you, Lord, to finish every good thing that you’ve begun in me!

–Psalm 138:3-8 TPT

Aisha’s Analysis

In today’s verses from Genesis the chief baker opens up to Joseph about his dream upon observing the favorable dream interpretation Joseph gave his colleague, the chief cupbearer. Unfortunately for the chief baker, his dream did not turn out so favorably. Pharaoh ended up ordering the chief baker to be hanged. 

However, what stands out to me most from this passage of scripture is Joseph’s steadfast trust in God’s ability to bring dreams to pass. Let’s recap Joseph’s dream. At the tender age of 17, God gave Joseph a dream:

⁶ He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: ⁷ Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.”

–Genesis 37:6-7 ESV

From the time God gave Joseph that dream, his brothers threw him in a pit, sold him into slavery, he was wrongfully accused of attempted rape, and he was wrongfully imprisoned. If there’s anyone who could have easily dismissed a dream, it would have been Joseph. 

What was keeping Joseph’s faith alive? It had to be his relationship with God. In every season, from the pit to Potiphar’s house to prison, scripture says the Lord was with Joseph. The Lord’s presence was the only consistent comfort in Joseph’s life. Everything else was seemingly stripped away – his family, his freedom, his future. 

Without God’s presence in his life, Joseph might have gotten bitter and lost faith in God and His promise. However, as we’ll see this story unfold, that is certainly not the case. Joseph decided to lean into God’s presence while in those painful circumstances. He continued to trust God even while he was bound in chains. This is the kind of person God can trust with a mega dream like the one He gave Joseph–someone who will trust and rely on Him no matter what things look like. 

Another observation about Joseph from this portion of scripture: Joseph cared about the people around him. He didn’t allow his pain to distort his perception, and he paid attention to others. After all that he went through, he was still encouraging others! While the chief baker’s dream pointed to his doom, who knows in what ways Joseph encouraged the baker. It’s not often we get a warning right before we’re about to die. Maybe upon hearing Joseph’s ill-fated dream interpretation, the chief baker decided to get his life in order. Maybe it was an opportunity for Joseph to encourage him and tell him about God. 

This shows us that no matter what we are facing, God is up to something. It behooves us to turn our attention outward and look for opportunities to bless others even in the midst of trying circumstances. Helping others with their dreams while we’re still waiting on God to fulfill our own is a beautiful expression of faith and trust toward God.

Application

We see from Joseph’s life that trust in God is not based on our circumstances, but in the very nature and character of God. The more you cultivate your relationship with God, the more you will learn of His character, and that will help build your trust in Him. When you are actively trusting God, your circumstances will not crush you. 

As a way to build trust in God, spend time with Him. Listen for His voice and learn of His character in the scriptures. 

As a way to express your trust in God, look for opportunities to bless others right where you’re at. Don’t dwell on your past or worry about the future. Focus on what He’s calling you to do right now.

Prayer

Father God, I know You have a perfect track record and that I can trust You with my life. You’re a good, good Father. There is no one like You. You did not withhold Your very own Son from me. I trust that You have a good plan for my life, and I want to spend the rest of it honoring You in all that I do and say. In Jesus’ name, amen.