Joseph’s Technicolour Wait 

“Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.”
Genesis 40:23 (NKJV)

I’ve always loved the production of Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat. When I was in junior school we sang it as a choir; then some thirty years later both my daughters were in a junior school’s grand production with costumes and two performances. We had an hour long drive to school and used to listen to Joseph to and fro. So when the real “Joseph” lost her voice mid second performance, they were able to keep the show going.

Exciting stuff for anyone, but what about Joseph? How excited must he have been with the restoring of the King’s Butler to his former glory? Not quite with me? Well, in the book Genesis the story goes, a man called Jacob had twelve sons, the favourite being Joseph to whom he gives a technicolour dreamcoat. His siblings are jealous and sell him to passing Midianites, who in turn sell him as a slave in Egypt. There he lands on his feet and is placed in charge of a wealthy army officer’s household until the lady of the house, being spurned, falsely accuses him of attempted rape. As a result Joseph ends up in jail but, finding favour with the prison guard, is once again overseeing things.

This is where we find Joseph when two of the king’s chief staff, the Butler and the Baker are imprisoned and have their dreams. Joseph interprets the two dreams from his fellow prisoners (Genesis 40:1-23). He asks the Butler to remember him when he goes back to the King. Three days later, just as revealed by God, the Baker is executed and the Butler reinstated.

Now here is where we find an excited Joseph, for once the King hears of his plight he should be released in no time! He can almost taste his freedom. Day one passed, day two. Week one passed, week two. Month one passed, month two. Year one passed, year two! At what point do we think Joseph realised that he had been forgotten? Maybe God was not answering this particular prayer? Had all hope gone?

Sometimes, when we are in the midst of a particularly difficult period, it may feel that God has forgotten us, or is not answering our prayer. But just because we do not get a “yes” doesn’t mean that God has forgotten us or not answered. Sometimes, His answer is “Wait.”

Pharaoh’s dreams in Genesis 41:1-36 were, some two years later, the catalyst for the Butler. He finally remembers Joseph who, through God, was in the right place to interpret the King’s two dreams and become Egypt’s number two—but that’s a whole other story!

Prayer
O Lord God, thank You for the encouragement we can find in Your word. Help us always to remember that You are not slack concerning Your promise—everything is done to Your perfect timing. In Jesus’ name.
Amen

Study by Jackee Brown

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About the Author:
Jackee Brown is a member in the Worldwide Church of God UK Congregation in London, a part of Grace Communion International .

Local Congregation:
Worldwide Church of God London
Indian YMCA Student Hostel
Mahatma Gandhi Hall
41 Fitzroy Square
LONDON
W1T 6AQ

Meeting Time:
Saturday 2:30pm

Local Congregational Contact:
Barry Robinson
Email: london@gracecom.church