Genesis 40:23

23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Remember, Joseph depended on his own timing, and trusted in the cupbearer to get him out of the prison, instead of waiting on God’s timing.

Who do you depend on?

Jeremiah 17:5-8

5 Thus says the LORD,

"Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind

And makes flesh his strength,

And whose heart turns away from the LORD.

6 "For he will be like a bush in the desert

And will not see when prosperity comes,

But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness,

A land of salt without inhabitant.

7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD

And whose trust is the LORD.

8 "For he will be like a tree planted by the water,

That extends its roots by a stream

And will not fear when the heat comes;

But its leaves will be green,

And it will not be anxious in a year of drought

Nor cease to yield fruit.

So we see:

Genesis 41:1

1 Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream, and behold, he was standing by the Nile.

One principle to learn from this:

Attendance in the school of patience is mandatory in the plan of God. He uses delays in our lives to construct character, to train us to trust Him, and to make us develop dependence only on Him.

Look at these other examples of people who waited.

Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years from the promise that they would have a son, to the birth of Isaac.

Moses spent 40 years herding sheep in the desert AFTER God told him He would use him to free Israel.

David was anointed king of Israel as a boy of 17, and spent the next 20 years fleeing from Saul before he took office!

Joseph waited 11 years from the dream of his brothers bowing down to him, to the promotion he is about to receive.

Maybe it’s just me, or maybe it’s our whole societal outlook of immediate gratification, but I have a hard time waiting a week! Think about Joseph in this situation. He realizes that the cupbearer is going to get out, and it’s a perfect time and a perfect way for God to solve Joseph’s problem! How many times have we looked at a situation, and told God how He could solve our problem this way and at this time?!

But if Joseph had been released when HE wanted, he would have missed the dream of Pharaoh, and never would have been promoted to where God wanted him.

Be careful about telling God how and when you want Him to solve your problem. Have faith that God knows the best way and the best time to solve your problems! And His way and His timing are always the best for you, even if you don’t think so in the short term!