Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

August 19
Monday


THE GIFT OF
REMEMBERING

READ:
Genesis 40:1-14,23
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Yet the chief butler did
not remember Joseph,
but forgot him.
__Genesis 40:23
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During seminary, I worked in a nursing home. As I spent time talking to these men and women, at some point nearly every patient would describe the loneliness of their present lives and the realization that they were outliving their peers. Most wondered if anyone would remember them when they passed from this life.

It isn't just the elderly who can feel lonely and forgotten. In fact, many of us feel trapped and alone, set aside by circumstances fair and unfair. Sometimes we even experience what the Old Testament character Joseph did: people failing to remember us when there's every reason they should.

Genesis 40 describes Joseph's experiences as he's trapped in prison. The cupbearer had been freed and returned to the king's service, just as Joseph told him would happen (vv.9-13). Joseph had asked to be mentioned to Pharaoh, but the cupbearer forgot him (vv.14,23).

We may feel forgotten. Yet, like Joseph, we are not (42:9-13). Jesus sits at the right hand of God, and our prayers reach the throne of the King without fail because our Savior is our Mediator. When we feel alone, let's remember to rest in the confidence of Jesus' promise to be with us forever (Matt.28:20). __Randy Kilgore

``````````````Lord, let me be found serving others, as Joseph`````````````
```````````did, in those hours when I feel most forgotten. May`````````````
``````````````I never be the "cupbearer" who fails to bring the`````````````
```````````````lonely and hurting to Your attention in prayer.`````````````
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Jesus never abandons or forgets His own.

*******************Today's Bible Reading __ Genesis 40:1-14,23************************

1 It came to pass after these
things that the butler and the
baker of the king of Egypt
offended their lord, the king
of Egypt. 2 and Pharaoh was
angry.... 3 so he put them
in custody in the thouse of the
captain of the guard, in the
prison, the place where
Joseph was confined...

5 Then the butler and the
baker...had a dream, both
of them, each man's dream in
one night and each man's
dream with its own
interpretation. 6 And Joseph
came in to them in the
morning and looked at them,
and saw that they were sad.

7 So he asked Pharaoh's
officers who were with him
in the custody of his lord's
house, saying, "Why do you
look so sad today?" 8 And
they said to him, "We each
have had a dream, and there
is no interpretr of it."

So Joseph said to them, "Do
not interpretations belong to
God? Tell them to me,
please.


9 Then the chief butler told
his dream to Joseph, and said
to him, "Behold, in my
dream a vine was before me,

10 and in the vine were three
branches; it was as though it
budded, its blossoms shot
forth, and its clusters brought
forth ripe grapes. 11 Then
Pharaoh's cup was in my
hand; and I took the grapes
and pressed them into
Pharaoh's cup, and placed the
cup in Pharaoh's hand."

12 And Joseph said to him,
"This is the interpretation of
it: The three branches are
three days 13 Now within
three days Pharaoh will lift
up your head and restore you
to your place, and you will
put Pharaoh's cup in his hand
according to the former
manner, when you were his
butler. 14 But remember me
when it is well with you, and
please show kindness to me;
make mention of me to
Pharaoh, and get me out of
this house...

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