He will cause them to remember you

By Rev Clifford Chisha
He was falsely implicated and imprisoned in a foreign land. An innocent prisoner without relatives to visit him, life must have been very difficult for Joseph.

Two people, whose names are not mentioned but described by their previous occupation were confined in the same prison with Joseph. The chief cupbearer and the chief baker attracted Joseph’s attention when it was clear that they were troubled by something.

Joseph made an effort to find out what caused them to be downcast. They disclosed to him that they had separate dreams to which they had no interpreter. Without knowing, they narrated their dreams to the right person. God had given Joseph the ability to interpret dreams.

He interpreted their dreams accurately. According to his interpretation, the chief cupbearer was going to be reinstated after three days and the chief baker hanged after three days. There seemed to be hope for Joseph.

The person he gave an interpretation of the dream that he was going to get back his job was Pharaoh’s high ranking officer. His position accorded him opportunities to speak to king Pharaoh almost every day. Joseph saw an opportunity and uttered the words found in Genesis 40:14.

“But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison.”

Unfortunately, the person he showed concern over and helped know what his confusing dream meant, forgot him when he was pardoned on Pharaoh’s birthday.

“The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.” (GENESIS 40:23). He became comfortable and forgot the person who helped him. The request he made was forgotten.

Have we forgotten those who showed us kindness when we were in desperate need of help? What has caused us to forget those who showed us kindness? Are we too comfortable?

Something happened in the palace that caused the chief cupbearer to remember Joseph. This took place two years after the chief cupbearer had been released from prison. If Joseph had been waiting for help through the chief cupbearer, maybe he had even begun to wonder whether Pharaoh’s official was going to help or not.

Two years is a long period, especially when one is in an undesirable situation like the prison. Pharaoh had dreams which troubled him. Check what happened in the morning when he woke up. GENESIS 41:8

“In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.”

Lack of a person to interpret the king’s dreams caused the chief cupbearer to remember Joseph. He confessed that he had made a mistake. He forgot Joseph’s help and request. GENESIS 41:9

Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.

Like the chief cupbearer, some of us have now been reminded of our shortcomings or faults.

May we remember those we have forgotten.

God is faithful. He will allow situations which will cause those who have forgotten you after being comfortable to remember you.

Jehovah will cause them to remember you.

He may cause a crisis to create an opportunity for you to be remembered.

The chief cupbearer mentioned Joseph before Pharaoh who gave a directive that Joseph be brought before him.

He appeared before king Pharaoh and with the help of the living God, interpreted his dreams.

After interpreting the dreams and giving good advice to Pharaoh, in a foreign land, Joseph was appointed to be second to king Pharaoh.

When Jehovah remembers you, He will cause those that have forgotten you and your abilities to remember you.