"Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine hand, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler." (Gen. 40:13)
Joseph interpreted the Butler's dream (which was good news) and the Baker's dream (which really was bad news - but then again at least he had been warned and should have made preparations to meet the Lord). The Butler was restored, and yet he forgot Joseph. He forgot to basically talk to the king of Egypt about Joseph and his petition to get him out of prison. We are left with the sad ending of Genesis 40:23 "Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him." Would this cause Joseph bitterness? Could it be that this is what will drive Joseph apart from being used of God? No.
1. Joseph did not allow the circumstances to dictate his attitude - Joseph asked these men this question: "...wherefore look ye so sadly to day?" - I read that and I think about how Joseph's faith in God is so strong that despite being abandoned by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused of immorality, and cast into prison, he still maintained somewhat of a positive attitude.
2. Two more years in prison and only because the Butler 'forgot.' - And yet we don't read about Joseph going bonkers over someone else's fault. We need to be careful not to ruin our spirits when things just don't go our way. In other words 'grow up.' Life is not fair, BUT God's grace is sufficient, God's wisdom is available, and God is waiting for us to cast all our cares on Him.
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