KEY SCRIPTURE: Genesis 40:1-4 After this, the king of Egypt’s cupbearer and baker offended their master, the king of Egypt. 2 Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guards in the prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guards assigned Joseph to them as their personal attendant, and they were in custody for some time. 

SLIDE: Summary of Chief Cupbearer’s Dream:·     

There were 3 blossom vines.

-The blossoms turned into grapes.

-The grapes were squeezed into Pharoah’s cup.

-The cupbearer gave the cup to Pharoah. 

SLIDE: Summary of Chief Baker:

-Three baskets of white bread were on his head

-Top basket had baked goods.

-Birds began eating the baked goods.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Genesis 40: 20-23: On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he gave a feast for all his servants. He elevated the chief cupbearer and the chief baker among his servants. 21 Pharaoh restored the chief cupbearer to his position as cupbearer, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 22 But Pharaoh hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had explained to them. 23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. 

SLIDE: Often, our timing is not congruent with God’s timing. 

SLIDE: God is not waiting for the "right" time. If we trust God, He will use every moment for His glory.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Genesis 41:1-8 At the end of two years Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile, 2 when seven healthy-looking, well-fed cows came up from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside those cows along the bank of the Nile. 4 The sickly, thin cows ate the healthy, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. 5 He fell asleep and dreamed a second time: Seven heads of grain, plump and good, came up on one stalk. 6 After them, seven heads of grain, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up. 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, full ones. Then Pharaoh woke up, and it was only a dream.8 When morning came, he was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.

SLIDE: Patience - “The ability to endure difficult people and situations without giving into anger or  giving up hope.” (Renew.org)

SLIDE: Biblical patience isn’t a passive response. Rather, Biblical patience necessitates investment in God’s character. Our hope is found in Him.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Genesis 41: 9- 16Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I remember my faults. 10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guards. 11 He and I had dreams on the same night; each dream had its own meaning. 12 Now a young Hebrew, a slave of the captain of the guards, was with us there. We told him our dreams, he interpreted our dreams for us, and each had its own interpretation. 13 It turned out just the way he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.” Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said about you that you can hear a dream and interpret it.”16 “I am not able to,” Joseph answered Pharaoh. “It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

SLIDE: Summary of Pharaoh's dreams:

-Dream 1

o  7 healthy cows 

o  Followed by 7 sick cows 

o  7 sick cows then ATE the healthy cows·     

-Dream 2 

o  7 healthy heads of grain 

o  Followed by 7 sick heads of grain 

o  The sick heads of grain ATE the healthy ones.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Genesis 41:28-32 “It is just as I told Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt. 30 After them, seven years of famine will take place, and all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten. The famine will devastate the land. 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered because of the famine that follows it, for the famine will be very severe. 32 Since the dream was given twice to Pharaoh, it means that the matter has been determined by God, and he will carry it out soon.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Genesis 41:37-43 The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants, 38 and he said to them, “Can we find anyone like this, a man who has God’s spirit in him?” 39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you are. 40 You will be over my house, and all my people will obey your commands. Only I, as king, will be greater than you.” 41 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “See, I am placing you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, clothed him with fine linen garments, and placed a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, and servants called out before him, “Make way!” So he placed him over all the land of Egypt.

SLIDE: Summary of Joseph’s Story:·     

-Favorite son

-Sold into slavery by his brothers·

-Favored in Potiphar’s house·

-Thrown into jail

-Favored in all of Egypt

SLIDE: God does not promise us fame, fortune, or an easy life. God does promise us that our pain and hardship can, and will, bring about our good and His glory. 

KEY SCRIPTURE: James 1:2-4 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

KEY SCRIPTURE: -2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2Timothy 1:7-10 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.8 So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me his prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 16:33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Romans 8:35,37-39  Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.