Joseph lost his job.

It’s actually much worse than that.

When Joseph spurned the advances of his boss’s wife, she accused him of making advances toward her. 

When the boss heard her story, more than just firing Joseph, he had him put in prison. 

The good news is that the prison warden liked Joseph and treated him well. But, still, it is a prison.

“Some time later….”

I’m not sure how much time that is, but I get the feeling that it’s way too much time for someone unemployed and imprisoned.

Anyway, “some time later,” the wine steward and baker for the king did something to offend the king. 

As a result of the offense, the king had the wine steward and the baker put in the prison where Joseph was.

The warden had Joseph looking after the wine steward and the baker.

“They continued to be in custody for some time.”

There it is again, “some time.”

Then, one night, the wine steward and the baker each have a dream.

The following day the wine steward shares his dream with Joseph.

In his dream he saw a vine. On the vine were three branches. The branches budded and blossomed; clusters immediately ripened into grapes. The king’s cup was in his hand, and he squeezed the grapes into the king’s cup and handed it to the king.

Joseph then interprets the dream. In three days, the king will raise the wine steward and restore him to his position.

Upon hearing the favorable interpretation received by the wine steward, the baker eagerly shares his dream.

On his head were three baskets of bread baked for the king. But birds were eating the bread from the basket on his head.

When Joseph gives the interpretation, well, it’s rather unfortunate. 

In three days, the king will behead him, impale him on a post, and the birds will pick his bones clean.

Everything happens according to Joseph’s interpretation.

The wine steward is restored to his position.

Now, imagine Joseph’s anticipation.

Imagine that someone has observed your best work. They saw the incredible efficiency with which you managed the project, witnessed your leadership as your team was instrumental in doubling your division’s revenue, or watched as you miraculously managed the organization’s financial crisis, saving it from ruin without cutting personnel.

Imagine that this person who has seen your best work firsthand and, in some sense, benefited from it, lands in an organization with both the resources and the inclination to bring in talented people.

This person knows you.

You’ve been through some tough times together.

This is someone who has seen you at your best.

And they benefited from your work.

Just think of Joseph’s anticipation as the wine steward returns to his position…

“The wine steward, however, did not remember Joseph. He forgot him.”

R—U—KIDDING ME??????????

Oh, it gets worse.

Two years pass.

That’s right, two years.

Let’s think about how long Joseph has been unemployed and imprisoned.

Two years + “some time later” + “after some time” = ONE HECKUVA LONG TIME!

Finally, the king has a couple of dreams. He’s troubled, not knowing what they might mean.

He looks for someone that can help him understand them.

No one on his staff could interpret the dreams, so they looked to outside resources, consultants, etc., but no one could help.

Can you imagine the look on the wine steward’s face when the king asked if anyone knew anyone that might be able to solve this problem?

“Oops,… I just now remembered something.” The wine steward goes on to tell the king about Joseph.

The king sends for Joseph.

Joseph then interprets the king’s dreams.

Joseph receives a very prominent position in the organization.

Now, what can we learn from the story of Joseph and the wine steward?

1, Sometimes, your network can seem limited and ineffective.

For most of us, our networks are primarily those we’ve worked with, go to church with, former classmates, etc. It hasn’t been strategically developed.

Sometimes, the people we know, know us from a past role in a specific industry. So even if they think we’re terrific, it may be challenging for them to envision us doing something new.

Often, the people we know are more connected to the places we’ve been rather than the opportunities we seek.

Sometimes, the people in our networks are just busy living their own lives.

It’s easy to go hard on the wine steward for forgetting Joseph.

But put yourself in his position. 

He’s been in prison once for offending this king and has seen the baker’s plight. 

I’m sure he was thinking about not making another mistake that might get him thrown back in prison or worse! 

I think he had a lot on his mind.

People in our networks can often be concerned with their challenges.

And then, sometimes, they may not feel they are in a position to help.

It doesn’t appear that any of Joseph’s previous contacts were in a position to be of help to him. This illustrates the importance of developing new connections.

No, Joseph wouldn’t have been able to attend the local meetings of the Association of Dream Interpretation and Prognostication (ADIP).

But he did take advantage of what little opportunity he had and told the wine steward very clearly, “Remember me when things go well with you… and tell the king about me.”

2. You may feel forgotten if you are unemployed and “some time” has passed. But you are not.

The Bible says, “…there in jail God was still with Joseph….”

Joseph waited well over two years before his circumstances changed.

I can’t imagine why God allowed Joseph to be in such a difficult situation for so long. 

Of course, God had a purpose for Joseph. But would it have ruined some grand eternal plan to shorten the amount of time?

God doesn’t answer to us for such things. 

But God never forgot Joseph, and he hasn’t forgotten you.

3. When you can’t immediately change your circumstance, there is something you can do. 

I’m sure that Joseph was consumed with thoughts about how to get out of there.

Yet, Joseph noticed that the wine steward and baker were dejected and asked why they were so sad.

At this point, he didn’t know anything about their dreams, the interpretations, or what might transpire.

Wouldn’t it have been easy to look the other way and not ask any questions?

Amid his challenges, Joseph sought to be a blessing to others.

It didn’t change his circumstances. At least, not for two years.

But isn’t there something empowering and liberating about a thoughtful act of kindness?

We may not be able to immediately fix our problem. But we can most certainly help someone else with theirs.

I wonder, who might cross our paths today?

_______________________

This part of the Joseph’s story is found in Genesis 39-41.