the things that never happened

The Word for today:
Genesis 40:1-41:13

mark this: Genesis 40:23--
Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Joseph, falsely accused by Potiphar's wife, is thrown into prison.

There he interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh's butler and his baker. Predicting that the butler would be set free and restored to his former position, Joseph asked just one favor in return:
In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh's cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house.  (Genesis 40:13-14)

But the butler is so elated with going back to his job and being in favor with Pharaoh again that he forgets all about poor Joseph.

In spite of the discouragement, Joseph believed that God was moving in his life, and the fruits of his faith were apparent. He was faithful in every relationship of his life. He was faithful to Potiphar. In prison he was faithful to the keeper of the prison. He was faithful to God, always giving Him the glory. We will see later on that he will be faithful to Pharaoh, and he will be faithful to his own brothers. Joseph’s faith made him faithful.

Put yourself in Joseph's shoes. He feels forgotten, forsaken. To the natural eye, it looks like his prayers have not been answered.

But Joseph saw with the eyes of faith. He saw right through the little "No's" to a bigger "Yes."

God wants to leave him there for a purpose. Suppose the butler had said to Pharaoh, “There is a prisoner down there who is innocent. He should not be there—he has been falsely accused. And he interpreted my dream for me. I sure would appreciate it, Pharaoh, if you would let him out.”

If Pharaoh had let Joseph out, he would have been at home in the land of Canaan at the time that Pharaoh needed him to interpret his dream. But God wants to keep him nearby, and prison is a convenient place to keep him. There will be no difficulty in Pharaoh’s finding him when he needs him.

Because it is impossible (for us) to know the things that didn't happen, it is impossible to calculate the benefits of God's "No's."

But the things that never happened may prove, someday, to be the best things that ever happened to us.

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