The Secret of Contentment

In my last blog we left Joseph in prison placed there due to a false testimony against him.  Chapter 39 : 20b - 21, “(20b)But while Joseph was in the prison, (21) the Lord was with him; He showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.”  So  many times we think that when we are going through hard times that the Lord has left us.  In Joshua 1:5 God tells Joshua, “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life.  As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  This is also for us as well when as we read in Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  Joseph knew this and had confidence that God was in control.  Joseph’s confidence and attitude resulted in God working through the warden to grant favor to Joseph.  Did you notice that God granted him favor in the eyes of the warden?  God was at work in both Joseph and the warden.

Genesis 40 tells us the story of the cupbearer and the baker with whom Joseph was put in charge of by the warden.  I would urge you to read this story in your Bible.  I am going to give you a little synopsis of it but if you read it, something different that you might need to know may stand out to you.

First of all I would like for you to notice that it begins with “Some time later,”  which tells us that Joseph had spent quite a bit of time in prison prior to these men coming into prison and into his service.  The warden had assigned these me to Joseph who cared for them.  If you notice in the last part of verse 4, it states, “After they had been in custody for some time,”  we don’t know how long that is but we do know that they spent a considerable amount of time in prison.  This means that Joseph spent even more time than they did in prison.  Do you think Joseph was having to wait for the Lord’s plan to be fulfilled?  Do you ever feel that it is not fair that you are having to wait for that plan?  Do you ever ask the Lord to please hurry and fulfill His plan because you just don’t think you can take much more?  I know the answer to all of the above is “yes” for me.  Joseph though continues to serve the Lord while in this prison.

One night the cupbearer and the baker both had dreams.  The next morning they were downcast because they did not know what the dreams meant and they had no one to interpret the dreams for them.  When Joseph came to take care of their needs, Joseph noticed that they were downcast and ask them why.  They explained to him that they had both had dreams and no one to interpret the dreams.   Now, Joseph was quick to let them know that only God could interpret the dreams and asked what they had dreamed.  Remember, the Lord was with Joseph and he was able to tell both the cupbearer and the baker their fate.  The cupbearer would be restored into his service to the king and the baker would be hanged.  Joseph asked that the cupbearer remember him when he found favor with the king,.  In verse 15 Joseph shares of his trials to the cupbearer, “For I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve to be put in a dungeon.”  How often do you think Joseph thought about all the trials that he had gone through.  His brothers turned against him and sold him but he made the best of the situation and then he is falsely accused and thrown into prison, even so, he made the best of the situation.  Now he has hopes to get out of prison but the Lord has him wait another two years before he is finally released from prison.  In verse 23 it tells us, “The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him”.

Have you ever waited for something, thinking it was the Lord’s will only to be disappointed?   I have several times and it is very frustrating.  I began to wonder if I really understood what the Lord wanted for my life.  When this happens I become anxious, frustrated, and yes even angry.  Not always do I become angry with the Lord but I become angry with those around me who the Lord is working through.  Remember the Lord allowed the warden to find favor.  The Lord will allow the one that He chooses to find favor with each of us  in order for His will to be complete.  Joseph knew of the secret of contentment even in the midst of his trials, in Hebrews 13:6 we are reminded again of what that secret is, “So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?”

As you seek Him and you find Him may you have the peace and contentment that your life is in His hands in all circumstances.

Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila