Two Years Forgotten

The Story

Joseph’s brothers sold him as a slave. In Egypt, he worked hard and earned his master’s trust, until his master’s wife falsely accused him and he was thrown into prison for something he didn’t do.

Even there, Joseph served faithfully. One day two of Pharaoh’s officials, his cupbearer and his baker, landed in the same prison. Each of them had a troubling dream, and God gave Joseph the meaning. The baker would be executed, but the cupbearer would get his job back in three days.

Joseph asked the cupbearer for one thing: “Think on me when it shall be well with thee… and make mention of me unto Pharaoh.” Three days later, everything happened exactly as Joseph had said. The cupbearer went back to the palace.

And he forgot Joseph.

Two full years went by. Then Pharaoh had two dreams that no one in Egypt could explain. Suddenly the cupbearer remembered. Within hours, Joseph was pulled out of the dungeon, shaved, given clean clothes, and brought before the most powerful man in the world. God gave him the meaning: seven years of plenty, then seven years of famine.

That same day, Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. Years later, Joseph would tell the brothers who sold him, “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.”

Reflection