Disappointment Has Purpose

DISAPPOINTMENT HAS A PURPOSE

Genesis 40:5-8

PROBLEM

Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve felt like you’ve been forgotten?

Joseph is stuck in prison and wondering if he is ever going to get out. 

This chapter is as much about “where is God in the waiting?” as it is about dreams.

GOD

5 After they had been in custody for some time, each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.

6 When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. 

7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?”

8 “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”

Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

 

If anyone had reason to doubt dreams from God, it was Joseph.

Joseph and Daniel are the only two in the Old Testament who were interpreters of dreams.

Egyptians built books of dreams which contained interpretations of past dreams and symbols

we must look to God’s word to interpret our circumstances. It doesn’t come through dreams.

APPLICATION

Disappointment is often a trigger for us to sin. Blinded by self-pity. 

Important question: do we believe God is good when life disappoints?

we hope for some instrument to be the means of our rescue. God with us in suffering

God made it clear that He and He alone would come to Joseph's rescue.

Usually the last, but first thing we need to think: what is God doing in this situation?

whatever our God ordains is right. May God bless us to believe it in our own circumstances today

VISION

As Christians we must never forget that we know the end of the story.

Are you going to live disappointed, or are you going to do something for God with your disappointment?

William Sangster -progressive muscular atrophy disease
1. I will never complain
2. I'm gonna make my home a happy and bright place
3. I'm gonna think of all the things God has done for me and through me in my life
4.I'm gonna try to turn this horrible situation into something good

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