The Appointment of Disappointment

The Shocking Message



These weekly devotionals I will be posting come from and are copyright to Pam Iannello, my pastor's late wife who went home to be with the Lord on June 18, 2008.


Learning how to face our family problems through an in-depth study of the troubled home of Joseph.




This devotion is part of the "Family Problems" series.

With the business of ministering to the butler and the baker complete, all these three men could do now was wait to find out if what Joseph had told them would come to pass. Waiting is hard business, amen? Certainly each man was filled with different emotions while waiting for the same day. The chief butler must have been filled with joy, for restoration was on the horizon for him. On the other hand, the chief baker was doubtless full of anxiety in the face of being hung on a tree! But what about Joseph; what sort of emotions do you think he was experiencing? Based on his request of the butler (vs. 14) to make mention of him before Pharaoh, we can only imagine that Joseph was very hopeful of possibly having the chance to soon be released from prison with the help of man. Well, the day has finally come; let's see what takes place as we finish out Genesis chapter 40, verses 20-23…

And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand: But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

How interesting that Joseph's interpretations came to pass on Pharaoh's birthday, that this would be the day when the fate of these three prisoners is finally revealed. A birthday party is always a festive occasion, amen ladies? Birthdays give us a chance to reflect on the passing year - the good and the bad that has come into our lives, the sorrows and the joys we have experienced. No matter whose birthday party you may be attending, you can't help but reflect a bit on your own year, amen? Reflecting is good - it gives us a chance to be thankful to God, for we should never forget the sufferings, the promises, or the love of our Redeemer! Reflecting also provides us the opportunity to see just where we have placed our expectations. By the way, where are yours today??

Psalm 62:5
My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

On Pharaoh's birthday, all his servants attended him, and then the cases of the butler and the baker were looked into. Praise the Lord that folks witnessed how Joseph interpreted God's message accurately! A servant of the Lord is to be trusted for the truth. His interpretation of the dreams came true: the cupbearer was restored, and the baker was hanged. Yet Joseph was left in prison, for the chief butler had forgotten to make mention of him before Pharaoh. (Be careful that you do not forget your spiritual helpers simply because your life is at ease!)

Proverbs 25:19
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

At times, ladies, we may wonder why others experience the blessings that we so desperately need; yet God has His plan and His time, amen? Certainly Joseph has had plenty of experience with being slighted by man, but I'm sure he couldn't help being somewhat disappointed with the outcome of this long awaited day. Have you ever been disappointed in man? Have you ever been disappointed in God?? Joseph strictly learned by his disappointment not to put confidence in the arm of flesh, for it is an ineffectual support. Far better it is to trust in God alone, for He will never forget us!

Isaiah 49:15
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

Ladies, if our souls would prosper, we must take full refuge in the Lord; we must trust in His timing for deliverance. As a matter of fact, the butler completely forgot about Joseph for the next two years!! You see, God was ultimately going to use the butler's bad memory to deliver Joseph, but the right time had not yet come. When he first went to Egypt, Joseph was seventeen years old and after peeking ahead into Genesis chapter 41, I found that he was thirty years old when he was finally delivered from this prison! This means he spent thirteen years as a servant and a prisoner… These were God's years of discipline and training put into Joseph's life as preparation for his lifelong ministry as the second ruler of Egypt. What ministry is God taking time right now to prepare you for?? Are you able to wait on Him, or have you given up in the face of a setback to your desires and looked to man for help?? Because no one is grieving for your afflictions, are you tempted to think the Lord has forgotten and forsaken you, or are you wholly resting in His precious promises?

Psalm 78:7
That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments…

Like Joseph, we must remain yielded to God's will even in our disappointments. Our disappointments are God's special appointment - the time to draw closer to Him! Do not turn away from the Lord out of your grief; do not let your heart forget your heavenly Father or His Word! Whether it's Pharaoh's birthday or not, take the time to remind yourself of your Redeemer…

Lament. 3:21-26
This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

In closing, I want to encourage each of you not to become embittered by your circumstances but cheerfully resign yourself into God's hands, wait silently before Him and you will rise above your situation! Through desire, make the Lord your daily portion and your afflictions will work for your good. The faithfulness of God is a tremendous encouragement in days when people's hearts are failing them and resting in the Lord will be your turning point. We've learned from Joseph that if you build your life on people or on the things of this world, you will have no hope or security; but if you build on Christ - the Faithful One, you will be safe forever!

Psalm 118:8
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003 Meet Ms. Pam

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