I Cannot Do It

Genesis 41:1-40

Welcome! We have been working our way through the amazing account of Joseph in the book of Genesis. I really enjoy spending time on something that is often compacted to a single page or two in a children’s Bible story book, and thinking about the actual events. Joseph’s life was tough. From being betrayed and sold by his own brothers, from being punished with prison for something he did not do, and then to be forgotten, as we read in the last part of last’s week’s passage, this was really difficult. It would be easy to become bitter, to become angry at God, or stop believing that He existed, but we find no evidence of this in Genesis. I do think Joseph had some – at this point in the story – unresolved feelings about his brothers, but over time, even that will work out, as God will miraculously orchestrate events – but we are getting ahead of ourselves.

Last week, we saw that, in prison after being falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, Joseph did what he had done before – he served faithfully as unto the Lord, and the Lord blessed him in all that he did. Before too long, Joseph was again put in charge, this time, in charge of the prison, only under the warden. This was indeed a great blessing, but Joseph was still not free – indeed, he was more constrained than he had been when he was a slave under Potiphar.

Now, while serving in this role in the prison, Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker were each put in prison, and as we read last week, they each were given dreams by God. God gave Joseph interpretations of these dreams, and he relayed those interpretations to each of the men – very good news for the cupbearer, as he was about to be released and restored in his former position, but very bad news for the baker, who was about to be punished with death.

After Joseph told the cupbearer the good news, he made this request:

But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. – Genesis 40:14

Such a seemingly small request, and one you might think the cupbearer would be quick to do, but we are told the following:

The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. – Genesis 40:23

This brings us to today’s passage, which begins with the following:

When two full years had passed… - Genesis 41:1a

I don’t know what part of Joseph’s trials were the hardest, but I can imagine how difficult this was. It was a simple request, one Joseph undoubtedly thought would be honored. I can imagine him asking the warden each day, “Any news from Pharaoh?” Maybe he told the warden what this was about, or maybe not. But each day, in any case, the answer was the same – no news. At some point, Joseph likely stopped asking, and at some point, he likely stopped hoping.

I consider this Joseph’s third great experience of betrayal, the first being the betrayal by his brothers, and the second being that by Potiphar’s wife. Now he wouldn’t know if the cupbearer remembered or not – from Joseph’s perspective, it was possible the cupbearer asked but Pharaoh said “no.” But perhaps even in this case, there might have been a way for the cupbearer to relay a message to the prison. But Joseph received no word, nothing, because the cupbearer forgot. We have every reason to assume Joseph prayed, again and again over this, but all indications are that God gave no answer, whether through revelation or through the cupbearer.

Now, we don’t know why this prayer was not answered in the way Joseph wished, but we can be certain that if Joseph was praying, God was listening. It is possible that the Pharaoh was a capricious person who changed his mind on a whim. It certainly seems that way, given that he first threw the cupbearer in prison and then released him. This is purely conjecture, but perhaps if the cupbearer had told Pharaoh about Joseph right away, Pharaoh would have released Joseph only to have him killed because he was having a bad day. In any case, Joseph lived as he had lived before the events with the cupbearer and baker. He basically ran the prison, with only the warden over him. He was trusted, and he continued to prove himself trustworthy. But he was still a prisoner after all.

Looking online, I found a lot of messages based on this passage that were about waiting for the Lord. But I don’t really think this is about waiting for the Lord. It is not as if Joseph knew that God would pull him from the prison. Rather than being an illustration about waiting on the Lord, I believe this more appropriately illustrates regular life for all of us, when there are situations in our lives that we wish were different, situations that we have told God about, but, for now, do not change. I believe we are to live in the present, not hoping for a future that may or may not come. Now let me be clear – there are some very wonderful things in our future, if we are Christians, that we can and should wait for patiently in the Lord – our future eternity with Christ in heaven, for example. And there are dozens, if not hundreds, of verses encouraging us to wait on the Lord – and in this sense we should certainly do so.

But when it comes to specific things that we don’t have promises from Scripture for, things involving details of our lives, it is not so much about waiting for the Lord as it is about living for the Lord despite not knowing what will happen, living for the Lord while trusting that, whatever happens, it has a purpose in the Lord and will be used for His glory. This is more a lesson about contentment, and I am reminded of what Paul writes in Philippians 4. Indeed, there is a parallel, because Paul apparently expects something from the audience of his letter, but they do not provide it, much like Joseph expects something from the cupbearer that does not come. Here is what Paul writes:

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:10-13

I believe that Joseph, likewise, did more than endure those two years – he thrived in them, because he too relied on Him who gives him – and us – strength. And with that, let us see what happened after those two years.

When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. – Genesis 41:1-4

He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream. In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. – Genesis 41:5-8

Why was Pharaoh troubled? Certainly, he must have had dreams at other times. I believe there are several reasons. First, we can assume that the Lord Himself made his mind troubled. These dreams were from God, not from the pickled leeks and onions he had as a midnight snack right before bed. And for that very reason, maybe the dreams were more intense and vivid, or somehow, he just knew they were not ordinary dreams. Second, he had two dreams, with completely different items, cows versus grain, but yet they seemed to have exactly the same message. I don’t know about you, but I don’t ever recall my everyday kind of dreams doing this.

And so he calls for all the people – not just in his court – but throughout Egypt – who claimed to speak for the gods, or who claimed to have special wisdom. Now you might think these people, to get on Pharaoh’s good side, would just tell him some happy interpretation, so that Pharaoh would bestow gifts on them, even appointing them to a permanent position in his court. But none dared to do this, because they knew that if they were proven wrong, they would end up, well, like that baker two years ago.

Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.” – Genesis 41:9-13

“Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.” What an interesting turn of phrase. It’s a very polite way to say you blew it, you sinned. It’s probably a very wise way to tell someone who has a habit of removing people’s heads from their bodies that you messed up. To his credit, he now tells Pharaoh the full account, even if doing so risks Pharaoh’s possibly rekindled anger. How does Pharaoh respond?

So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” – Genesis 41:14-16

To be brought before Pharaoh, the king, you are made to be presentable. We still do this today – even though we are a “come as you are culture”, we do make exceptions. I bet you would dress up if you were about to address the most powerful ruler of the world. In Joseph’s case, I don’t think Joseph had a choice – Pharaoh’s attendants probably required it of every person who visits Pharaoh, because it is an expectation, a way for visitors to honor Pharaoh. Note that this was required – despite Joseph being the warden’s favorite, the one who essentially ran the prison, such privileges did not include creature comforts. Joseph was still dressed like a prisoner, he still was denied basic toiletries, and so on. He still lived like the prisoner that he was.

Our title for today’s message comes from this portion of the passage: I cannot do it. The Hebrew phrase for this is an idiom that essentially means “Me? Everlasting no.” And then in a confidence I believe that is born of the Holy Spirit, Joseph assures Pharaoh that God will explain it.

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up. – Genesis 41:17-21

“In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.” – Genesis 41:22-24

It is interesting that this retelling includes a bit more detail than the original account. We are told that even eating the fat cows did not improve the look of the thin cows. We now turn to Joseph’s reply.

Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine. – Genesis 41:25-27

“It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon. – Genesis 41:28-32

And so here we have the deeply disturbing interpretation – not of Joseph, but of God through Joseph. A one-year famine was bad enough, destroying a full year’s food production, but a seven-year famine was unthinkable. Fruit trees would die. Cattle and other grazing animals would die of starvation. A seven-year famine was a death sentence not only for individuals, but for nations, for civilizations.

Joseph gives the intended meaning of the fact that the dream had two forms – although I do think that this double dream is what shook up the Pharaoh enough to believe that it was not a random dream, it can simultaneously be as Joseph interpreted, the double nature speaks of certainty and urgency.

Joseph has more to say:

“And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.” – Genesis 41:33-36

I want to point out that Joseph was not asked to suggest what to do. He was only asked to interpret the dreams. This is “above and beyond”. We have been told repeatedly that Joseph served both Potiphar and the warden so well that he was put in charge of all their affairs. Now we get a small glimpse of what they perhaps saw in Joseph.

Here is someone who, like Pharaoh, has been faced with news so terrible that it could lead to the end of essentially all life in Egypt and the surrounding areas, but who stays calm and furthermore suggests creative, bold, and yet practical ways to deal with the problem. Not only will this save the country, but it will also greatly raise the name and honor status of Pharaoh, a fact that I am sure was not lost on Pharaoh. 

The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” – Genesis 41:37-40

Now the degree of this reversal in Joseph’s fortune is breathtaking. Technically, he still is not free, but equally so, in Egypt nobody except the Pharaoh was truly free, as anyone could be subject to any command from the Pharaoh at any moment. But Joseph has risen from being a prisoner, viewed with extreme dishonor because of the charges that he had been convicted of, to the most honorable position imaginable for anyone other than the Pharaoh himself. And he had been given sole responsibility for perhaps the most important task ever given to someone in ancient Egypt, and if he was successful, he would be known by everyone as the person who, with his God, saved everyone.

Now, being known throughout the world as a person who, with his God, saved everyone, should sound somehow familiar. And yes, this makes Joseph a “type” or “shadow” of Christ. We will say more about this later in the series, but let’s just look at some of the events so far. Before we do so, however, let me just mention a bit more about what being a “type” means and does not mean. Being a “type” means that the person foreshadows some of the actions and/or purposes of Jesus, the Son of God, who would come later and live a sinless life as a man, perform miracles, be a powerful teacher, die for the sins of man, and then rise from the dead. It does not mean that the person does everything that Jesus does, and it certainly does not mean that the person is without sin. Every person that has ever lived, except Jesus, has been a sinner, even if Scripture does not specifically tell us what their sins have been.

So in what ways is Joseph of “type” of Christ? In what ways do we see a foreshadowing of Christ?

One way is in Joseph’s father’s special love of Joseph. In Matthew 3:17, during Jesus’ baptism we hear God the Father say “this is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.” And, although we have previously discussed this behavior of Jacob as a negative, and rightly so, in Genesis 37:3 we are told that Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other sons. It is interesting to me that Jacob’s special robe made for Joseph itself foreshadows the future events of Joseph’s life just as his dreams of having his brothers bow down to him did. With Joseph’s new position, Joseph will soon be wearing clothing appropriate to being number two in Egypt. But as for being a “type” of Christ, we note that Jesus too was given a “royal” robe shortly before he went on the cross. And although unintended, that robe too foreshadowed Christ’s ultimate role as, well, number two in the universe.

Joseph told his brothers about the dreams he had, dreams that implied his future as a leader over them. And his brothers hated him all the more for it. Likewise, Jesus told the Jews things such as “before Abraham was born, I AM” that implied His great superiority over them, and they hated Him as well.

In Joseph’s case, things finally escalated to the point that they betrayed their brother, first planning to kill him, but then selling him for pieces of silver to a people that were really their enemies. With Jesus, the Pharisees and others first intended to kill Jesus outright, but then they decided to let Rome, a people that really were their enemies, do it. And again, the betrayal occurred for pieces of silver.

With Joseph, they stripped the robe from him before giving him over. With Jesus, the robe they mock Him in is removed from Him before He is nailed to the cross.

Philippians 2 tells us of Jesus the following:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant [slave], being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. – Philippians 2:6-11

What about Joseph? He too was made a slave. And although he did not actually die, from the perspective of his father, and all other than his brothers who knew the truth, he was truly dead, because that is what his brothers had told him, showing him the coat as evidence. Even the brothers, believing that they would never see him again, probably thought of him as dead. We will see further fulfilment of Joseph as a foreshadowing of Philippians 2 in the upcoming weeks.

Recall that Joseph then was thrown into prison, given a life sentence, meaning that he would be there until he died, for something he did not do. He was innocent of all charges, yet false accusations led to his conviction. In the same way, Jesus was also innocent of all charges made against Him, and yet, He too was given a life sentence.

Note that, for Jesus, out of that death, He overcame death and, free, served as rescuing Savior for all that would come to Him in faith, receiving eternal life. Joseph, also, effectively overcame death, escaping his life sentence in prison, and now, in his new role, he too would serve as a kind of rescuing savior. And as we will see, in order to receive this rescue, people would need to come to him to receive, in his case, the food of life. As you can see, the parallels run deep.

In Jesus’ case, He was crucified with two other criminals, and He has a discussion involving them. With Joseph, there was also a conversation with two prisoners, the baker and the cupbearer. Joseph tells one of them that they will die but that the other will be set free. In Jesus’ conversation, one of them only mocks Jesus, but the other rebukes this one, and Jesus tells him that he will be with Him in paradise (certainly, a version of being set free). One interesting contrast is that Joseph asks the cupbearer to remember him, but the cupbearer does not do so. In Jesus’ case, it is the prisoner who asks Jesus to remember him, and we can be certain that Jesus does do so.

I cannot believe that all of these parallels are coincidences. They instead are signs of a single Author of the Bible behind all the human writers, a single Author of history behind all the seemingly random events. Thousands of years before modern movies came up with the idea of “easter eggs,” God was putting easter eggs into Scripture, faith-building wondrous examples of His authorship revealed only to those who knew enough of the big story to know where to look.

This is a good place to close, but before we do, let us return to the Joseph account, viewing Joseph not as a “type” of Christ, but as simply a man who has learned to depend on God. I encourage you to think again on Joseph’s answer to Pharaoh, “I cannot do it.” It is such an interesting phrase, isn’t it? It has entirely different meanings depending on where you put the emphasis. I encourage you to look at the situations in your life, especially any circumstances that seem difficult. Are there any in which you are currently saying, “I cannot do it”, with the emphasis on the word “do”? If so, I encourage you to change the emphasis, literally and figuratively. Literally, change the wording to “I cannot do it,” with the emphasis on the word “I”. And add the phrase “but God can.” Do you believe this?

With whatever God brings to mind, spend some time in prayer, committing to Him things that you know you cannot do through your own strength. It can be big things or little things, impossible tasks or avoiding habitual sins or even just getting through life one day at a time. Whatever it is, confess to Him that you cannot do it, but that with Him, you can.