Sermon

God’s Plan in God’s Time Genesis 40:1-23

Have you ever had a time when everything was going so well, and then all of a sudden it all fell apart? One time, a young professional shared his story. He worked hard for years and finally got the chance of a lifetime: a position in a company he had always wanted to work for. The interview went incredibly well. The manager even gave him hints that he was the best candidate. As he left that building, he was sure: “This is it. This is what I’ve been waiting for. God has opened the door for me.” Many days passed, then weeks. Silence. Finally, he got a short email that said, "Thank you for your application." We're sorry to tell you... He was shocked. Feeling confused and very disappointed. What made it even harder was not just the rejection, but the feeling that everything had been going so well. The timing, the opportunity, the sense of peace，how could it all lead to nothing?

A few months later, through an unexpected connection, he was offered a different role, one he had never thought of. It turned out to be far better for him, opening doors he could never have imagined, shaping not only his career but his character. Later, he said, "At that time, I thought God had forgotten about me." But now I understand，God wasn't denying me. It was just not the right time for me.

Friends, many of us live in that space between expectation and reality. We see glimpses of God’s hand, and we assume we understand His plan. We expect things to happen quickly, smoothly, and in ways that make sense to us. But when delays come, when people forget us; when opportunities disappear, when nothing seems to change, we start to wonder: Is God still at work? Has God forgotten me?

This is exactly where we find Joseph in Genesis 40. A man who did everything right yet found himself in prison; A man who saw a door opening, only to have it shut again; A man who had to learn that God’s plan is certain, but God’s timing is different. And through the story, we learn the same lesson. It’s about God being at work, for good, in every event in our lives, even when we cannot see it.

I. God at Work in Unexpected Places

Joseph is one of the twelve sons of Israel (which later became the Twelve Tribes of Israel), and he was deeply loved by his father but hated by his brothers. And Joseph had a dream that made his brothers angrier at him, so they planned to kill him. But then, they changed their mind, sold Joseph as a slave into Egypt, where he became a servant in the house of the Captain of the Pharaoh’s Guard (named Potiphar). Despite his faithfulness, Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison.

Up to this point, Joseph had done everything right, but his situation only seemed to be getting worse. But God was with Joseph even in that undeserved, difficult situation; God had been going before him and gave him favour, making everything “right” on Joseph’s behalf. As a result, the prison warden put Joseph in charge of everything. At the end of the previous chapter, Genesis 39, we’re thinking, “Okay, tough situation. But God will come through for Joseph because it’s all in God’s plan, right? Yeah, right. But listen, please, it is God’s plan IN God’s timing. Genesis 40:1 tells us that there are two important officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker of Pharaoh, who are thrown into the same prison and placed under Joseph’s care. These two guys were not ordinary people: Often, the cupbearer was a trusted advisor and friend to the king, because the king trusted him with his life. Because it was the cupbearer’s job to make sure there was no poison in the king’s food or drink, he would taste it first before he gave it to the king, risking his own life for the king each time he sat down to eat. And the chief baker provided most of the king’s food, so he too was an important, trusted official. So, these two guys were two of the closest people to the Pharaoh.

But then verse 2-3 tells us: “Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guards in the prison where Joseph was confined.” Well, it just so happened that they ended up in the same prison as Joseph. Do you think so? Do you think it “just happened”? No! It’s God who put them there because God had a plan for Joseph that involved Pharaoh. Humanly speaking, there was no way for Joseph to reach Pharaoh, but God was already making a way. And so, verse 4 tells us that, for “quite some time”, Joseph was “taking care” of these two men. And Joseph had to start thinking, “Wow. I’m taking care of two of Pharaoh’s highest officers. I wonder if God is somehow at work here?”

And then in the next verse, verse 5, it happens, and it starts with a dream. After they had been in custody for some time, each of the two men, the cupbearer and the baker, had a dream on the same night. And that really troubled them because they didn’t know the meaning of the dream. Seeing their distress, Joseph showed compassion and asked about it. When they explained that they had dreams, but no one could help them, Joseph responded with humility and faith. In verse 8, he says, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

We all know that Joseph has the gift of dream interpretation (which is what initially got him in trouble with his brothers). So, these two guys both told Joseph about their dreams, and Joseph explained the dream to them. The cupbearer would be restored to his position in three days, while the baker would face death. And as Joseph spoke to the cupbearer, he made one simple request in verse 14: “But when all goes well for you, remember that I was with you. Please show kindness to me by mentioning me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison.” At this moment, everything seemed to align perfectly. I guess Joseph’s mind begins to race, and he’s got to be thinking, “This must be how God is going to get me out of this prison.” It looks like God has planned everything out perfectly. Even the timing seems right. It was clear that God was at work, but soon, Joseph was about to learn that God’s work unfolds according to God’s timing, not ours.

Sometimes when we sense God’s hand on our lives, we also may think, “Okay. This is it! Get ready for things to get better.” But maybe God is saying to us, “Be glad that you see my hand. But don’t assume you know my plan or my timing.” Sometimes, even when we see God at work, that doesn’t mean we can see His entire plan or know His timing. I’m sure Joseph thought, “Man. This must be God.” And it was God. But it was God on God’s terms, NOT God on Joseph's terms, and it was God on God’s timing, NOT God on Joseph’s timing.

II. Forgotten by People, Remembered by God

A few days later, exactly as Joseph had interpreted, Pharaoh celebrated his birthday. The cupbearer was restored, and the baker was executed. Everything happened just as Joseph had said. I guess Joseph was packing his stuff and standing by the door of the prison, waiting. And then comes the unexpected ending of the chapter. Genesis 40:23: “Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.” After all Joseph had done, he was forgotten. And that kind of thing sometimes happens to us, as well. People make promises and forget. In fact, it’s usually NOT out of any evil intention. It’s just that when we get out of sight, we’re out of mind. People forget us, but dear friends, we can be certain that God never does.

Years ago, I went to see an elderly believer who was very sick in the hospital and about to die. He asked me, "Pastor, I have relied on God's promises for years, but now, I can't remember a single one to comfort me." And I said to him: "My brother, do you think that God will forget any of His promises?" The old man joyfully said, “No, no! He won’t! Praise the Lord! Now, I can fall asleep in Jesus and trust His promise to bring me safely home.” This brother was calm and at peace, and soon, he was with the Lord.

Dear friends, you too can experience peace if you remember that God never forgets. Others may forget you, but God never will. So, when you face an uncertain future, be certain that the loving God is in control; be certain that He will remember you. So, our hope is not in our ability to remember God, nor in others remembering us, but in the certainty that God remembers us.

Joseph must have felt deeply disappointed. His hopes were raised, only to be crushed. The only person who could have helped him simply forgot him. That’s not supposed to happen. That’s not how it’s supposed to work, God! How could the cupbearer just forget about Joseph? Why would he just forget him? But even when Joseph was forgotten by the cupbearer, he was not forgotten by God. What seemed like neglect was actually part of God’s greater plan.

Often, we want so badly the answers to the “Why” and “How” questions. Why did this happen? How could this happen? But Scripture reminds us in Isaiah 55:8 that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. And since we can’t think like God and we can’t even imagine His ways, then we can’t have the answers to the “Why or How” questions. But in the life of faith, we are given a different question: “What should I do now?” Here in our passage, the “What” question is, what was Joseph supposed to do now? He’s completely discouraged. The cupbearer completely let Joseph down. He completely forgot about Joseph! I can imagine Devil might say to Joseph: “Joseph, your expectations have been shattered! You’ve been completely let down. What are you going to do now?” But wait a minute. Maybe God was just “testing Joseph.” Maybe the cupbearer was actually going to remember. God IS going to come through for Joseph – He is!

III. Trusting God Through Delay and Uncertainty

Joseph’s situation did not change immediately. In fact, it remained the same for two full years. Two years of waiting; Two years of silence; Two years where it seemed like nothing was happening. For two long years, God put Joseph on hold! Surely Joseph might think God had abandoned him. But God had not abandoned him! God’s plan was working IN God’s timing. God had not abandoned Joseph. God was working—quietly, sovereignly, and perfectly—behind the scenes.

During those two years, God was preparing the next step of His plan. Genesis 41:1 tells us Pharaoh himself would have dreams that no one could interpret. Only then would the cupbearer finally remember Joseph. And at that moment, Joseph would be brought out of prison and elevated to a position of great authority. But Joseph could not see any of this while he was waiting. And likewise, there is no way you and I can know that in seasons of delay. But that doesn’t mean that God is not at work in our lives. God is at work in your life! But God is at work in His timing. And we must decide whether we believe that or not. Apostle Paul says in Philippians 1:6, “God started a good work in you, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” The work God started in you – He is continuing, and he will continue it – until it is finished. God started that work; God is continuing that work; God will finish that work on the day you and I see Jesus Christ.

Friends, don’t get discouraged! God is at work in your life, no matter what you see, think, or feel. Don’t get disillusioned with God. In that circumstance, that trial, that difficulty that you are struggling with right now, God is at work in it for your good. But if you get consumed with questioning, demanding, and doubting God, then you will never be able to join Him in the work that God’s doing in the midst of that trial. Please remember, we serve a loving God who is at work in our lives, and we must join Him in the work He’s doing.

The question for Joseph was not whether God was at work—the question was whether he would continue to trust God in the waiting. Joseph had a choice: He could become bitter, discouraged, and angry—or he could continue walking with God. That means, for two long years, Joseph had to decide whether to stomp his feet and demand an answer from God or to continue to walk the path God had him on, and to do what was right regardless of his situation. Joseph chose to trust God, and he continued to serve, to care for others, and to do what was right, regardless of his circumstances.

From Genesis 41–50, we can see God sovereignly led Joseph from prison to power by giving him the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams about seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine, which no Egyptian wise man could explain. Through this divine revelation, Pharaoh recognised God’s wisdom in Joseph and elevated him to second-in-command over all Egypt. Joseph then stored up food to prepare the country for the hard years ahead.

Later on, when Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt for food, God brought them together again. Joseph forgave them and moved his whole family to Egypt so they would be safe. Joseph clearly acknowledged God’s guiding hand, telling his nervous brothers, “It was not you who sent me here, but God” (Genesis 45:8), and later, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20). When Joseph died, his brother took him out of Egypt and actually buried him in the Promised Land. Eventually, we see the full picture. God used every part of Joseph’s journey—from the pit, to slavery, to prison, to power—to fulfil God’s plan for him. Through Joseph, many lives were saved, and God’s promises to Abraham were fulfilled. Today, we are the descendants of Abraham. As we walk along this faith journey, we actually join God by doing the same thing Joseph did… by continuing to walk with God on the path God has us on, no matter the condition of the path. And we continue to do what’s right before God, no matter what the difficulty of the path is.

Conclusion:

As we reflect on Joseph’s story, we are reminded of these truths: God is still in control, even when life feels uncertain; God still cares, even when we feel forgotten; God is still working, even when we cannot see it. I wonder if we really believe that God is working in our lives. If you do, please do not give up in the waiting; Do not lose your faith in the delay; Do not stop trusting God in the uncertainty. Like Joseph, continue to walk with God, no matter the condition of the path. Because the God who worked in Joseph’s life is the same God who is working in your life and my life. And in His perfect time, God will bring His good plan to completion.