By: Joyce Picker
January 2024 Blog
Starting out the New Year by the Gregorian calendar, so many of us have expectations. One expectation may be “What About My Future, Lord?” What can I expect this year? Does my New Year hold surprises? There are so many questions.
One of my favorite characters in the Bible is Joseph. His story is very relevant for each of us in the New Year and always, and I believe there is so much we can learn from it especially when we encounter each new season God has for us. Speaking about, what about my future? Do you think Joseph asked the Lord those questions when he encountered each new phase of his existence? After Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, we find him in a prison. Let’s pick up the story in Genesis 40.
Now it was after these things that the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. 2 Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, with the chief of the cupbearers and with the chief of the bakers. 3 So he put them in custody of the house of the commander of the bodyguards—in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. 4 The commander of the bodyguards assigned Joseph to be with them and served them as their personal servant. They were in custody for some time.
5 Then the two of them each dreamed a dream on the same night. The dream of each man—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each had its own interpretation. 6 When Joseph came to them in the morning, he observed them, and there they were, looking miserable. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were with him in the custody of the house of his master saying, “Why are your faces so sad today?”
8 They said to him, “We dreamed a dream and there is no one to interpret it.”
Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Please tell me.”
9 So the chief of the cupbearers told his dream to Joseph, saying to him, “In my dream, suddenly, there was a vine in front of me. 10 On the vine were three branches, and as it was budding, its blossoms came out, its clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand and I took the grapes, pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in Pharaoh’s palm.”
12 “This is its interpretation,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches: they are three days. 13 In another three days, Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position. Then you’ll put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand just as you used to do before when you were his cupbearer. 14 But if you remember me, that I was with you, when it goes well with you, please show me kindness and mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house. 15 For I was forcibly kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing at all that they should put me in this pit.”
16 When the chief of the bakers saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was in my dream. Expectantly, there were three baskets of white bread on my head. 17 In the top basket was food for Pharaoh—all kinds of baked goods. But the birds were eating them from the basket on my head.”
18 Then Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation. The three baskets: they are three days. 19 In another three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—off of you—and will hang you on a tree. Then the birds will eat your flesh off of you.”
20 Then it happened on the third day—Pharaoh’s birthday—that he held a banquet for all his servants. He lifted up the head of the chief of the cupbearers and the head of the chief of the bakers among his servants. 21 He restored the chief of the cupbearers as his cupbearer, and he put the cup on the palm of Pharaoh’s hand. 22 But the chief of the bakers he hung. It was just as Joseph had interpreted for them. 23 Yet the chief of the cupbearers did not remember Joseph—indeed, he forgot him.
For purposes of illustration, I want to focus on verses 14 and 15 and 23.
But if you remember me, that I was with you, when it goes well with you, please show me kindness and mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house. 15 For I was forcibly kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing at all that they should put me in this pit.” 23. “Yet the chief cupbearers did not remember Joseph.”
God has a plan, a hope and future for each one of us, His believers, not only for a New Year but for our entire lives. If we truly believe that then we must believe that He is in control and that His timing is perfect. We should not try to make things happen in our timing or because we feel like we are in a situation that we have been treated unfairly or that it is unbearable. We don’t need to help God along in any way. God is God and we are not. Verse 14 is an attempt on Joseph’s part to make things happen. But God’s timing is perfect and we should not question it. It was not time yet for Joseph to be released. We don’t know why we only know that God had to work some things in Joseph for His good. We must trust in God and have faith that he is working all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28! If you feel like you have been put in prison unjustly, just wait on God’s perfect timing. The New Year ahead is bright and full of every good thing God has for you. Just have faith and don’t try to take things into your own hands, it may be tempting but it does not turn out well. Verse 23 says it all! The chief cupbearers did not remember Joseph! It would take two more years before Joseph was brought in before Pharoah. When God says wait, we need to wait! I imagine he would sit ther day after day, asking, when Lord?
Now, let’s get back to the original question. What about my future Lord? Why don’t we let the Scripture answer that question!
Genesis 9:12 - Then God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I am making between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you for all future generations.
Isaiah 8:23 - But there is no gloom to her who was in anguish, as in time past. He treated lightly the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will bring glory— by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan— Galilee of the Gentiles.
Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans that I have in mind for you,” declares Adonai, “plans for shalom and not calamity—to give you a future and a hope.
Psalm 37:37 - Notice the man of integrity and watch the upright— for the man of shalom has a future.
Proverbs 23:18 - For surely there is a future, and your hope will never be cut off.
2 Timothy 4:8 - In the future there is reserved for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not to me only, but also to everyone who has longed for His appearing.
WOW! Our future is bright because of Messiah! Does that ease any concern we might have? Let’s go into 2023 full of expectation for what God is going to do this year and beyond! Stay close to Him, The Word and trust and have faith that you are exactly where you need to be.
Like Joseph, God knows where we are, where we are going and where we need to be and His timing is perfect!
Let's pray: Abba, Father, I thank you for another New Year full of endless blessings and possibilities. You are Lord of Lords and King of Kings and your ways are higher than our ways. Teach us to totally rely on you for all the guidance we need in our lives. We believe you have our future in your hands and that you will direct and guide us in your perfect timing! Teach us your ways Lord and let us walk in obedience.
Have a blessed New Year and please let me know your testimony!
With love in Yeshua!
Joyce
Please take a look at our other blogs on the website. We pray they minister to you wherever you are. We are coming up on the Fall Feasts of the Lord. take a look at some of the past Blog Teachings which explain what the Feasts of the Lord are and how relevant they are today.
Scripture is quoted from Tree of Life version.