Joseph: Meant for Good - Favor in Prison
Published by Olwin Gosal in 2026 · 12 July 2026
Joseph: Meant for Good
Favor in Prison
Have you ever remembered your childhood when you felt anxious and worried because you thought your parents had forgotten you? I think this is a common experience that almost every child has at least once. I remember when I was little, my parents went to the market every day to sell things. They came home at night, and I had to wait by the roadside, watching every car that passed to see if my parents were in it. Waiting for only one or two hours felt like ten hours because I was alone in the darkness of the night. We have all probably experienced moments in life when we feel anxious and as if we have been forgotten. There are even times when we may think that God has forgotten us, and we may find ourselves in situations where we feel that no one cares.
Let us continue our study of Joseph. What do you do when you find yourself in the “prison” of life? When it feels as though God has forgotten you? Let us reflect on Genesis chapter 40.
Joseph still held on to God’s promise, but his situation was completely different from the promise he received in his dream. The dream was about leadership, influence, and authority. But his reality was a pit, slavery, false accusations, prison, and the feeling of being forgotten. How can I believe that God is still working even when I cannot see or feel Him? Our reflection today is this: God often does His greatest work during the times when we feel forgotten. God is still working while you are waiting.
1. What should we do when we feel forgotten? Stay sensitive and caring (40:1–8).
Joseph paid attention to people who were suffering. The chief cupbearer and the chief baker were put into prison together with Joseph because they had done something wrong. The Bible does not tell us what they did that made Pharaoh angry, but considering their jobs, it was probably related to the food and drink they served to the king.
In verse 4, “The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them.” This means that Joseph was given a special responsibility. As he carried out his duty, Joseph showed real care and concern for them. That is why verses 6 and 7 say that Joseph saw they were troubled and asked, “Why do you look so sad today?”
In verse 8 they answered him, “We both had dreams, but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell me your dreams.”
Sometimes, when we are discouraged, we only think about ourselves and do not care about other people’s situations. But this passage shows that even though Joseph was suffering, he still cared for others and wanted to help them. During his time of waiting, Joseph remained faithful to God. He said, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” Joseph had to interpret their dreams while he himself was still waiting for God to fulfill his own dream. This shows that Joseph truly trusted God and believed the dream God had given him, even though his circumstances were still difficult.
Faith is not simply trusting God when everything is going well. True faith is trusting God even when nothing seems to make sense. Through Joseph’s story, we also learn that one of the best ways to endure suffering and waiting is to keep serving God by caring for the people around us.
Then in verses 14–15 Joseph said, “But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. For I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in this dungeon.” From these verses we understand that Joseph was not a superhuman. He became tired, discouraged, and wanted to leave prison. That is why he asked the cupbearer for help. Joseph was willing to be honest about his situation. Even though he was helping others, he did not pretend that everything in his life was fine. Trusting God does not mean pretending that we are okay in front of other people. Once again, this shows Joseph’s faithfulness in the middle of his struggles.
Joseph spoke God’s truth. In verses 16–19 Joseph explained the baker’s dream: “This is what it means: The three baskets are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a pole, and the birds will eat away your flesh.” Joseph did not try to make the meaning of the baker’s dream sound better. He did not try to say something pleasant just to make the baker feel good. Instead, he honestly told him the interpretation God had given him. Was this easy? Certainly not! Verse 16 says, “When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, ‘I too had a dream.’” This means the baker was hoping that his dream also had good news. But Joseph had to tell him about the terrible and tragic death that would happen to him.
My brothers and sisters, sometimes God’s truth contains sad news, judgment, or correction. We must receive it, and if God commands us to share it with others, then whatever the cost may be, we must obey.
In verses 20–22, everything Joseph said came true. The cupbearer was restored to his position, and the baker was executed. This must have strengthened Joseph’s confidence that the dream God had given him would also come true, even though he was still in prison. Then verse 23 says, “The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.” As a human being, Joseph may have thought that the cupbearer he had helped would help him get out of prison. Instead, he was forgotten and ignored. Joseph had to spend two more years in prison. Yet he did not lose hope because God never left him. When God delays doing something in your life, it does not mean He refuses to do it. God is still actively working even when it seems to us that He is silent.
My brothers and sisters, Joseph was forgotten by people. Jesus experienced the same thing when He was abandoned by His disciples and His friends. Joseph suffered even though he was innocent. Jesus suffered even though He was perfect. Joseph’s suffering prepared him to save many people. Jesus’ suffering accomplished salvation for everyone who believes. The gospel reminds us that God is still working even when He seems to be silent.
Perhaps today you feel forgotten. Perhaps your life feels like a prison. At times like these, we must remember that Joseph’s story did not end in prison—it continued all the way to Genesis chapter 50. Joseph did not walk by his own strength. His story is the story of God working through an ordinary man. If we feel like we are in prison or have been forgotten, the only way forward is to look to Christ and entrust our lives to Him, the One who came, suffered, died, and rose again for us.