Joseph, the boy favored by Dad, gifted the coat of many colors, resented by his brothers, sold into slavery and taken to Egypt. He arrives and is purchased by Potiphar, a high ranking official. He has so much trust in this young man, he gives him the position of overseeing all that needs to be done. God gives Joseph favor while he serves as a slave.

The scene changes dramatically after Potiphar’s wife attempts to seduce the handsome Joseph. He flees, and literally leaves her standing with his cloak in her hand. The jilted woman, furious at his refusal to commit adultery, accuses him of attempted rape. Next stop, prison.

Not despairing, but still favored by God, Joseph continues to extend himself to others. Two big shots, the king's cupbearer and baker, anger “his majesty” and are thrown into prison as well. Then they both have dreams they do not understand. Joseph sees the despair on the face of the cupbearer and asks him what is troubling him. The dream is told to Joseph (favored by God) and he  interprets the dream. Genesis 40:5-13 The interpretation was the cupbearer would be released in three days and would resume his position. Joseph told him at the start, that God was the one who knew what dreams meant, and now said he had been falsely accused. Would the cupbearer remember him once released? Would he use his position and tell the king about Joseph?

Now the baker had overheard the conversation and wondered if Joseph would interpret his dream. Joseph told him the truth (from God) and that he would be hung on a tree in three days.

A number of things jumped off the pages that I didn’t consider before. Joseph could have been in dance mode knowing the cupbearer would make it possible for his release, because really, the man would remember the person who saw his despair, listened and helped, right?  The baker could have been dismissed by a wave of Joseph’s hand. Why would he bother to listen to another hard story? He did not dismiss him. He listened. He spoke the truth.

The chapter closes out with the baker executed and the cupbearer restored. ”Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.” Vs 23

It never ceases to amaze me when a scripture, a portion of it or an entire chapter, turns on the spotlight of understanding, in both my mind and heart. “Wow God”.

Joseph was favored by God as a puffed-up youth, as a slave up for sale, a trusted slave/employee, a falsely accused man of integrity, a prisoner and as a man who saw the struggles of others. Always favored. Not dependent on his circumstances, or by what others believed. No, Joseph was favored because he knew God. He believed God. He was faithful, not flawless or without failure.

I am favored by God. I understand it a bit more in this moment than I did when I woke up this morning. I have been gifted with compassion for others. Discernment, too, is a gift. I do not always see these as gifts. In the seasons of personal challenges, I admit I don’t “feel like being compassionate”, and when the opportunity presents itself, I open up and give. This is one of the “aha’s”. I am favored by God. He gives me an opportunity to extend compassion and kindness when I’m hurting and struggling myself.

Wow God!