Perspective: WK4 - TUE
Troubled
Genesis 41:1-9
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.
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.
Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.
I really struggle to remember names. People are gracious and often express empathy for the challenge of keeping track of so many community members. But it doesn’t matter. I feel my ears burn when I blank in the middle of greeting someone I’ve already met and can’t remember their name. Recently, in the middle of a one-on-one prayer with a team member (yes, that means it’s someone I’m around regularly), my inner voice interrupted my thoughts with two possible names for my prayer partner. I was in the middle of thanking God for (fill in the name here)’s friendship when my memory offered up both Melissa and Jessica. Ouch. I was already committed, so I confidently inserted the name I was 75% sure of and waited for the tension of a mistake, eyes tightly closed. Thankfully, I guessed correctly and wasn’t exposed for my confusion. But I almost wimped out and inserted something generic and noncommittal.
Forgetting names embarrasses me. Worse yet, forgetting an appointment. I am mortified when I realize I have overlooked a commitment and left someone hanging. It is tempting to feign ignorance or make up an excuse. Anything to sidestep the shame, even over small things.
Today’s passage takes us to Pharaoh’s dreams. Often, when we dream, we struggle to remember them by morning. Not these two dreams. These visions stuck with the supreme monarch and troubled his mind. He asks for help from interpreters and discusses them publicly enough that the chief cupbearer hears about them. That’s when it happens.
Like that moment when you wake with a start, look over, and realize you have overslept and are expected somewhere in the next five minutes, the cupbearer bolts to attention. He suddenly remembers a promise he made 2 years earlier to a friend who offered help and asked to be remembered. Surely his face flushes with blood as embarrassment and shame wash over him. He has been consumed with his own freedom and has forgotten his promise. Now, confronted with embarrassment and shame, the cupbearer swallows hard and admits his fault, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.” He tells Pharaoh about his friend, who seems to understand dreams and can help interpret the monarch’s troubled visions. But where is he? The cupbearer stammers, “His name is Joseph. He is a Hebrew ward of the prison of the palace guards.” Rather than shrink back to preserve his pride, he summons the courage to admit his failing, unwittingly making way for God’s plan of salvation.
Genesis 41:1-9
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.
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.
Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.
I really struggle to remember names. People are gracious and often express empathy for the challenge of keeping track of so many community members. But it doesn’t matter. I feel my ears burn when I blank in the middle of greeting someone I’ve already met and can’t remember their name. Recently, in the middle of a one-on-one prayer with a team member (yes, that means it’s someone I’m around regularly), my inner voice interrupted my thoughts with two possible names for my prayer partner. I was in the middle of thanking God for (fill in the name here)’s friendship when my memory offered up both Melissa and Jessica. Ouch. I was already committed, so I confidently inserted the name I was 75% sure of and waited for the tension of a mistake, eyes tightly closed. Thankfully, I guessed correctly and wasn’t exposed for my confusion. But I almost wimped out and inserted something generic and noncommittal.
Forgetting names embarrasses me. Worse yet, forgetting an appointment. I am mortified when I realize I have overlooked a commitment and left someone hanging. It is tempting to feign ignorance or make up an excuse. Anything to sidestep the shame, even over small things.
Today’s passage takes us to Pharaoh’s dreams. Often, when we dream, we struggle to remember them by morning. Not these two dreams. These visions stuck with the supreme monarch and troubled his mind. He asks for help from interpreters and discusses them publicly enough that the chief cupbearer hears about them. That’s when it happens.
Like that moment when you wake with a start, look over, and realize you have overslept and are expected somewhere in the next five minutes, the cupbearer bolts to attention. He suddenly remembers a promise he made 2 years earlier to a friend who offered help and asked to be remembered. Surely his face flushes with blood as embarrassment and shame wash over him. He has been consumed with his own freedom and has forgotten his promise. Now, confronted with embarrassment and shame, the cupbearer swallows hard and admits his fault, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.” He tells Pharaoh about his friend, who seems to understand dreams and can help interpret the monarch’s troubled visions. But where is he? The cupbearer stammers, “His name is Joseph. He is a Hebrew ward of the prison of the palace guards.” Rather than shrink back to preserve his pride, he summons the courage to admit his failing, unwittingly making way for God’s plan of salvation.
- Can you recall a time you were late for an appointment because you overslept? What happened?
- What system do you use to remember appointments? Are you good at it? Why or why not?
- What is something you are tempted to ignore, minimize, or fib about to avoid shame? What would you like to do about it? Who should you confess this to?
- What is going on in your life that you find confusing or troubling? What would you like to say to Jesus about it?
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