Season 4 Genesis 40:1-7 (Sue Wiberg)
To watch the replay of this bible study, please visit:
OR
Genesis 40:1-7 Prison Walls or God’s Wall
Who are You God and what are You Like: My Wall of Protection, Fortress, Shelter, Rock.
Presupposing the goodness of God.
Seeing Jesus through the lens of Joseph.
Vs 1 Chief Baker and Cupbearer. Two very important positions to Pharoah to protect and prepare food and drink. Harm could easily come through these places. Also very close to Pharoah and able to hear confidential conversations.
Witnesses to much of what the King would be saying and doing.
These were to be part of the wall around Pharoah to protect him. He has all kinds of people around him for protection.
Cupbearer and Baker. Represent Wine and Bread. They were not the wall that Pharoah needed. He needed the real Wine that was poured out the Bread that was broken, Jesus!
Luke 22:19-20 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.
Offended their royal master-Pharoah. How did they offend, doesn’t say.
Offended-sinned against their lord, adon. Same word Joseph uses in 39:9 as sin against God. How could he do such a great evil and sin against God.
He was angry.
We often use anger as a protection against harm!
Anger when something penetrates wall.
Prison in the palace of the captain of the guard. Is that Potiphar. He is called captain of the guard for Pharaoh in 39:1. Not sure. Pharoah put these two where Joseph was. Immediately means God is up to something.
Captain of the guard! Really that title belongs to Jesus! Pharoah needed Jesus!
Place where we are is place God is. Brings people around us for a reason. Often we don’t even know, but having His Presence with us makes all the difference
It’s not a striving, but being with Him, resting in Him, being who He made us to be, that’s it! No matter where we are and even if!!
These two remind me of the two criminals hung on crosses right next to Jesus. God didn’t have to put anyone next to Him, but He did! It’s two heart postures before him. Humility/honesty and fear/pride.
Each of the gospels mentions these two others crucified on either side, left and right. Jesus in the middle.
Only Luke shares the conversation between Jesus and Criminals/revolutionaries/rebels! One says what the crowd is saying, save yourself! Adds, prove who you are by saving yourself. Self Protect. Then save us too.
Luke 23:35-43 Open and read
But He is opposite of self protection! He is only about being surrendered to the Father’s will, saving others!
We can never be fully in the Father’s will, fully surrendered, in self-protection. No wonder the enemy was using many voices to yell that at Jesus, just as he yells it at us!!!!
Bring the bricks. Self protection builds a wall between me and others. Jesus was tearing down the walls!!!!!
Suffering together, whatever the reason, is an intimate space to be in. Can be defensive, protective or be a very intimate place with Jesus.
Jesus is right there with us in suffering!!!! In the middle of the two, like Joseph there with these two in prison. The two represent two heart postures always before us.
One criminal still following hard, defensive. Other is broken, fearing God, eyes opened to see the man next to him is Holy. Will we allow ourselves to be broken? Or defend to the death?
Vs 4 Captain of guard assign these two to Joseph, who looked after them, really! Not just looking suspiciously, but looking out for their welfare. Really looking through the eyes of God, listening for His leading. This is a tender heart in Jesus.
Eph 4:31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Heb 12:15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Psalm 73 especially vs 15-17, 21-22
Vs 6 & 7 Joseph is attuned to the Father and what he shows him. He notices the condition of the baker and cupbearer. Really, who does that when they are in prison. Usually a place of complaint and self focus. Lord yes, even in this prison I can look to you and see where you are pointing.
Two kinds of walls in the Bible:
-Walls of our own making that we put our trust in.
-God’s walls of protection around us.
Own Walls:
In Deut 28 the curses that come because of disobedience, that is not believing God is good, He is Faithful, He is Our Protector, Defender, Fortress. Living as our own gods behind our own walls of protection.
Deut 28:52 They will attack your cities until all the fortified walls in your land—the walls you trusted to protect you—are knocked down. They will attack all the towns in the land the Lord your God has given you.
Isa 22:5-11 Open and read
God’s walls of protection:
Nehemiah(a cupbearer) and Ezra
Fortress: Ps 18, 27, 31, 37, 46, 59, 61, 62, 71, 94
Fortress-masud-castle, defense, strong place, stronghold.
Refuge Ps 25, 59, 61, 62, 91, 119, 141, 142
Refuge-hasa-Mahase-flee for protection, confide in, make refuge, have hope, shelter
Shelter Ps 9, 31, 36, 37, 61, 64, 73, 91
Shelter, secret place-seter-covering, hiding place, protection
My Rock Ps 18, 19, 28, 31, 42, 62, 71, 144
Rock-sela or sur-cliff, crag, stronghold, safe place to hide, strength, refuge, rocky wall
Psalm 31 good example of being vulnerable to harm and looking to God.
Psalm 31:1-5 O Lord, I have come to you for protection;
don’t let me be disgraced.
Save me, for you do what is right.
2 Turn your ear to listen to me;
rescue me quickly.
Be my rock of protection,
a fortress where I will be safe.
3 You are my rock and my fortress.
For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger.
4 Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me,
for I find protection in you alone.
5 I entrust my spirit into your hand.
Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.
Psalm 32 even in our sin, bringing to Him in repentance, He is our protection!!! Wow!!!
Ps 32:7 For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory.
Brick laying over years to point of having limited vision and access. Jesus is able, one brick at a time! He is able to hear our cries even through our wall!!!
Ask Him to dismantle. To reveal what each brick represents. All of the fears from past hurts and rejections. And shame put on us from others that have hurt us, and from our sin in following fear, hurts we’ve caused.
The wall may keep out harms, but inside is a prison where there is nothing, but stone cold bricks.