Joseph’s story offers a banquet of lessons on which to reflect during this Lenten Season - faith, reconciliation, God’s promise. But, it is his unshakable sense of hope in the goodness of others that is evident in this verse.
One would predict that after Joseph’s brothers had plotted to kill him and then sold him into slavery, that he would be a bitter and suspicious man. But his sense of hope and trust is displayed in this verse as he anticipates that the Pharaoh’s Cup Bearer will feel inspired to repay his kindness and expedite his release from prison. But faith is the seed of hope, and Joseph’s faith in God is enduring.
The definition of hope is confident expectation. One Biblical scholar describes Joseph as having “inextinguishable hope.” Inextinguishable, because despite the betrayal by his brothers, and his imprisonment after being falsely accused of attempted rape by Potiphar’s wife, his hope in the goodness of others remained.
We have all felt the sting from a hurt or betrayal by others. And the sting is even more painful when it is those closest to us who are the origin of our injury. But even during his suffering Joseph always felt that God was with him. Joseph’s hope was inspired by God’s promise that his suffering would have meaning and be an opportunity for blessings.
I pray we follow Joseph’s example to trust in God during times of suffering. And, as with Joseph in bondage and Christ on Calvary, that we have faith that through our suffering we too can find meaning and an opportunity for blessings. It is this faith which will be the seed of our hope.
— Cheryl Tyson
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