Genesis 40:23

Genesis 40:23 marks a poignant moment in Joseph's story, immediately following his accurate interpretation of the chief butler's dream. Despite Joseph's plea for remembrance upon the butler's restoration to Pharaoh's service, this verse reveals the butler's complete failure to keep his promise, leaving Joseph in prison for an extended period.

Context

This verse is situated within the narrative of Joseph's unjust imprisonment in Egypt. After being sold into slavery by his brothers and then falsely accused by Potiphar's wife, Joseph found himself in the king's prison. There, he encountered Pharaoh's chief butler and chief baker, both of whom had disturbing dreams. Joseph, acknowledging that "Do not interpretations belong to God?", accurately interpreted their dreams. He foretold the butler's restoration to his position within three days and the baker's execution. In light of this impending release, Joseph made a specific request to the butler: "But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house." The fulfillment of the dreams occurred exactly as Joseph predicted, yet Genesis 40:23 delivers the disappointing news that the butler did not remember Joseph.

Key Themes

• Human Forgetfulness and Ingratitude: The most direct message is the butler's failure to remember Joseph, despite receiving a life-saving prophetic interpretation. This highlights human fallibility, self-absorption, and ingratitude. It serves as a stark reminder that we cannot always rely on the promises of others.
• Divine Timing and Providence: While the butler's forgetfulness seems like a cruel setback for Joseph, it is a crucial element in God's overarching plan. This delay ensures that Joseph's release and elevation to power will occur at precisely the right moment – when Pharaoh himself has a dream that only Joseph can interpret, thus setting the stage for Joseph's ascent to second-in-command in Egypt (Genesis 41:1). God uses even human failings to orchestrate His perfect will.
• Hope Deferred: For Joseph, this verse represents a period of prolonged suffering and deferred hope. His expectation of immediate release is dashed, leading to additional years in prison. This theme resonates with experiences of waiting and trusting God even when circumstances seem bleak.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses the archaic verb "forgat," which simply means "forgot." The phrasing "Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him" uses a redundancy to emphasize the complete and utter failure of the butler to recall Joseph. It's not just a passive forgetting, but an active oversight despite Joseph's direct request.

Practical Application

Genesis 40:23 offers several timeless lessons:

• Trust in God's Perfect Timing: When our hopes are deferred or promises from others are broken, it's an invitation to lean more heavily on God's sovereignty. His plan is always superior, even if it involves delays or detours that we don't understand at the moment.
• Perseverance in Adversity: Joseph endured years of unjust imprisonment and forgotten promises. His story encourages us to remain faithful and hopeful even when circumstances are difficult and our efforts seem unrewarded.
• The Nature of Human Relationships: This verse reminds us that human beings are fallible. While we should strive to be people of our word, we should also recognize that others may fail us. Our ultimate trust should be in God alone.

Ultimately, the chief butler's forgetfulness was not an oversight by chance, but a deliberate part of God's intricate design to prepare Joseph for a pivotal role in saving many lives, including his own family.