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Zion Bread of Life Christian Church

Rev Xi An Poon

主題經文：創世記40:8「約瑟說：解夢不是出於神嗎？請你們將夢告訴我。」

創世記40章記載約瑟被關在監牢裏，法老的酒政和膳長也同樣被下在監中。他們二人各做了一個夢，心裏愁悶，因為沒有人能為他們解夢。約瑟看見他們面帶愁容，就主動關心他們。這讓我們看見，約瑟自己雖然在不公平的環境中，卻沒有完全被自己的痛苦困住。他仍然有一顆留意別人需要的心。

當他們說無人能解夢時，約瑟說：「解夢不是出於神嗎？」約瑟沒有把能力歸給自己，也沒有用自己的恩賜高舉自己。他知道真正的答案、啟示和智慧都是從神而來。但同一章裏，我們也看見約瑟很真實的一面。他對酒政說：「你得好處的時候，求你記念我，施恩與我，在法老面前提說我，救我出這監牢。」約瑟不是沒有軟弱，他也渴望離開監牢，也希望有人記念他、幫助他。

可是最後聖經說：「酒政卻不記念約瑟，竟忘了他。」這一句很沉重，也很提醒我們：人會忘記，人會失信，人會沒有回應我們的期待；但神永遠不會忘記屬祂的人。

一、在困境中，仍然高舉神

創世記40:8「約瑟說：解夢不是出於神嗎？請你們將夢告訴我。」

約瑟不是在順境中說神掌權，而是在監牢裏仍然高舉神。他被冤枉、被限制、被困住，但他仍然知道神是答案的源頭。很多時候，我們在困難中很容易只看見自己的問題，只想着自己的出路。但約瑟提醒我們，即使環境還沒有改變，我們仍然可以承認神掌權；即使前面還未看見出路，我們仍然相信答案在神手中。

真正的信心，不只是順境時說神很好，而是在監牢裏仍然說：「解夢不是出於神嗎？」

二、在軟弱中，不把盼望放在人身上

創世記40:14「但你得好處的時候，求你記念我，施恩與我，在法老面前提說我，救我出這監牢。」

約瑟渴望酒政記念他，替他向法老說話，救他離開監牢。這是很真實的人性。人在困境中想被幫助、想被記念、想得釋放，這不是錯。但這裏提醒我們：人可以成為神使用的管道，卻不是我們最終的倚靠。人的幫助可以感謝，但人的幫助不能取代神。

我們也常常相信神，卻把盼望放在某個人、某個機會、某個關係、某個答案上。當人沒有回應我們，或者忘記我們的時候，我們就很容易失望和受傷。神要教導我們：可以尋求人的幫助，但心仍然要倚靠神；可以等待人的回應，但眼仍然要仰望神。

三、在被遺忘中，相信神仍記念

創世記40:23「酒政卻不記念約瑟，竟忘了他。」

約瑟幫助了酒政，酒政也真的恢復了職位。但他沒有記念約瑟，竟然忘了他。

人真的會忘記。人可能答應過我們，卻沒有做到；人可能受過我們幫助，卻沒有記念；人可能曾給我們盼望，最後卻沒有回應。但酒政忘記約瑟，不代表神忘記約瑟。人的沉默，不代表神沒有工作；人的延遲，不代表神的應許失效；人的忘記，不代表神的記念停止。後來到了創世記41章，神的時間到了，約瑟不是單單出監，而是被帶到法老面前，進入神為他預備的位置。

所以，被人忘記不等於被神丟棄；被人忽略不等於被神放棄。人會忘記，但神永遠記念。

創世記40章讓我們看見，約瑟在監牢中仍然高舉神，也真實地面對自己的軟弱。他渴望人記念他，但最後人卻忘記了他。這章提醒我們：人是有限的，人會忘記，人也不能承擔我們生命真正的盼望。但神沒有忘記約瑟，也沒有忘記祂在約瑟生命中的計劃。

今天，神也沒有忘記我們。人的記念可能會落空，但神的記念永遠可靠。人的時間可能延遲，但神的時間永遠不錯。

• 我是否在困境中，仍然相信神是答案的源頭？
• 我是否把太多盼望放在人、機會、方法或環境改變上？
• 當人忘記我、沒有回應我、沒有幫助我的時候，我是否仍然相信神沒有忘記我？

讓我們重新把盼望從人身上轉回神身上。人會忘記，但神永遠不會忘記。人會有限，但神永遠信實。

禱告回應：

親愛的天父，求祢幫助我在困境中仍然高舉祢，相信答案和出路都在祢手中。主啊，赦免我常常把盼望放在人身上，因人的反應而失望，因人的忘記而受傷。求祢重新校正我的心，使我接受人的幫助，卻單單倚靠祢。當我覺得被忘記、被忽略、被延遲的時候，求祢提醒我：祢從來沒有忘記我。祢的時間不會錯，祢的手仍然在工作。

奉主耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。

創世記 40

1 後來，埃及王的侍酒總管和膳食總管得罪了王， 2 王非常憤怒， 3 把他們囚禁在護衛長波提乏府內的監牢裡，也就是約瑟被囚的地方。 4 護衛長派約瑟去伺候他們。他們在監裡待了一段日子。

5 一天晚上，他們倆都做了夢，他們的夢各有不同的意思。 6 第二天早上，約瑟過來見他們神情沮喪， 7 就問：「你們今天為什麼滿面愁容？」 8 他們回答說：「我們都做了夢，可是沒有人給我們解夢。」約瑟說：「解夢的能力不是來自上帝嗎？請你們把夢告訴我。」

9 侍酒總管便把自己的夢告訴約瑟，說：「我夢見一棵葡萄樹， 10 樹上有三根枝子，枝子發芽開花，結滿了成熟的葡萄。 11 我手上拿著法老的酒杯，摘下葡萄，把汁擠在酒杯中，然後遞給法老。」 12 約瑟說：「這夢的意思是，三根枝子代表三天， 13 三天之內，法老必定釋放你，恢復你侍酒總管的職位。你仍要和從前一樣伺候法老飲酒。 14 當你再被重用的時候，請你記得恩待我，在法老面前提及我，救我出獄。 15 我是從希伯來人那裡被拐來的，無辜被囚在監。」

16 膳食總管見夢解得好，就對約瑟說：「我也做了個夢，我夢見自己頭上頂著三筐白餅， 17 最上面的一筐裡放著為法老烤製的各種食物，有鳥來吃筐內的食物。」 18 約瑟說：「這夢的意思是，三筐就是三天， 19 三天之內，法老必砍下你的頭，把你掛在木頭上，鳥要來吃你的肉。」

20 第三天是法老的生日，他宴請文武百官，把侍酒總管和膳食總管從監牢裡提出來， 21 恢復了侍酒總管的職位，讓他仍舊伺候自己飲酒， 22 卻處死了膳食總管，正應驗了約瑟的話。 23 然而，法老的侍酒總管把約瑟忘了。

Key Verse: Genesis 40:8 “And Joseph said to them, ‘Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.’”

Genesis 40 tells us that Joseph was still in prison. At the same time, Pharaoh’s chief butler and chief baker were also put into the same prison. Both of them had dreams on the same night, and they were troubled because no one could interpret their dreams.

When Joseph saw that they looked sad, he asked them, “Why do you look so sad today?” This shows us something precious about Joseph. Although he himself was suffering in an unfair situation, he was not completely trapped inside his own pain. He was still able to notice the needs of others.

When they said there was no one to interpret their dreams, Joseph said, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” Joseph did not point people to himself. He knew that true wisdom, revelation, and answers come from God.

But in the same chapter, we also see Joseph’s very human side. He said to the chief butler, “But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house.” Joseph was not without weakness. He also longed to be released. He also hoped that someone would remember him and help him.

Yet the final verse says, “Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.” This is a heavy reminder: people may forget, people may fail, and people may not respond to our expectations. But God never forgets those who belong to Him.

First, in difficult places, still honour God.

Genesis 40:8 “And Joseph said to them, ‘Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.’”

Joseph did not honour God only when life was going well. He honoured God even in prison. He was falsely accused, restricted, and trapped, but he still knew that God was the source of the answer.

Very often, when we are in difficulty, we only see our own problems and only think about our own way out. But Joseph reminds us that even when the situation has not changed, we can still acknowledge that God is in control. Even when the way forward is not yet clear, we can still believe that the answer is in God’s hands.

True faith is not only saying that God is good when everything is smooth. True faith is being able to say, even in prison, “Do not interpretations belong to God?”

Second, in weakness, do not place your hope in people.

Genesis 40:14 “But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house.”

Joseph wanted the chief butler to remember him, speak to Pharaoh about him, and help him get out of prison. This was very real and very human. When we are in difficulty, it is not wrong to want help, to want to be remembered, and to want to be released.

But this passage reminds us that people can be channels used by God, but they are not our final dependence. We can be thankful for human help, but human help must never replace God.

Many times, we say we trust God, but deep inside we place our hope in a person, an opportunity, a relationship, or a certain answer. Then, when people do not respond, or when they forget us, we easily become disappointed and wounded.

God wants to teach us this: we may seek help from people, but our hearts must still depend on Him. We may wait for people to respond, but our eyes must still look to Him.

Third, when forgotten by people, believe that God still remembers.

Genesis 40:23 “Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.”

Joseph helped the chief butler, and the chief butler was truly restored to his position. But he did not remember Joseph. He forgot him.

People really do forget. People may have promised us something but failed to do it. People may have received help from us but did not remember. People may have given us hope, but in the end, they did not respond.

But the chief butler forgetting Joseph did not mean that God had forgotten Joseph. Human silence does not mean God is not working. Human delay does not mean God’s promise has failed. Human forgetfulness does not mean God has stopped remembering.

Later, in Genesis 41, when God’s time came, Joseph was not merely released from prison. He was brought before Pharaoh and entered the position God had prepared for him.

So, being forgotten by people does not mean being abandoned by God. Being overlooked by people does not mean being given up by God. People may forget, but God always remembers.

Genesis 40 shows us that Joseph still honoured God in prison, but he also faced his own weakness honestly. He longed for someone to remember him, yet in the end, that person forgot him.

This chapter reminds us that people are limited. People may forget. People cannot carry the true hope of our lives. But God did not forget Joseph, and God did not forget His plan for Joseph’s life.

Today, God has not forgotten us either. Human remembrance may fail, but God’s remembrance is always faithful. Human timing may be delayed, but God’s timing is never wrong.

Reflection and Response:

• Do I still believe that God is the source of the answer, even in difficult places?
• Have I placed too much hope in people, opportunities, methods, or a change of circumstances?
• When people forget me, do not respond to me, or do not help me, do I still believe that God has not forgotten me?

Let us turn our hope back from people to God. People may forget, but God never forgets. People are limited, but God is forever faithful.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Help me to honour You even in difficult places, and to believe that the answer and the way forward are in Your hands. Lord, forgive me for often placing my hope in people, becoming disappointed by their responses, and being hurt when they forget me. Please realign my heart, so that I may receive help from people, but depend on You alone. When I feel forgotten, overlooked, or delayed, remind me that You have never forgotten me. Your timing is never wrong, and Your hand is still at work.

In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Genesis 40

1 It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. 3 So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. 4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while.

5 Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream, both of them, each man’s dream in one night and each man’s dream with its own interpretation. 6 And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in the custody of his lord’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”

8 And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.”

So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”

9 Then the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “Behold, in my dream a vine was before me, 10 and in the vine were three branches; it was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. 11 Then Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”

12 And Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days. 13 Now within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your place, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand according to the former manner, when you were his butler. 14 But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. 15 For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon.”

16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was in my dream, and there were three white baskets on my head. 17 In the uppermost basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.”

18 So Joseph answered and said, “This is the interpretation of it: The three baskets are three days. 19 Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head from you and hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from you.”

20 Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 21 Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.