Focus: Who Are You Forgetting?

Text: Gen.40:23

"Yet did not the chief butler REMEMBER Joseph, but FORGAT him."

Is there someone somewhere who has forgotten to be a blessing to you, or are you the one who is forgetting to grant favor to someone you met in your critical past? Have people you were good to in the past suddenly forgotten you in your place of need and pain? Or are you the one who is forgetting to return someone's past kindness to you at the time he needed it most? Who is forgetting who? You or someone else?

In our text, Joseph was the forgotten one. A fellow prison inmate he had helped suddenly found favor with the king, and quickly he erased Joseph from his mind, and concentrated on juicy job and the privileges that his new position conferred on him. As far as he was concerned, Joseph existed only in his past. Their time together was good while it lasted, but now, he had to move on with his beautiful world, as it were. Joseph was out of the picture and out of his life for good. In fact, it seemed that the butler had Joseph's name wiped out of his memory - a kind of blackout, selective amnesia or memory loss. He got carried away with his royal recall and new position in the palace of the world's number one as at that time.

But it was only a matter of time before the chief butler said to Pharaoh, "I do REMEMBER my FAULTS this day" (Gen.41:9). The butler was now full of regrets. He was remorseful. The word 'faults' speaks of a sin, of missing the mark, or of a criminal offense. It became clear to him that forgetting Joseph was nothing short of committing a crime. He didn't do well at all in forgetting Joseph for two full years. He found himself morally culpable. He treated kindness with an attitude of ingratitude. When the heavens smiled on him he forgot a good friend who was there for him in his day of trouble.

Joseph even begged him to chip in a good word for him to the king when providence smiled on him. Joseph said to him, "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… I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon" (Gen.40:14-15). The butler must have promised to do so, but he didn't. Instead we read that "Pharaoh's cupbearer… promptly forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought" (Gen.40:23 NLT).

Man may forget, but God always remembers.

Truly, God had to step in to make him remember. It is so sweet to know that our God never forgets. God remembered Joseph and elevated him to the position of the second in command, next only to Pharaoh, which means that the chief butler was under his control. The forgetful chief butler took orders from Joseph. He was responsible and accountable to him.

In this sin of forgetfulness, Joseph is not alone. We all in one way or another share in it. We read of Joash the king who "REMEMBERED NOT the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son…" (2Chron.24:22). This is man's world where forgetting is part of our existence and history. Also, the Scripture says, "Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; and yet no man REMEMBERED that same poor man" (Ecl.9:15). What a pity! What a world!

I believe that the worst spiritual amnesia anyone can suffer is forgetting God intentionally.

We read in Judges 8:34, "And the children of Israel REMEMBERED NOT the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side." That is a terrible spiritual amnesia! The psalmist says, "They FORGAT God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt" (Ps.106:21). In yet another place, the psalmist says, "And FORGAT his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them… They soon FORGAT his works; they waited not for his counsel" (Ps.78:11; 106:13). The psalmist, knowing the possibility and danger of forgetting, says to himself, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not ALL his benefits" (Ps.103:2). 

I ask again, are you forgetting someone or are you the forgotten? Are you having a memory loss of God and his past goodness?

In Amos 1:9, God is against those who "remembered not the brotherly covenant." Are you among those who for the slightest chance or opportunity give up principle? Certainly, there are people who can kill for monetary or material gain. They sell character to gain cheap popularity or vain power. They lack the moral fiber or virtue to keep covenants if or when the need arises. O Lord, have mercy on us!

Someone is hurting for our lack of conscience. Someone is still in jail of a kind, real or imagined, for our insensitivity or thoughtlessness. Or, perhaps, you are the one suffering for another's forgetfulness. I assure you that God has planned and programmed to pull you out of the pit of human forgetfulness. Not only will He deliver you, but will also dignify you for His glory and the good of others.

I pray that we'll all be kind enough to return kindness and not be forgetful where and when it really matters.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter