Updated: 5/16/2026

Sermon Prep

I was like usual stressed by work, but this time it was due to changes that were effecting my peers and I. Those changes led to two of my close peers leaving the company altogether, along with some other peers as well. One of them quietly took a severance package, while the other crashed out during a 1:1 with our boss before quitting that day.

Regardless of how they left, we all hung out the Friday before this sermon with some friends from work. It was nice to have a pint with all of them and just hang out, which as a young Dad I just don’t do much of anymore. I’ve always been bad at socializing at work in general since I’m so focused on the work. Definitely need to make more time for building on work friendships.

I finished this sermon the day of preaching it. It was a little down to the wire, but it all worked out. Also my first time preaching with the blue light glasses I got from my Glory for Christmas, which was fun too. Down below are my notes and at this link is the YouTube recording.

Sermon Notes

Opening Prayer

• Father God, lead us this morning as we search the scriptures. Thank you for your Son whose sacrifice is our salvation. Dwell with us, Holy Spirit, as you teach us today. Amen.

Intro

• Landing the Staples job, losing it due to Covid layoff, and then having a greater career.

Main Point

• You don’t achieve or earn God’s grace, but rather you accept and experience his grace.

Dual Fates | Genesis 40-41 (NRSVue)

“[1] Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord the king of Egypt. [2] Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, [3] and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. [4] The captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he waited on them, and they continued for some time in custody. [5] One night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt who were confined in the prison—each his own dream and each dream with its own meaning. [6] When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. [7] So he asked Pharaoh’s officers, who were with him in custody in his master’s house, “Why are your faces downcast today?” [8] They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.” [9] So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream there was a vine before me, [10] and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms came out, and the clusters ripened into grapes. [11] 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] Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days; [13] within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. [14] But remember me when it is well with you; please do me the kindness to make mention of me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this place. [15] For in fact I was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon.” [16] When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, [17] and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.” [18] And Joseph answered, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days; [19] within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a pole, and the birds will eat the flesh from you.” [20] On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. [21] He restored the chief cupbearer to his cupbearing, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand, [22] but the chief baker he hanged, just as Joseph had interpreted to them. [23] Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph but forgot him.”

• In the OT, 2 means divine confirmation or divisive duality (cultures, dreams; prisoners).
• Likewise, 3 means divine completion or a permanent pattern (time; the Rule of Three).

“[1] After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, [2] and there came up out of the Nile seven sleek and fat cows, and they grazed in the reed grass. [3] Then seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. [4] The ugly and thin cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. And Pharaoh awoke. [5] Then he fell asleep and dreamed a second time; seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. [6] Then seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them. [7] The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and it was a dream. [8] In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.”

• Chief cupbearer remembers faults and tells Pharaoh about Joseph (Genesis 41:9-13).
• Pharaoh retells dreams to Joseph (Genesis 41:14-24) → Won’t be able to see prosperity.

“[25] Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams are one and the same; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. [26] The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. [27] The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, as are the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind. They are seven years of famine. [28] It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. [29] There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. [30] After them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; the famine will consume the land. [31] The plenty will no longer be known in the land because of the famine that will follow, for it will be very grievous. [32] And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. [33] Now therefore let Pharaoh select a man who is discerning and wise and set him over the land of Egypt. [34] Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plenteous years. [35] Let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and lay up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. [36] That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to befall the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish… ””

• There are 3 different dual dreams in this story (Genesis 37:5-11, 40:6-23, and 41:1-36).
• Now 30, Joseph is restored and starts organizing the grain storage (Genesis 41:37-49).
  • He receives 3 things that reestablish his status in Egypt: a ring, robe, and chain.
  • Royal robes parallel his father’s favor and Pharaoh’s favor (Genesis 37:3, 41:42).
  • Also Joseph’s third ascension ends his suffering cycle (Pit → Prison → Palace).
• Joseph’s sons: Manasseh = making to forget and Ephraim = fruitful (Genesis 41:50-52).
  • Joseph is able to forget his suffering and be fruitful, but he still needs to forgive.
• Egyptians vs Hebrews, but this story starts with division and ends with a marriage union.

Why It Matters

• The powerful will rise and fall, but God’s grace guides the ascent and descent of all of us.
  • Sometimes we’re brought low to learn and in humility we find the highs of life.

Power Text

“the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.””  ( Job 1:21b)

Outro

• Ultimately God is in control and he providentially chooses who is in charge.
  • We need to trust God’s prosperous plans and let go of our prideful plans.

Final Thoughts

Afterwards, the reception was very positive and led to great table talks. Pastor Andrew said that “the message really hit home” for a lot of people there. Given the past several months, it’s easy to see why for our community. I’m just glad that the message resonated and to be fair it was a great message in my opinion. With that said, Godspeed and Jesus bless.