Psalm 16:5
Lord, You alone are my portion and my cup; You make my lot secure.
I don’t know about you but I have a favorite cup. I have a favorite coffee cup, a very cool handmade one from an eclectic coffee shop in Colorado. Also, a favorite water cup, which happens to be this giant red cup that came from Lambert’s Cafe, a very famous joint in Missouri where they literally throw handmade rolls at you from across the room. Yes, it’s bucket list kind of stuff people!
Just as these cups are significant to me, cups are significant to God. The word “cup” is used many times through out the bible. It has great symbolic meaning. There was the “cup of salvation” and the “cup of joy” in Psalms, the “cup of consolation’ and the “cup of anger” in Jeremiah, a “cup of self righteousness” in Matthew, and a “cup of judgement” in Revelation. All of these cups carry a purpose, but not all of them would you actually want to buy at your next Starbucks run….but they represent experiences in our lives at one time or another, a God appointed one.
Last week in FALSE EVIDENCE, we looked at the beginning of Joseph’s story, the favored son of Jacob, the dreamer and gifted one. He was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Once in Egypt, he is favored by his new master, but ends up in jail (for years) because he’s wrongly accused. Then, while in jail, interprets a dream of Pharaoh’s and becomes 2nd in command over Egypt! Talk about ups and downs-wow! And he was favored? Yes, he was.
One of the dreams Joseph interpreted was the coming of a great famine. He helped Egypt store food for 7 years in preparation. Here’s where the twist begins….back at home, his father and brothers were starving to death and it was rumored that Egypt had grain to buy. Jacob sent his sons to Egypt. (Remember, he doesn’t know his son is even alive, much less a ruler of Egypt!) I’m going to paraphrase a very cool story you should read in Genesis 44- Joseph recognizes his brothers but does not reveal himself. Instead he accuses them of being spies and sends them back home to fetch the youngest brother Benjamin. Benjamin is Joseph’s true brother (remember all the others had different baby mamas). They don’t return with him until they are running out of food again and because their father is adamant against it. The second time they arrive and buy grain, Joseph secretly returns their money for the purchase of the grain in the sacks and hides his personal silver cup in Benjamins sack. Once they are on their journey home, Joseph sends a steward after them to find the “stolen” cup and return the brothers to him. They beg for mercy and Joseph says they can all leave except the one who stole the cup. Of course they protest profusely. One can speculate Joseph only wanted Benjamin to stay but ends up revealing himself to all his brothers and instead of revenge, saves their lives. He tells them to go back and get his father and he blesses them with anything and everything they need. Joseph’s reaction is a topic for a completely different day, but it’s amazing how tragic his life was but completely ordained by The Lord.
The silver cup, the king’s cup, wasn’t stolen at all…..yet Benjamin was accused and practically arrested. An unexpected cup…. given to him by the king, not brought upon himself… but given. Which negates that whole ridiculous religious theory that struggles come to those outside of God’s will! No, the cup had a purpose….to drive him straight back to the king…..straight into the arms of the king…..where the plan was revealed…where he ended up blessed.
I opened my eyes one day and the “cup” was presented to me….an unexpected one. The struggles, the fear, and the obstacles that followed have been overwhelming. This cup was given to me by God, and there are days I have been angry at Him. I didn’t want it and I didn’t ask for it. But I’m convinced there is purpose. It has driven me back to the King. My friend, what cup has been presented to you? Let it bring you back to the King, even if you’re angry and hurting. Little by little, day by day, He is revealing His plan, revealing Himself. This is a journey of trust. I have decided to drink from that cup even if it tastes bitter, because I trust Him. I am waiting expectantly for the cup of overwhelming joy, the cup of His revealed plan, the cup of purpose….the one that will taste a lot sweeter.