Joseph had not asked the butler to remember his faults, but to remember himself. Thankfulness to and love for Joseph should have motivated him to take advantage of the first opportunity to carry out his kind benefactor’s request. Instead, self-satisfaction and self-importance caused sad forgetfulness.
How much the butler lost! He lost a wonderful opportunity to comfort Joseph’s heart, a tremendous opportunity to speak well of Joseph in Pharaoh’s presence, and the butler’s forgetfulness kept Joseph in prison a place where he was hindered in blessing the people of Egypt.
Happily, the butler finally did remember Joseph. Confessing his “faults,” the butler began a course of events which through Joseph brought blessing to the world and to Jacob and his family.
May our blessed God exercise our hearts that we not forget our blessed Lord Jesus Christ. He said, “This do in remembrance of Me.” Should it not be the delight of each heart to answer that request as often as possible? Is not His worthiness and His joy at our remembrance of Himself motive enough for us?
“But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house” (Gen. 40:1414But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: (Genesis 40:14)).
Ed.