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Genesis 40 (ESV)

Joseph Interprets Two Prisoners’ Dreams

¹ Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. ² And 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 appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody.

⁵ And 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 interpretation. 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 shot forth, 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 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. ¹⁴ Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house.¹⁵ For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.”

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 and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. ¹⁹ In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. 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 position, 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 cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

REFLECTION

• When Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker had disturbing dreams in prison, Joseph foretold the cupbearer’s restoration and the baker’s execution, but Joseph remained in prison because the cupbearer forgot him.
• The trials that we encounter in our lives may be viewed from two standpoints. It will make all the difference which of these two points of view we take. From human perspective, Joseph’s suffering was due to injustice on the part of Potiphar and his wife, and ingratitude on the part of the cupbearer. From the divine perspective, these years were permitted for the purpose of training and preparing Joseph for the great work that lay before him. If we look only at the human side of each trial, we would become discouraged, and become irritated and angered. But as we turn to look at it from God’s perspective, we shall see God in everything and all things working together for our good.
• Where in your life are you feeling imprisoned? What is your prayer for release?  What fellowship do you want restored?  What do you sense is God’s answer to these prayers?
• How does your relationship with God sustain your hope despite circumstances to the contrary?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, it is hard to fall into captivity, and it is hard to break free! Although I am not like Joseph, who was framed by others and put in a real prison, but in my life and in my heart, there are still many prisons and bondages, big and small, similar to Joseph’s predicament! Heavenly Father, please give me faith and strength, when I am in a difficult situation, I can be less frustrated, angry, and resentful, and more courageous, peaceful, and hopeful. Please teach me to see my plight through Your eyes, so that I do not lose faith and understand that all things work together for the good of those who love You. My temporary difficulties are just to hone me and equip me so that I can fight a better battle for You in the future. Father, please support me with Your great power and Your great love around me. Amen!

HYMN

Christ Our Hope In Life And Death – youtu.be/OibIi1rz7mw