Ge 40

CHAPTER 40: JOSEPH INTERPRETS TWO DREAMS

v.3 God wanted Joseph to meet the butler of the Pharaoh.
v.7 Joseph was a man of keen insight, since he noticed the depression of the butler and the baker.
v.8 Joseph had not become bitter against God over the trials he had to endure.
v.20-22 Within three days the interpretations of the dreams of the butler and the baker became reality.
v.23 Once he was back in his comfortable position, the butler forgot about Joseph.

For the correlating audio message go to Chapter 39

It came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was angry against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers (Gen 40:1-2).

So these guys were pretty topnotch honchos, the chief of the butlers, the chief of the bakers, but somehow they got in trouble with the Pharaoh. Now it could be that the Pharaoh discovered a plot to kill him. It could be that the taster, the butler was bringing him the bread and that the taster eating the bread dropped over dead. And so he doesn't know if the butler slipped it in to the already baked loaf or if the baker did it. So he has them both thrown into prison until he can find out who the guilty party is. And so the investigation is going on while both of these men are in prison.

And he put them in the ward in the house of the captain of the guard, unto the prison, the place where Joseph was bound (Gen 40:3).

So they were sent into the same prison where Joseph was. Now it is interesting it is called the prison of the captain of the guard. We are told earlier in the story that the captain of the guard was none other than Potiphar. So it could be that Joseph was actually put in Potiphar's prison.

And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued for a while in the prison ward. And they dreamed a dream both of them in one night, and each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, they were bound in the prison. And Joseph came to them in the morning, and he looked at them, and they were sad (Gen 40:4-6).

He was very—Joseph was a very understanding, perceptive person.

He asked the Pharaoh's officers that were with him there in the ward of the lord's house, saying, Hey, how come you guys look so sad today? And they said to him, Oh, we've had some weird dreams, and there is no one to interpret them. And Joseph said to them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me, I pray you. What did you dream? And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, he said, In my dream, behold, there was a vine before me; the vine there were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and there were blossoms shot forth; and clusters of grapes, ripe grapes: and the Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into the Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup to the Pharaoh's hand. And Joseph said to him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days: within three days the Pharaoh will lift up your head, and restore you to your place: and you will deliver the Pharaoh's cup into his hand, in the former manner when you were his butler. But hey, when this happens, remember me, think about me that it might be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, to get me out of this place (Gen 40:7-14):

So Joseph is interpreting his dream saying, "Hey, you're going to be back serving the Pharaoh again. But when you do, would you mind remembering, tell Pharaoh all about my story and try and get me out of this place, man, you know.

And so,

For indeed I was stolen away of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon. Now when the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head: And in the uppermost basket there was all kinds of pastries that I have baked for the Pharaoh; and the birds came and ate them out of the basket on my head. Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation: The three baskets are three days: and within three days the Pharaoh will lift your head from off of you, and he'll hang your body on a tree; and the birds are going to eat your flesh. And so it came to pass on the third day, which was the Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast to all of the servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. And he restored the chief butler to his butlership again; and he gave the cup into the Pharaoh's hand: But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him (Gen 40:15-23).

Your opportunity of getting free but forgotten. And so for two more years, he languishes in the dungeon. How long Joseph was in the jail the total period of time we don't know, but we do know that from the time that he was sold as a slave to his standing before Pharaoh was thirteen years. Hey, that's an awful long time to be in those conditions of a—as a slave and a prisoner both for causes beyond yourself, things you haven't done. It shows a little bit of Joseph's faith, unswerving faith in God.

Many people when adversities come they begin to slip. They begin to question. They begin to doubt. If things don't work out just exactly like they think they were supposed to have worked out, they begin to murmur against the Lord and challenge God. Surely there is a remarkable insight into that steadfastness of Joseph in this whole experience.