Lesson 83 Joseph Makes the Most of Prison, Genesis 40

The Butler, the Baker, the Dream Interpreter, 40:1- 8

English Standard Version (Chapter 40)

40 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.”

The third man in the story is not the candlestick maker but Joseph. The butler is the cupbearer and the baker is, of course, the baker. The three of them find themselves in prison together. Joseph got there first and the cupbearer and the baker got there afterwards, so they were placed under Joseph’s care. They stayed under his care for an uncertain time: “They continued for some time in custody.” What in the world does a butler and a baker do to get themselves in trouble with Pharoah himself? We just find that he was angry with them.

While parked in verse four, we find that the very man, the captain of the guard, namely Potiphar, is over Joseph in prison. The captain has custody of the the butler and baker, and he puts them under Joseph. Interesting! No wonder Joseph knows how to flourish here because he has already worked for this man on the outside.

While in custody in prison, the new prisoners both dreamed dreams. Each one had a different dream and each dream had it’s own interpretation. It’s simple enough, so it seems, But the dreams left them troubled enough that Joseph took notice. He was not only good at making organizations run smoothly, he was good at reading people. Joseph could see they “were troubled.”

Next thing we know they have a conversation going concerning the dreams. He starts by saying “I can see you look like you were riding on the trash truck, so I could sense you were down in the dumps?” That was a loose interpretation but pretty much on point.

Their answer was, “we have had dreams and there is no one to interpret them.”

Joseph makes a radical statement for a prisoner himself, “do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.” That statement unbuckled their lips and the dreams spill out into the room.

The Dreams are Recounted Gen. 39:9- 15

English Standard Version (Chapter 40)

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.”

The butler or the “cupbearer” was the guy who did the food tasting for Pharoah, so he had a pretty big position as he was the guard against the Pharaoh's food being poisoned. The cupbearer tells his dream of three vines that blossomed, had clusters that ripened into grapes. The butler took the grapes, pressed them, put wine in the cup and served Pharaoh once again.

Joseph interpreted the dream as the truth that he would get out of prison in three days and once again live and serve the Pharaoh. Joseph then said, remember me when you stand before Pharaoh and remember this kindness that I do for you this day. Get me out of here! I have been stolen from the land of the Hebrews, and there was not any reason I should be in the pits like you. Help me! I have done nothing wrong.

Then Joseph moves onto the baker. The cake maker saw things went well for the butler, and he is thinking “why not me?”

English Standard Version (Chapter 40)

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.”

The interpretation was pretty simple and straightforward for the baker. The baskets are three days and the bake goods are being eaten by the birds, so that means you are going to die. Pharaoh is going to cut off your head and hang you on a tree for the birds to peck away at your carcass. This was not very complimentary for the baker. Let’s see what happens in the next few verses:

English Standard Version (Chapter 40)

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.

Joseph’s interpretation was spot on. The butler lived and served Pharaoh. The chief baker was hanged. All was well in the land of Egypt? Wait, what happened to Joseph? Well, he was conveniently forgotten by the cupbearer. The impression made by Joseph did not last. He was quickly forgotten. While Joseph’s predicament seems like God has forgotten but the truth is, his moment of truth is coming:

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (Chapters 37–40)

Note Joseph’s humility as he interpreted the two dreams (v. 8). He gave all the glory to the Lord. “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6).The two prisoners were in bonds because of something they had done, while Joseph was innocent. His interpretation of the dreams came true: the cupbearer was restored, and the baker was hanged. Yet Joseph was left in prison! We may wonder why others experience the blessings that we so desperately need; yet God has His plan and His time.

As hard as you try to believe and have faith in God’s deliverance, you may face a different kind of deliverance than those around you.

Riding in the high places like the kings household or that of a favorite son can be a slippery slope. The way to the bottom can be left to someone’s whim or fancy. Make certain your anchor is sure. Make sure your anchor holds in Jesus Christ. He only is the Solid Rock of stability and protection in any situation. Mighty men of God will take shelter in the Almighty:

English Standard Version (Psalm 91)

91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.2  I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,my God, in whom I trust.”

Those who follow God and His perfect will find Him a more reasonable and graceful master than the world.