01-94 Dreams & Interpretations
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Genesis 40:1-23
Genesis 40:1-23
Speaker’s Sourcebook of New Illustrations Dreams—coming true
DREAMS—coming true
Genesis 40:4–8; Matthew 1:20
Strange Events We Cannot Explain
Food market owner Rafael Gonzalez dreamed that an ex-employee robbed and killed him. Six days later he bled to death after being shot during a robbery. Having learned of the dream from family members, detectives began their investigation. When prints from the cash box matched those of a store employee, police told him about the dream and he confessed.
A few days before his assassination, Abraham Lincoln dreamed that he awoke and heard sobbing in the White House. Walking downstairs, he saw a catafalque and coffin in the East Room. Approaching the mourners, he asked who was dead. “The President,” they replied, “felled by an assassin.”
I think it is human nature to have a great deal of curiosity over dreams and the possible interpretations of them. Dreams are shrouded in an aura of mystery. The become a centerpiece of literature and music and dreams are often associated with the take it easy, care free approach to living:
Row, Row, Row your boat… (1st published 1852)
I usually don’t remember my dreams. On occasion, if I happen to be awakened during a dream, I can recall events but generally (I think its true for most people) we don’t remember them (many thruout the night). There doesn’t seem to be a satisfactory explanation as to why we have individual dreams. Walter Clippinger explains:
The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Volumes 1–5 1. Physiological and Psycological Ground
The stimuli of dreams may be of two kinds. First, they may be physical and objective, or they may be due to suggestions and the association of ideas. They may be due to some physical disorder, such as imperfect digestion or circulation, improper ventilation or heating, or an uncomfortable position. Since by the very nature of the case dreams do not occur in a conscious state, the real cause cannot easily be discoverable and then only after the subject is entirely awakened through the effects of it. They may also be due to the association of ideas. Suggestion plays a large part. The vividness and recency of a conscious impression during the waking state may be thrown up from the subconscious region during the sleeping hours. The usual distorted aspect of dreams is doubtless due to the uncoupling of groups of ideas through the uncoupling of the cortical association areas, some of them being less susceptible than others to the existing stimulus.
Dreams have played an important part in religion in every society. Mythology and superstition have been attached to dreams and their interpretations. There is a longing in the heart to know the future and the suggestion that something in our dreams might pull back the shades on the future has us looking for interpretations of our dreams.
In biblical times, dreams were important to people (God’s people and pagans) b/c they believed them to be a vehicle of messages from deities. We have already seen how God has revealed His purposes thru dreams in Genesis and that continues thru to OT to be one of the ways God reveals Himself to man. Revelatory dreams fade during NT as Scripture is completed (Heb 1:1-2).
Gen 40 is another example of God using dreams to unfold His divine purpose to humans. It wasn’t just the dream but also the ability of Joseph to give the interpretation of the dream that is remarkable in our vv today. As we walk thru these vv, I’ll show you 4 things that pertain to the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker.
1. Dreams of Providence
1. Dreams of Providence
1-8
These 2 dreams are dreams of divine providence as God uses circumstances to accomplish His purposes. It is interesting to note the circumstances in which God was at work to direct the life of His servant to raise Him up for the greater good. In all these things God is working. That what His providence is—”The governing power of God that oversees His creation and works out his plans for it.” Now, God does not sin or do evil. Sin & evil come from Satan but these things are part of the plan of God to reveal His glory and in Joseph’s case, even the sin of others reveals glorious design of God.
First was the special love Jacob had for Joseph which produced resentment and hostility among his brothers:
4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms. 5 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.
This hatred would cause circumstances that would bring Joseph to Egypt.
Another circumstance involved the dreams Joseph had which he understood to be a foretelling of his rising and his brothers bowing down to him.
8 Then his brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
The next circumstance would present the opportunity for the brothers to strip Joseph of his garment and throw him into a pit, intending to kill him. But God restrained their evil and the plot to murder Joseph ended with him being sold as a slave to some Ishmaelites.
Many of these seem to be chance encounters that would bring Joseph down to Egypt. Our world would look at that and say “what bad luck Joseph has.” Yet we know that each individual played their own part, choosing selfishness and hatred and God wove these things together by His divine providence to put Joseph where he needed to be. And this is the glory and wisdom of God.
Later Joseph would tell his brothers:
5 “Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
6 “For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.
7 “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. 8 “Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Circumstances under the sovereign hand of God will accomplish what He has purposed:
21 Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand.
Gen 40:1 “Then it came about…” this is a reference to the years of service that Joseph faithfully served Potiphar, including some in the jail b/c of the false accusation made against him by Potiphar’s wicked wife (in all 17-30—13 years at this point he is 28 yrs old).
In the continuation of circumstances all woven together by God’s providence Joseph is given responsibilities over the other prisoners including 2 new prisoners identified as “the cupbearer and baker for king of Egypt” (that’s Pharaoh).
Both held very important positions. Cupbearers served wine to the king. Since rulers were in danger of being poisoned, they trusted their cupbearers with their lives. Often times they would become confidants of the king. The baker’s role was to prepare the menu that would be served to Pharaoh. Moses writes that these 2 men “offended their lord.”
That word is a general word for sin with the meaning “to miss the mark.” We don’t know what they did to offend Pharaoh, may have suspected these trusted men of plotting his demise, or maybe he got sick after eating and suspected these were to blame and he is “furious.”
Whatever their crime, they are added to the jail where Joseph was kept and he is put in charge over these men to care for them. These were 2 high profile prisoners and Moses tells us that they were confined here for “some time” (unknown duration).
In another remarkable twist: both men have a different dream on the same night (own dream/own interpretation). Coincidence? Hardly! After all the time they were confined, for both to have a very important dream, that would cause each to be “dejected” (looked poor, troubled hearts; faces were sad vs 7)—this cannot be chalked up to “chance.” These are dreams of providence. These are dreams, given by God for the purpose of keeping His perfect timing on schedule.
What troubled the cupbearer and baker is that no one was able to interpret the dream (presumably b/c they had already spoke to others about it. The word “interpretation” is used 9x in OT always in connection with dreams. This is technically called “oneiromancy” (oh nigh ro mancy).
Victor Hamilton writes:
Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament 1860 פָּתַר
It is well known that in the ancient Near East there existed a whole discipline of dream interpretation even to the existence of manuals on the subject. In these cultures dreams were always understood causally. By magic one could induce good dreams. The local deity could be petitioned to turn a dream to good. Or, the ill effect of a bad dream could be cancelled by a counterspell.
These men could find no one to interpret but for Joseph there is but One dream interpreter—Elohim. And he testifies to the 2 men of this truth—a particular conviction of Joseph whenever he interprets a dream (41:16,25,28,32). Can you also see Joseph’s compassion toward the 2 men? He is sensitive and wants to alleviate the suffering of his fellow man and so he offers to hear the dreams.
There are several applications of this first part: Joseph was so completely God-dependent that anything that came up he had the habit of turning to God. We do well to cultivate that same mindset that God is in control of our ups and downs. Sadness and joy are part of God’s plan to draw us near to Himself and to strengthen our trust in Him.
I would caution you against trying to find meaning in the dreams/nightmares that you remember. God used to reveal His purposes in OT times thru dreams but His primary revelation comes to us in the person of LJC—principally in the written Word. Your dreams might be the HS but they might be that burrito you ate for supper.
7 For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.
2. A Dream of Blessing
2. A Dream of Blessing
9-15
This is the dream of the cupbearer. Sometimes you’ll see on TV a time lapse of certain events—like the growth of vegetation. This is what the cupbearer dreamed: A three-branch vine appeared, budded, and sprouted blossoms that became clusters of grapes that were then plucked by the cupbearer and squeezed into Pharaoh’s cup and placed in the sovereign’s hand so he could drink up.
Then Joseph immediately proceeds to give the interpretation. Sometimes those who interpret will need time to pray and seek wisdom from God but here, Joseph knows right away (12-13). And the message was favorable to the cupbearer. To “lift up your head” (vv. 13, 19) is a phrase that means “to have your case considered by the king, then be restored” (see 2 Kings 25:27; Jer. 52:31). There would be a full restoration of the man to resume his duties as he had before. This was a blessing for the cupbearer.
Now, Joseph also recognizes that his own circumstances are unwarranted. While the cupbearer would be restored, this was an opportunity for Joseph’s case to be brought into the light and so his request is—vs 14-15.
Joseph was truly in “pit” (though he speaks of “house” likely the prison was built on to Potiphar’s house). It was a place of confinement and brought Joseph to one of the lowest points in his life. So he seeks relief from the cupbearer and appeals to the good news that Joseph just gave him.
It is a point I’d make about the integrity of Joseph that he does not indict his brothers or Potiphar’s wicked wife who had falsely accused him. It would be tempting for us in less than desirable circumstances to place blame on everything/everyone. Instead—when we find ourselves in a similar place, we should humbly, meekly trust the Lord in those circumstances—knowing that His plan will not fail.
3. A Dream of Judgment
3. A Dream of Judgment
16-19
This was the chance for the baker to get also get a favorable message from his own dream. And it was a different dream from the cupbearer’s with a different interpretation.
16-17.
Genesis—Beginning and Blessing Joseph Interprets Their Dreams (vv. 9–19)
In his dream, the baker bore in three baskets upon his head a veritable pastry feast for Pharaoh. His description, “all sorts of baked food” was common to kingly menus because the Egyptian dictionary lists thirty-eight kinds of cake and fifty-seven varieties of bread.
Again, Joseph launches immediately into the interp. 3 baskets=3 days (presuming that the 3 days would be the same for each man). The baker however, would not fare as well as the cupbearer. Perhaps this was evidence that the baker was guilty of a murderous plot against Pharaoh. “lift up you head—from you.” (different from before).
Joseph explains that you will be summoned by the king—he will consider your case and you will hang to your death. But to further demonstrate the judgment against the baker Joseph says the birds will eat your flesh which thruout Scripture speaks of judgment (even divine judgment). There was nothing about this dream that was encouraging for the baker and that’s where Joseph leaves the matter.
4. The Dreams Fulfilled
4. The Dreams Fulfilled
20-23
3 days later (the timing of the dream and interpretation)—Moses’ point is that this was Pharaoh’s birthday. This may have been his actual birth but some commentators see this is the celebration of his accession as the divine son of Re. As such, it would have included a great feast (food and drink). Egyptian literature tells us that it was common for Pharaoh to grant amnesty on this particular day. On this day of feasting, we have the lifting up of the heads of the 2 men: one is the actual pardon and restoration (cupbearer) and the other is the lifting up the decapitated head before his subjects—which would have served as a warning to all would-be rebels. Just as Joseph prophesied thru his interpretation.
Take note how the specific words spoken to the cupbearer (13) and baker (19) are brought to fulfillment with remarkable precision. Then, put yourself in Joseph’s place. For many years he had remembered his own dreams and his interpretation of them, looking forward to their fulfillment. He sees the dreams of others coming true and with a resolute conviction, he is trusting God for the fulfillment of his own—to be raised up.
Of course, Joseph’s positive message to the cupbearer would give him great hope that his plight would be brought the attention of Pharaoh who would grant amnesty to Joseph as well. But the disheartening, final word of ch 40:
23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Joseph was living out this disappointment, day after day, month after month—one year and then another. It was apparent that the cupbearer did not remember the dream of his restoration and Joseph’s encouraging interpretation. But as Joseph has been forgotten by man, he would not be forgotten by God.
Many times thruout Gen we have these accounts of God remembering humans at the lowest times of their lives. Noah was a preacher of righteousness at a time when all human society was described as greatly wicked and evil.
5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
In the year of the flood, he was alone (yes he had his family) but no one else was pursuing righteousness and God destroyed every living thing by causing the earth to flood. 40 days and night it poured. Water came from the heavens, water came from below, and it prevailed on the earth for 150 days. All this time, Noah is on the ark, at the lowest point of his life and it is here —when it appear that Noah has been forgotten that we have this hopeful description:
1 But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided.
God remembered Abraham when His wrath was consuming Sodom & Gomorrah. God remembered Rachel who had been barren all those years. The Lord remembered Hannah in her barrenness. Thruout the Bible you have this theme of the God remembering (not b/c He has forgotten) which introduces the specific saving activity of our gracious God toward His people. You get the to peak of that activity when LJC is hanging on the cross b/t 2 thieves and one of them says “remember me when you come into your kingdom” and how does Jesus respond? “truly, I say to you that today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Joseph seemed to be forgotten in that jail—but God was simply preparing him for the right time, the perfect time.
Let me close by giving you 3 words of application:
Stop
Stop
Stop trusting in man. Joseph was forgotten by the cupbearer and he realized that he could not put his trust in man. Now, this is not to say that we shouldn’t be trustworthy.
22 Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?
FB Meyer “we cannot live without human sympathy and friendship. We long for the touch of the human hand and the sound of the human voice. We eagerly catch at any encouragement which some frail man holds out, as a drowning man catches at twigs floating by on the stream. But men fail us; even the best prove to be less able or less willing than we thought: the stream turns out to be a very turbid one when we reach it, in spite of all reports of its sufficiency. "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord: for he shall be like the heat in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, a salt land and not inhabited." (Jer 17:5-6)
Turn
Turn
When you realize that man has failed you, turn to the love and faithfulness of God. Hundreds of vv repeat this foundational truth:
13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
3 Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.
5 How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the Lord his God, 6 Who made heaven and earth, The sea and all that is in them; Who keeps faith forever;
5 Thus says the Lord, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the Lord.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord And whose trust is the Lord.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord Than to trust in man.
3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.
11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
Wait
Wait
Learning to wait on God is a difficult and trying virtue. God’s timing is perfect and we need to cultivate the attitude of trusting/hoping in God, in His sufficiency to enable you to embrace your circumstances and come thru them well. Waiting on the Lord is developing a spirit of perseverance and having confidence in Him, looking expectantly to Him to do what He has promised.
3 Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.
5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You.