Joseph part 4

Genesis 40.

When working on a series of any kind, I like to do recaps to help us remember what was talked about a week ago.

Also to help anyone who has missed the last message to stay up to speed on what is going on.

However, when I recap, i feel like the announcer on one of the older superhero shows when I was growing up

“When we last left the caped crusader, he all tied up.

will he ever get free?

Now it’s more like

When we last saw our righteous slave

he was once again left in charge

will he ever rule over his brothers?

Joseph had been placed in prison, then put in charge of prisoners and was trusted by the warden.

let’s look at chapter 40, verse 1.

The New International Version Chapter 40

Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. 2 Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them.

After they had been in custody for some time, 5 each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.

6 When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?”

8 “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”

Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

Before we get to far into this, it is important that we define these terms.

If i say baker, I am certain everyone within the sound of my voice knows what that is.

A cupbearer was simply the person designated to serve the wine to the Royal family

There have been some who have speculated this to be a bigger job than that, however, there is no evidence of something more

this person would have to be trustworthy, as assassination attempts could come through poisoning

so they had to trust the one bringing the wine not to poison them

Since both jobs had to do with food and drink, it is likely the kings anger came out of a belief that they could or did try to poison him.

We do not know how much time has passed, but by the wording of some time later, we can asses that Joseph has been in charge of his fellow prisoners for a while.

So Joseph notices these two who are obviously distraught.

Now as a man in charge, he could have kept his focus on himself,

instead, he shows love and care for them and asks them why they were sad.

Then when they tell about their trouble with dreams

Joseph immediately recognizes and states that it God who interprets dreams

vs. 9

The New International Version Chapter 40

So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, 10 and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand.”

12 “This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days. 13 Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. 14 But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. 15 I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”

So, the cupbearer shares the dream and God gives Joseph the ability to interpret.

The dream is pretty basic and the answer is that the cupbearer will get his job back

then we get the first indication that Joseph still desires to be free.

No matter how much better he had it than he could of, he still was not free.

He still felt there was more for him out ther

So he asks this cupbearer to remember him when he is back in the king’s favor.

vs. 16

The New International Version Chapter 40

When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets of bread. 17 In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

18 “This is what it means,” Joseph said. “The three baskets are three days. 19 Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and impale your body on a pole. And the birds will eat away your flesh.”

This dream has a much different feel to it than the cup bearer's dream

Joseph was honest and did not hide from the truth

No doubt this was not easy to tell the chief baker

but he shared the truth of what was to come

vs. 20

The New International Version Chapter 40

Now the third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials: 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand—22 but he impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation.

23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

Every thing came true as what Joseph said, however, the Cup bearer did not follow through as Joseph had asked.

That is unfortunate, however, we must recognize that is ok.

Again, God has a plan and we will see that come into play soon enough

Joseph did not help these two men to get out of his situation.

he took an opportunity when he saw it to try to get out

but he would have helped them both either way.

We need to trust God’s plan and continue to serve him

serving Him also means serving others, regardless of outcome

Share, care, love and most importantly speak truth to others regardless of what it may or may not mean for you.

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