Genesis chapter 40

Joseph interprets two dreams.

 


 

JOSEPH INTERPRETS TWO DREAMS

 

VERSE 1. After these things, the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord, the king of Egypt.

the butler … and his baker. These two men were not of Joseph’s lineage. They had a different spirituality. Or no spirituality at all.

From Joseph’s perspective, they would be considered “secular.”

 

VERSE 2. Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cup bearer and the chief baker.

 

VERSE 3. He put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

 

VERSE 4. The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he took care of them. They stayed in prison many days.

 

VERSE 5. They both dreamed a dream, each man his dream, in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the cup bearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were bound in the prison.

 

VERSE 6. Joseph came in to them in the morning, and saw them, and saw that they were sad.

 

VERSE 7. He asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”

 

VERSE 8. They said to him, “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it.” Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Please tell it to me.”

We have dreamed a dream. These two men had a genuine spiritual experience.

In ancient times, the LORD God sometimes made his guidance known to people in their dreams. Even today, this is still possible for the all-powerful LORD God. Read more »

there is no one who can interpret it. These two men did not know what their spiritual experience meant.

They looked for someone to talk with. They knew Joseph to be a spiritual person. And approachable.

In our day, many “secular” people have deeply spiritual experiences. But they do not always know what it means. They look for someone to talk with.

How do the “secular” people in your life see you?

  • Do they see you as spiritual?
  • Do they consider you approachable?

In our day, many Christians are not very spiritual. Instead, they are outspoken about social and political issues.

And in our day, many Christians are not approachable. They overflow with anger about social and political issues.

 

VERSE 9. The chief cup bearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “In my dream, behold, a vine was in front of me,

 

VERSE 10. and in the vine were three branches. It was as though it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters produced ripe grapes.

 

VERSE 11. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.”

 

VERSE 12. Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days.

 

VERSE 13. Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head, and restore you to your office. You will give Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, the way you did when you were his cup bearer.

Within three more days. Joseph authentically predicts a future event. He predicts it with specificity. And it came true, exactly as he said.

In our day, how many Christians can authentically predict a future event? Can they predicted with concrete specifics? Will their predictions come true exactly as they said?

 

VERSE 14. But remember me when it is well with you. Please show kindness to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house.

 

VERSE 15. For indeed, I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.”

 

VERSE 16. When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was in my dream, and behold, three baskets of white bread were on my head.

 

VERSE 17. In the uppermost basket there were all kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.”

 

VERSE 18. Joseph answered, “This is its interpretation. The three baskets are three days.

 

VERSE 19. Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head from off you, and will hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from off you.”

Within three more days. Joseph authentically predicts a future event. He predicts it with specificity. And it came true, exactly as he said.

In our day, how many Christians can do those things?

  • How many Christians can authentically predict a future event?
  • How many Christians can predicted with concrete specifics?
  • How many of a Christian’s predictions will come true exactly as they said?

 

VERSE 20. On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants, and he lifted up the head of the chief cup bearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants.

 

VERSE 21. He restored the chief cup bearer to his position again, and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand;

 

VERSE 22. but he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.

 

VERSE 23. Yet the chief cup bearer didn’t remember Joseph, but forgot him.

the chief cup bearer didn’t remember Joseph. After people ask us their spiritual questions, there is a good chance that they will forget about us.

We need to be OK with that, and not feel resentful.

As spiritual people, we can rejoice that we helped someone advance in their own spirituality.

 


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GENESIS

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