Saturday, November 9, 2019

Genesis 40 - Joseph Interprets Two Prisoners' Dreams

https://www.bibleblender.com/2018/bible-stories/old-testament/genesis/joseph-interprets-dreams-for-cupbearer-and-baker-40-1-40-23

Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com/2019/10/genesis.html
"The king of Egypt throws a cupbearer and a baker into the same prison with Joseph.  They offended the king in some way.  Joseph becomes their personal attendant while they are in custody.  Both the cupbearer and the baker have a dream on the same night while in prison.  Joseph interprets the dreams for the cupbearer and the baker.  The cupbearer is restored to his position, and the baker is hanged.  This is just as Joseph predicted in the interpretations of the dreams." 

Reading from the Amplified Bible (AMP) version..

  • "When Joseph came to them in the morning and looked at them, [he saw that] they were sad and depressed. So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in confinement with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so down-hearted today?” And they said to him, “We have [each] dreamed [distinct] dreams and there is no one to interpret them.” So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell me [your dreams].” v.6-8
  • "Only think of me when it goes well with you, and please show me kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house. For in fact I was taken (stolen) from the land of the Hebrews by [unlawful] force, and even here I have done nothing for which they should put me in the dungeon.” v.14-15
  • "Yet [even after all that] the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot [all about] him." v.23

My personal observations and reflections... 

"The butler was in charge of Pharaoh’s wine and the baker was in charge of Pharaoh’s food. They were imprisoned because they offended their lord, the king of Egypt. It is difficult to tell if it was in a minor or a major way. Considering how the account will develop, it is probable there was a plot to murder the Pharaoh (perhaps by poisoning).
i. But we never lose sight of the over-arching reason: whatever external reason they were sent to prison, in God’s great plan they were really there to meet Joseph."
  • JOSEPH SERVED AS THE 'PRISON IN-CHARGE'. They say that a great leader is one who 'serves' others. We see Joseph's thoughtfulness and compassion towards the 2 prisoners here: "When Joseph came to them in the morning and looked at them, [he saw that] they were sad and depressed. So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in confinement with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so down-hearted today?” (v.6-7) By asking that, we can tell that Joseph was willing to help and listen, to alleviate whatever is burdening the cupbearer and baker's heart. We'll soon see how Joseph could help them much more than that, because of his close and personal relationship with God.
* This is a picture of servant leadership, that Jesus also demonstrated in his time on earth. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

* Some more verses about godly leadership:
 
"But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28
 
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Philippians 2:3-4

* "Though Joseph had a position of high authority in the prison he did not use it to make others serve him. He used his high position to serve others."

"The captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: This favorable treatment of Joseph by the captain of the guard shows that Potiphar did not really believe the accusations his wife made against Joseph. We know this because Potiphar himself was the captain of the guard (Genesis 39:1)."

"This is one of the keys to living like Jesus: being an others-centered person. Joseph could have justified certain self-centeredness in his life (“I have to take care of myself right now”), but he did not."   David Guzik
  • INTERPRETATIONS BELONG TO GOD. What a great faith and humility from Joseph! Before asking about the dreams, he humbly acknowledged and pointed to them, that it is only God who can give meaning and interpretations of the dreams. Joseph is just a human being, and he is simply a channel and an instrument of God's great wisdom and knowledge. I don't how Joseph did it, but clearly it is a gift from God. Was Joseph praying inside his mind and heart while listening to the cupbearer and baker's dream?
Anyway, according to their dreams, the cupbearer's life will be spared, but sadly, the baker's life will not be. 

"But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

 'Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' Jeremiah 33:3 

"The king answered Daniel and said, "Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery." Daniel 2:47

* "Joseph was confident that God knew what the dream was about. He was like the one boy who told another, “My father and I know everything.” When the other boy asked a hard question, the boy just said, “That’s one for my dad.” Joseph knew he and his Father together knew everything."

"God may certainly speak through dreams and many passages of Scripture show this (Genesis 20:3; 28:12; 31:11; 31:24; Numbers 12:6; 1 Samuel 28:6; Joel 2:28; Matthew 1:20; 2:13; 2:22). However, not every dream is a revelation from God. We must be careful about putting too much weight on dreams.
i. Dreams can come just because our minds are busy: A dream comes through much activity…For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. (Ecclesiastes 5:3, 5:7)
ii. The Bible warns that false prophets might use dreams to give weight to their message (Deuteronomy 13:1-5, Jeremiah 23:25-28)." David Guzik
  • PHARAOH'S BIRTHDAY. I think that it is the first time I have read a "birthday" celebration. God's people, so far, do not keep this tradition-- we never read that Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc., held a feast for their birthday. Egypt is a progressive country at this point, with their own Pharaoh/King, culture, and gods. I think that is one of the big difference between Egypt and God's people (Israel)-- Egyptians seems to satisfy themselves and seek their own importance and glory. While God's people were called to a life of surrender, faith, and obedience to God-- and sometimes suffering for the sake of righteousness. Indeed, God's ETERNAL plans to save the whole world through His chosen people of Israel is greater that TEMPORAL riches, pleasures, and satisfactions.

Back to the story, we read how accurate and how the dreams came to pass for both the Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker! We also see here how powerful a king is. But we know that it's power is only earthly and temporary, after all it's God who has all the authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus is also called the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings.

 "..which He will bring about at the proper time--He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,.." 1 Timothy 6:15

"..and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood--" Revelation 1:5

"For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe." Deuteronomy 10:17
  • JOSEPH FORGOTTEN. With all the good that Joseph has done, and favor that he has given the cupbearer by interpreting his dream, he was forgotten, and his request to be taken out of the prison did not happen ("Only think of me when it goes well with you, and please show me kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house. For in fact I was taken (stolen) from the land of the Hebrews by [unlawful] force, and even here I have done nothing for which they should put me in the dungeon.” v.14-15)
But God has not forgotten Joseph at all. In His perfect timing, Joseph will be vindicated and even promoted by God.

* "Joseph could have had fatalistic faith saying, “Well, if the Lord wants me out of prison, He will do it, and I won’t have to do anything.” It is true that Joseph would not get out of prison until the Lord wanted it, but none of that said that Joseph should not take wise and good steps to accomplish what he thought to be God’s will. In any regard, the butler would not remember until God wanted him to remember. Joseph’s action did not take the matter out from God’s supervision and guidance."

"Here Joseph was wronged again. He thought that butler’s kindness might mean his release from prison, but it was not to be. God had another purpose.

All men God uses greatly, He first prepares greatly. Few are willing to endure the greatness of God’s preparation. God orders both our steps and stops."  David Guzik
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