Genesis 40:1-23 NKJV
40 It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. 3 So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. 4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while.
5 Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream, both of them, each man’s dream in one night and each man’s dream with its own interpretation. 6 And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in the custody of his lord’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”
8 And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.”
So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”
9 Then the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “Behold, in my dream a vine was before me, 10 and in the vine were three branches; it was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. 11 Then 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 And Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days. 13 Now within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your place, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand according to the former manner, when you were his butler. 14 But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. 15 For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon.”
16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was in my dream, and there were three white baskets on my head. 17 In the uppermost basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.”
18 So Joseph answered and said, “This is the interpretation of it: The three baskets are three days. 19 Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head from you and hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from you.”
20 Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 21 Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, 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 butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
In Genesis 40, we witness the unfolding of Joseph’s story while he is unjustly imprisoned. Despite the heavy burden of wrongful imprisonment, Joseph remains diligent and responsible, managing the affairs of the prison. This steadfastness serves as a profound reminder for us: even when we find ourselves in difficult situations, we are called to remain faithful, trusting that God is with us.
This emphasizes the importance of God’s timing. Joseph’s interactions with the cupbearer and the baker are not mere coincidences; they are part of God’s sovereign plan. Trusting in His perfect timing can be challenging, but we must remember that God’s plans are always at work, even amidst our trials.
When interpreting the dreams, Joseph humbly acknowledges that the power to interpret lies with God. He does not take credit for his gift but points others to the true source of wisdom. This humility is a beautiful example for us to follow; recognizing that our abilities and gifts are ultimately from God can keep us grounded in faith.
Joseph’s longing for justice and his plea to the cupbearer reflect our human desire for recognition and help. However, while humans may forget us, God never does. The cupbearer’s ingratitude serves as a stark reminder of human frailty, but it does not hinder God’s plans. Even when others fail us, we can rest in the assurance that God’s purposes continue to unfold.
Joseph’s innocent suffering prefigures Christ’s own trials. Just as Joseph remained faithful and was ultimately exalted, so too did Christ endure suffering and rise in glory. This encourages us to persevere through our own trials, trusting that God will ultimately vindicate us—partly now, fully in heaven. Let us pray: Heavenly Father, help us to trust in Your perfect timing and providence, knowing that You are at work in our lives. Grant us humility to acknowledge our gifts as coming from You and strengthen our faith when we feel forgotten by others. May we look to Christ, who endured suffering for our sake, and find hope in the promise of His resurrection. Amen.