Don't you want to know what the cup bearer and the baker did that made Pharaoh so furious in chapter 40? I have a possible scenario, but I'll save it for the end of the chapter.
Okay, look with me at verse 8. God has been preparing Joseph his whole life for this very moment. The thought of that sends shivers through me. What could He be preparing us for right now? How will He use our own pasts to do great things for Him?
How tragic is the baker's reaction? He is encouraged but the first interpretation, which brings him to share his own story. But his doesn't end so happily. It has occurred to me that these dreams had little to do with the men that actually dreamed them. Yes, they were the subjects of the dreams, and yes, it was their futures that were predicted. But there was no way for them to use this information. Nothing could be done for them at this point. I believe that their dreams,and their placement in Joseph's custody, was solely to give Joseph a reputation. And making sure that someone in Pharaoh's household knew about it.
Notice what day it was when the fates of the two men were decided. Pharaoh's birthday. Strange way to celebrate.
Okay, so here's what could possibly have happened with the two prisoners. This is purely speculation, but it helps me see them more easily as people, rather than characters:
One night, Pharaoh gets horribly sick after dinner one night. He suspects that he might have been poisoned, but is not sure whether it was the food or drink, so he throws both into jail. That way they can do him no further harm while he figures out who is responsible. It takes a while to do the tests, but within a few days all of the test subjects who drank the wine are fine, but the guys who ate the bread are sick. So he restores the innocent cupbearer, and hangs the baker. On his birthday--to send a message to other would-be assassins.
Chapter 41
We see more evidence that Joseph's time in prison has done more than strategic placement. He is humble, only giving God the credit for his ability.
Verse 38 is where everything comes to a dramatic conclusion. God has simultaneously saved Egypt by giving Pharaoh specific instructions for dealing with the famine, saved Joseph, empowered him to his final position, and fulfilled the dreams of Joseph's youth. He also has proclaimed Himself as the One True God, and shown the magicians to be worthless. Amazing.
The grain that they saved for the years of the famine was in abundance like the grains of the sea. There was so much that they stopped measuring it, for it was beyond measure. God loves to bless us beyond measure.
When Joseph was a kid back in Israel, he thought he had it all. And all he had was a pretty jacket and his father's favor. When he was in Potiphar's house, he thought he had fully arrived. But Potiphar was just some rich guy, and Joseph was still only a slave. God was thinking bigger. God has plans for our lives that we can't even imagine from where we are right now. Let's be careful to not hold onto our circumstances too tightly. We should hold all we have up to God with open hands. Sometimes he takes things away, but he might replace them with something much better.
Next time: Genesis 42-44
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