THROUGH THE BIBLE COMMENTARY
This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears.
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
GENESIS
CHAPTER 40
1 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. 3 And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. 4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.
Before we start this chapter, we have to realize that it is actually
part of a continuing story.
WHY are all these things happening to Joseph?
God has a plan. He's ALWAYS got a plan. God uses the sin of
man and works HIS plan.
Joseph has got to come to a certain position. That position is
to be "in favor" with the Pharoah, so that he can "save" his family.
But a lot of people are involved in this plan. And God is USING them,
and, yes, even their sinfulness, to put Joseph in the proper position.
For some reason we aren't told, these two men "offended" the Pharoah. So
he had them thrown in prison. Joseph is in charge of their lives.
He assigns them their duties and has to account for their actions.
5 And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison. 6 And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad. 7 And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?
You can see God working circumstances after circumstances together.
Ordinarily these men whould have been placed in the charge of
someone who was uncaring about their feelings. But Joseph DID
care. He even noticed that they looked sad.
9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; 10 And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: 11 And 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. 12 And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days: 13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. 14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: 15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.
The "butler" is the man who is responsible for the Pharoah's physical
well-being in matters of food and drink. He tastes before Pharoah, and
any poison will get him first.
Pharoah took no food or drink that didn't come from this man's hand.
Joseph interpreted his dream. In three days the butler would be
restored to his former position.
16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head: 17 And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head. 18 And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days: 19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.
The baker's dream wasn't much different; but it didn't have as joyful an ending.
Why the dreams? To establish Joseph as an INTERPRETER of dreams.
And, too, it may have been a warning to the baker to get ready to meet God.
20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand: 22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.
Joseph's interpretations come true three days later. But the butler was
probably so excited about being restored, he forgot to mention Joseph.
But, do you see how God is working HIS plan?
When we are having problems in our lives, sometimes it is due to sin.
But sometimes it is due to God working HIS plan.
"When you can't see His plan, hold to His hand."
Please continue to follow along in Bible study with us.