(8/19/15) It came to pass after these things (after Joseph was put into prison)

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1 Genesis 40:1 41:46 (8/19/15) Genesis 40:1 (NKJV) 1 It came to pass after these things (after Joseph was put into prison) It could be that seven years have passed. Joseph was sold into slavery when he was 17 years old he could have spent the next three or four years in Potiphar s house before he was accused by Potiphar s wife of trying to rape her. That would mean that Joseph was around 21 when he was put into prison and now roughly 7 years have passed which means Joseph was about 28 years old at this time. No doubt that these seven years in prison were the hardest years of Joseph s life but God used them to break him and to build him into the man God wanted him to be an instrument fit for the Master s use to accomplish the work He had for Joseph s life. Genesis 40:1 (NKJV) 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. The chief butler of Pharaoh was the overseer of his vineyards and wine cellar, as well as his personal cupbearer, responsible to see that all drinks served the king were both safe (not poisoned) and of the highest quality. The chief baker was Pharaoh s personal royal baker (the Egyptians loved breads and pastries). 1

2 These were not low level cabinet positions in Pharaoh s administration. It has been suggested that these titles were also a reference to the role they played in ceremonies involving the worship of the Egyptian god Horus they would bear the wine and carry the ceremonial bread to be offered to this god during various ceremonies. So both were important positions in Pharaoh s court when it says they were officers (v.2) the Hebrew word, as was the case of Potiphar, means eunuchs. (Comment) Why Pharaoh was so angry at these two men we aren t told possibly he became ill after a meal and held them responsible. Genesis 40:2-4 (NKJV) 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. How long they were in prison we re not told I m guessing a few weeks or maybe a couple of months until Pharaoh cooled off. Genesis 40:5-7 (NKJV) 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?" Would God give an unbeliever a prophetic dream? the answer is yes (Nebuchadnezzar). 2

3 You d think that after all Joseph had been through he would have become bitter and indifferent to the suffering and even the sadness of these prisoners but he didn t let bitterness take hold in his heart toward anyone who had wronged him. I believe that that, along with trusting in God s sovereignty, was the secret to Joseph being so mentally healthy in light of all he had been through. Here we see him concerned for these men and wanted to know why they seemed so dejected. Let me just say this before we go any further. The ancient Egyptians put great stock in dreams because they believed that sleep put them in contact with another world. Second, a pair of dreams, it was thought, indicated certainty of fulfillment. And third, the reason these high ranking executives in Pharaoh s administration were willing to let a Hebrew prisoner interpret their dreams was because they did not have access to professional interpreters whose dream books were thought essential to unlocking the symbolism of dreams so why not give the kid a shot. Genesis 40:8 (NKJV) 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." Joseph s statement "Do not interpretations belong to God? implies that he believed dreams and their interpretations were given by God to reveal truths that He wants us to know and understand. 3

4 Now we must be careful that, even though God uses dreams at times to communicate His truths to our hearts not every dream is a revelation from God. We must be careful about putting too much weight on dreams Ecclesiastes 5:7 (NKJV) 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God. The Bible warns that false prophets use dreams to give weight to their message Jeremiah 23:25-28 (NKJV) 25 "I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed!' 26 How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, 27 who try to make My people forget My name by their dreams which everyone tells his neighbor, as their fathers forgot My name for Baal. 28 "The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?" says the LORD. Genesis 40:9-13 (NKJV) 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. To have your head lifted up signifies regaining your dignity, honor, and freedom just as hanging your head signifies shame and subjection. 4

5 Genesis 40:14-15 (NKJV) 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." Now at this point many commentators come down on Joseph for asking the butler to put a good word in for him with Pharaoh. They see in it a lapse of faith Joseph trying to take things into his own hands to bring about his release but I don t think that s fair. It s not wrong to use every avenue open to you to try to improve your position or circumstances after all Paul did that by using his Roman citizenship to get out of a scourging and to appeal his case to Caesar. However as we re going to see God is still sovereign and ultimately in control of our lives and circumstances. Here Joseph tries to work out his own release by asking Pharaoh s cupbearer to intercede for him to Pharaoh and yet God s time table for the work He wants to do isn t subject to our schedule Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) 1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: Proverbs 19:21 (NKJV) 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the LORD'S counsel that will stand. 5

6 Genesis 40:16-19 (NKJV) 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." The Egyptians didn t use the gallows to execute people they beheaded the victim and then impaled his body on a stake ( tree ). So whereas the reference of Joseph to the butler s head being lifted up meant lifted up in honor and joy for the baker it meant lifted up off his body not so joyful. Genesis 40:20-21 (NKJV) 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. Egyptian literature records the granting of amnesty on Pharaoh s birthday, but it was more common to grant amnesties on the anniversary of his accession to the throne which was also described as the birth of a god. In Egyptian theology Pharaoh was the incarnation of Ra the sun god. Genesis 40:22-23 (NKJV) 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. 6

7 I m sure that Joseph s hopes were really up for a week or two thinking that at any time the butler was going to come through and put a good word in for him to Pharaoh resulting in his release from prison. However after four or five weeks it became obvious to Joseph that the butler had forgotten all about him. I m sure that this devastated Joseph as he had no doubt put all his hope in the butler to save him from his circumstances and that was his problem. Joseph, at that moment, was looking more to a man to save him than to God Whose timing is always perfect. Psalm 146:3 (NKJV) 3 Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. We can do our best to better ourselves but in the end our lives are moved along by the providential hand of God according to His divine program and schedule Proverbs 16:9 (NASB) 9 The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. If Joseph had been released early he would have gone home to Canaan and missed God s purpose for him in Egypt. And therefore what Joseph didn t know was that God had supernaturally blocked the butler s memory because it wasn t yet the timing of God for Joseph to be released. 7

8 One author put it well Joseph experienced disappointment after disappointment his brothers murderous rejection, evil for doing good in resisting Potiphar s wife, the withering disappointment from the forgetful cupbearer. Joseph s life teaches us that disappointments are essential to spiritual growth because they demand faith and resting all hope upon God. As V. Raymond Edman wrote, Delay never thwarts God s purposes; it only polishes his instrument. As we have already pointed out Joseph is the most powerful and descriptive type of Christ in all the O.T. Did you notice the two elements introduced by the butler and baker s dreams bread and wine? How many times was the word cup mentioned? 4 times there are four cups in the Passover. Joseph also had a desire to be remembered just as Jesus Who said, Remember Me the night of the Passover. Chapter 41 Genesis 41:1a (NKJV) 1 Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years What do you think was going through Joseph s mind during this time? He has been in prison for almost ten years thirteen years have passed since his brothers sold him into slavery. 8

9 Joseph is now thirty years old some of the best years of his life have been wasted or so he probably thought. I can t help to believe that this was how he felt at times. He probably had bouts of deep discouragement and even depression that he might never get out of that place that God had forgotten about him or even had forsaken him. What Joseph couldn t have possibly known when he woke up that morning was that God s preparation time had come to an end and a brand new phase in his life was about to start. For the time had come for God to use his servant in a way he could only have dreamed about (pun intended ch.37:7, 9) Genesis 41:1-4 (NKJV) 1 Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river [Nile]. 2 Suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. 3 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and gaunt, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the river. 4 And the ugly and gaunt cows ate up [the Hebrew is chewed up ] the seven fine looking and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke. Pharaoh probably passed this off as having too much pepperoni on his pizza the night before no biggy I ll just go back to sleep. Genesis 41:5-8 (NKJV) 5 He slept and dreamed a second time; and suddenly seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, plump and good. 6 Then behold, seven thin heads, blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them. 7 And the seven thin heads devoured the seven plump and full heads. So Pharaoh awoke, and indeed, it was a dream. 9

10 8 Now it came to pass in the morning [the same morning that Joseph woke up thinking this was going to be the same kind of day he had experienced for the last ten years] that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh. Egypt s magicians were impressive, yet they could not interpret the dreams. Years later some Egyptian magicians would imitate some of the plagues that God (through Moses) had brought upon Egypt. These men had powers but could not interpret Pharaoh s dreams. Pharaoh knew the dreams had some kind of meaning behind them and he was determined to find out what they meant. Now while these magicians and wise men were called in and Pharaoh was telling them his dreams the chief butler was there listening. Part of his job was to stand beside Pharaoh and get him anything that he wanted. When none of the wise men could give Pharaoh an interpretation, the butler spoke up Genesis 41:9 (NKJV) 9 Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: "I remember my faults this day. Well it s about time! Let s not be too hard on this guy he s had a case of divinely imposed amnesia for the last two years. 10

11 Genesis 41:9-13 (NKJV) 9 Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: "I remember my faults this day. 10 When Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker, 11 we each had a dream in one night, he and I. Each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. 12 Now there was a young Hebrew man with us there, a servant of the captain of the guard. And we told him, and he interpreted our dreams for us; to each man he interpreted according to his own dream. 13 And it came to pass, just as he interpreted for us, so it happened. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him." Verse 13 may sound a little odd because it sounds like the butler was saying that Joseph not only interpreted the dreams but made them happen also and you would be correct that s exactly what he s saying. In Egypt they believed that the one who had the power to interpret the dream was the one that fulfilled the dream as well. Genesis 41:14-16 (NKJV) 14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it." 16 So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace." Joseph never ever takes any glory for himself but always makes sure that God gets all the glory. Genesis 41:17-32 (NKJV) 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: "Behold, in my dream I stood on the bank of the river. 18 Suddenly seven cows came up out of the river, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. 19 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such ugliness as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt. 20 And the gaunt and ugly cows ate up the first seven, the fat cows. 21 When they had eaten them up, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were just as ugly as at the beginning. So I awoke. 22 Also I saw in my dream, and suddenly seven heads came up on one stalk, full and good. 11

12 23 Then behold, seven heads, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them. 24 And the thin heads devoured the seven good heads. So I told this to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me." [So up until this point Pharaoh simply recaps what we have already read] 25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years; the dreams are one. 27 And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine. 28 This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. 29 Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; 30 but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land. 31 So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. 32 And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. Now this was no doubt very impressive to Pharaoh that Joseph could interpret his dreams so effortlessly but he didn t stop there He then goes on to advise Pharaoh on what he should do in light of the interpretations of his dreams. Genesis 41:33-36 (NKJV) 33 Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect onefifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years [the usual was ten percent tax on grain]. 35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. 36 Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine." Wise counsel I wish Joseph was around today and running for president I d vote for him (a twenty percent flat tax sounds good to me!) 12

13 Genesis 41:37-38 (NKJV) 37 So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?" Pharaoh probably didn t mean this the way we would take it if a Christian said it to us. Pharaoh probably meant a man in whom the Spirit of his God dwells or a man in whom dwells the spirit of one of the gods. The bottom line is Pharaoh is pretty taken with this young Hebrew prisoner so much so that we read Genesis 41:39-42 (NKJV) 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you." 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph's hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. That signet ring contained the royal seal that represented the kings authority in all matters to make purchases, to sign orders in short to do all the king s business. Genesis 41:43-44 (NKJV) 43 And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, "Bow the knee!" So he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." Talk about your rags to riches story! 13

14 When Joseph woke up that morning he had no idea how dramatically his life would change he would begin the day as a prisoner but he would end the day as Prime Minister of all of Egypt! Before the day was out he would realize that every event in his life had been orchestrated by God for such a time as this. God had not forsaken him He had prepared him! And once God finishes His work of preparation it s amazing how fast things can happen and change can occur when God (not us) says it s time! Remember that when you feel like a prisoner of your circumstances alone and forgotten by God. God will never leave us nor forsake us when the devil tells you that God has forsaken you understand that He is simply taking His time to prepare you for the work He has for your life. And in one day everything can change and you will realize why He let you go through what you went through. I m wondering about the conversation Potiphar had with his wife the next morning over cornflakes and coffee do you remember that Hebrew slave that used to work for us I have to report to him today he s my new boss. Genesis 41:45 (NKJV) 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-Paaneah. And he gave him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. So Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. 14

15 Various interpretations have been given as to the meaning of Zaphnath-Paaneah these would include Abundance of Life, Savior of the World, Revealer of Secrets, God s Word Speaking Life, Furnisher of Sustenance, and so on. Pharaoh seems to have chosen a name for Joseph that expressed the contribution he was going to make to the land and people of Egypt. The girl s name was Asenath, which apparently indicates something like Dedicated to Neith, Neith being the Egyptian equivalent of the goddess Minerva. Thus there is little doubt that she had been brought up in the polytheistic Egyptian religion. Her father, Potipherah (meaning essentially the same thing as Potiphar, given by Ra, the sungod ), was actually a prominent priest in this religious system, located at the temple at On (probably the same as Heliopolis, a city specially devoted to the sun-god). Tradition says that Asenath became a believer in the God of her husband Joseph no doubt because of his testimony. So far as the record goes Joseph never married any wife other than Asenath. (Just as Jesus only has one bride) Genesis 41:46 (NKJV) 46 Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. 15

16 Joseph has just entered the most dangerous period of his young life he has become a man of power and wealth. One author had this to say Joseph s soul was in greater peril than at any other time in his short life. It is one thing to remain believing and God-centered and faithful in the pit; it is quite another to be faithful at the pinnacle. The pit instilled dependence upon God. Days, months, and years in the pit graced Joseph s soul with an ever-deepening sense of need and dependence upon God. There was only one way to look while in the pit, and that was up to God. On the other hand, the pinnacle of Egyptian life inclined the soul toward pride and independence. At the top, looking up to God was not so natural. It was far easier then for Joseph to look down on humanity and to depend upon servants to meet his needs. And the fact that Joseph s name, speech, clothing, and wife were Egyptian all encouraged him to forget where he came from. Also, the undeniable brilliance of his interpretation of Pharaoh s dreams and his plan to spare Egypt could well have begun to give him a sense of mental and moral superiority. It could have but, as we re going to see, Joseph started well and he finished his life for God well. I believe it was because he always kept the proper perspective in life he was nobody, God was everything and life on earth couldn t compare to life in heaven so always keep the eternal the focus over the temporal! 16