Genesis 40:1 – 41:45

Sunday Morning Bible Study

September 16, 2007

Introduction

A little boy was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the backyard, wearing his baseball cap and toting a ball and bat: “I’m the greatest hitter in the world,” he announced. Then, he tossed the ball into the air, swung at it, and missed. “Strike One!” he yelled. Undaunted, he picked up the ball and said again, “I’m the greatest hitter in the world!” He tossed the ball into the air. When it came down he swung again and missed. “Strike Two!” he cried. The boy then paused a moment to examine his bat and ball carefully. He spit on his hands and rubbed them together. He straightened his cap and said once more, “I’m the greatest hitter in the world!” Again he tossed the ball up in the air and swung at it. He missed. “Strike Three!” “Wow!” he exclaimed. “I’m the greatest pitcher in the world!”

I think there is something in each of us that is looking for significance. We are looking for a reason to exist. I think there’s something in us that desires to be useful, we want to have a purpose.

We’re following the life of a man who could correctly say that he saved his family. In fact he saved a nation. You could say that Joseph saved the world.

Yet for Joseph, his road to significance went through the betrayal by his brothers, slavery in Egypt, being accused of something he didn’t do, and now we find our friend Joseph learning to adjust to life in prison.

:1-4 More inmates

:1 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.

butler – shaqah – to give to drink; this might not have been the tall guy who answers the door as much as the guy who pours wine for the Pharaoh. There is going to be a mystery in the Pharaohs court, but in this case the butler didn’t do it…

: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.

the captain of the guard – We are told earlier who this person was. It was Potiphar (39:1). It seems possible that Potiphar is the one in charge of the prison.

:4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while.

:5-8 Prison Dreamers

: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.

Each of these men’s dreams had their own interpretation.

Does God still speak to people through dreams?

Sure He does. Right up to the end, God will use dreams to speak to people.

(Joel 2:28 NKJV) …Your old men shall dream dreams…

The revival in Iran – the church now estimated at close to a million believers in Iran. One of the interesting things about how some people are coming to the Lord in Muslim countries is that more than a few people have reported having dreams which ended up leading them to Jesus.

But keep in perspective just how God wants to lead your life. There is something better than dreams:

(Jer 23:28 NKJV) "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.

The clearest guidance for your life will come from God’s Word.

: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?"

Lesson

Reasons for promotion

When things start turning around for Joseph, it will happen fast. One morning Joseph wakes up in prison, the next he’ll be the prince of Egypt. But the more I look the story, I see there’s more to Joseph’s life than an unexpected surprise.

Some people look at Joseph’s story and hope that one day they too will get their “big break”. Yet there were things that led to Joseph’s break.

He was faithful when he managed Potiphar’s household. (39:6)

He was faithful when he managed things in the prison. (39:23)

He serves others (40:4)

He is concerned for others (40:7)

: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 understands that some things are God’s job.

When you watch how Joseph interprets dreams, I don’t see much of a rhyme or reason to the interpretations. It seems to me that God is simply telling Joseph what each dream means.

For example – the interpretation of numbers changes from dream to dream. One of Joseph’s own dreams contained twelve stars, which represented twelve people. The butler’s dream will have three branches which represent three days. Pharaoh’s dream will have seven cows which will represent seven years. How does Joseph know these things? He has learned to listen to God.

If you want to learn to interpret dreams like Joseph, it won’t do you any good to come up with some sort of secret decoder ring that tells you what dreams mean. You will need to learn to listen to God.

For us – we need to realize that there are some things we can’t do. We can’t change a person’s heart – only God can do that. Don’t worry about the things that are God’s job.

When Daniel is faced with interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he start by praying.

(Dan 2:17-19 NKJV) Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, {18} that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. {19} Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

:9-15 The butler’s dreams

: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."

It sounds like the butler’s dream had to do with going back to work.

: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."

Joseph asks this man to remember him when he gets released. He’s hoping that this incident is his ticket out of prison.

:16-19 The baker’s dream

The baker seems to have this notion that since the butler’s dream had a good interpretation, that he ought to go ahead and tell his dream as well.

: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 baker’s dream turns out to be a bad one. He’s going to die.

:20-23 Dreams come true

: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.

Lesson

Learning to wait

It’s hard when things take longer than expected. It’s hard when you hope that somebody will come through for you and they don’t.

(Prov 13:12 NKJV) Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

This too is part of Joseph’s training, learning to wait.

I remember once years ago making a phone call and being put on “hold” by some company and waiting for forty-five minutes, only to find out that they had forgotten about me.

Sometimes life seems like that. You wonder if God has forgotten about you.

But He hasn’t. Noah had been cooped up in a boat with all those animals for five months. I imagine he began to wonder how long it was going to take.

(Gen 8:1 NKJV) Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided.

Genesis 41

:1-9 Pharaoh dreams

: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.

: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 seven fine looking and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke.

I think I’d wake up too. Sounds like a pretty freaky dream.

: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.

:8 Now it came to pass in the morning 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.

I think it’s interesting that these magicians are smart enough to keep their mouths shut. Today there would be more than a few people who would try and tell you exactly what it meant, though they would be wrong.

:9-13 The butler remembers

:9 Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: "I remember my faults this day.

“My bad”, he says. The butler remembers his strange experience in prison.

: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."

Things happened just as Joseph’s interpretation predicted.

:14-24 Pharaoh retells his dream to Joseph

: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.

I imagine Joseph was pretty grungy after having spent several years in prison.

: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 is careful to continue to give God the credit.

:17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: "Behold, in my dream I stood on the bank of the river.

He’s talking about the Nile river.

In verses 18-24, the Pharaoh tells Joseph about the dream of the hungry cows and the hungry corn…skip to…

: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.

: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."

:25-36 Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams

:25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do:

It’s interesting that God gives the dream to Pharaoh and not to some “seer” in the court. God wants Pharaoh to own this dream. God wants Pharaoh to act on this dream.

: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.

Just as the skinny cows ate up the fat ones and the skinny ears of corn ate up the fat ones, the years of famine will wipe away any memory of the good years.

:32 "And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

So Joseph gives his interpretation to Pharaoh. But he doesn’t stop there. Joseph goes on to give Pharaoh a clue as to what he is supposed to do with the dream.

This is just like God’s Word.

We can sometimes get the idea that the Bible is just a book of stories that we learn for no other reason than to win at Bible Trivia games or impress people with our knowledge.

But God’s Word has been given to us as something we need to respond to. We need to learn to do something with what we learn in the Bible.

(James 1:22 NKJV) But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

When you read your Bible, be asking the question, “God, what do you want me to do with this today?”

: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 one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years.

: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."

How does Joseph come up with this amazing plan to save Egypt?

He’s learned how to be a good manager. He started by learning to manage the affairs of Potiphar’s house. He refined his skills as a manager while he was in prison, looking out for the prisoners.

:37-45 Joseph is promoted

:37 So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants.

Pharaoh wasn’t the only one that realized this was good advice.

:38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?"

: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."

Joseph’s calling. We’re going to see that this will all lead up to the salvation of Joseph’s family. I find it interesting that the family is going to be saved not because Joseph went into the “ministry”, but into government work. Sometimes in the church we can give each other the idea that the best thing you can ever do is go into the ministry (which is absolutely correct - J ) – but in reality the best thing you could ever do is find God’s purpose for your life, no matter what that may look like.

: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.

signet – like having Pharaoh’s credit card.

signet ring – we saw a signet ring in the account of Judah (Gen. 38:18) when he lost his ring to the “prostitute”. Here Joseph is being given Pharaoh’s signet, meaning he can write letters in Pharaoh’s name. He can use Pharaoh’s credit card.

: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."

: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.

Zaphnath-Paaneah – Tsophnath Pa‘neach – “treasury of the glorious rest”

Asenath – ‘Ac@nath – “belonging to the goddess Neith”

Poti-Pherah – Powtiy Phera‘– “he whom the Ra gave”

Lesson

Finding purpose in life’s chapters

If you pay attention to the story we’ve been following, you will see that all through his life God has been preparing Joseph for this moment.

Dreams – Joseph learned about dreams back at home.

Management – Joseph was in charge of things at Potiphar’s house. Joseph was in charge of things in the prison. He’s learned how to manage.

We might wonder why we go through certain chapters of our life, but there is nothing wasted in the plan of God. Even the bad things.

Joseph has experienced betrayal by his own brothers.

Some of you know what it’s like to have been betrayed by a friend or a spouse.

Joseph has lived as a slave.

Some of you know what it’s like working a difficult job.

Joseph has been falsely accused and suffered in prison all for something he didn’t do.

Some of you have tasted what it’s like when life is extremely unfair.

Joseph has been forgotten.

Some of you may be feeling like this now, wondering when something will change.

These are the things that temper a man’s character.

(Rom 5:1-5 NKJV) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, {2} through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Paul is praising God for having learned to trust in Jesus, finding God’s peace, knowing God’s grace, and having hope.

{3} And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; {4} and perseverance, character; and character, hope. {5} Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

tribulations – thlipsis – a pressing, pressing together, pressure; it’s the tough times in life when you feel like you’re being squeezed.

perseverance – hupomone – steadfastness, constancy, endurance; the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from the right things by even the greatest trials and sufferings; it means literally to “remain under” – the idea of remaining under the pressure, not quitting.

character – dokime – proving, trial; it’s a word used to describe a coin that’s passed the test of being genuine. It’s talking about a person who’s life is the real thing. It’s a word Paul uses to describe his young friend Timothy to the Philippians:

(Phil 2:22 NKJV) But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.

Paul is saying that there’s a progression in life if you want to get to hope. Walk the progression backward:

Hope is what comes in the life of a person who has “character”. A person develops character by learning to persevere in their difficult times. Perseverance can only be developed when you are under pressure, when you have a situation where you have to learn to “remain under”.

Are you looking for God’s will in your life? Are you wondering how your life all fits together? Are you wondering why things don’t seem to be going the way you wanted them to?

God wants to use you. He wants to use the good things you’ve learned in your life. Sometimes I wonder if He isn’t even more interested in the difficult times He’s allowed you to go through, producing character in your life.

Paul tells us how to put all these kinds of things together in finding God’s will:

(Rom 12:1-2 NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. {2} And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Commit your life to God. You will find God’s will and you will find that it is indeed good.