As we ended the last chapter, Joesph was in prison. But, once again God began to bless him. He was unjustly accused and punished, no doubt to prepare him for the task ahead. Joseph was seventeen years old when he was sold as slave and 30 years old when he appeared before Pharaoh and was made second in command. He spent 13 long years as a slave and prisoner. How many of us would think, I am wasting time? How many of us would be discouraged? Many of us would think of it as “waste of time” However in God’s planning it was not wasted at all, but necessary preparation for the high position of leadership to which Joseph was called for. How many feel we should be teaching/preaching as soon as we gather little knowledge of the Bible? We want to lead bible study or push away established leadership with a vision of new methods and grand plans? For those eager, impatient Christians, the story of Joseph is must read. We all keen to take over the position of a prince in Egypt but to get there, you need years of training as slave and prisoner and allow God to chastise you and put you through rigorous training. Let’s look at how God uses Joseph in Prison.
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 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.
Joseph was thrown into Prison because he would not Lie with Potipher’s wife. He did not give in to the temptation. Likewise, Jesus was tempted for 40 days in the wilderness. Both Jesus and Joseph passed their test beating satan decisively. Look at another similarity between Joseph and Jesus, Isaiah 53:12 tell us, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many And made intercession for the transgressors. This speaks of 2 thieves on at the time of the crucifixion. Similarly here we see 2 criminals with Joseph, one will receive life other death. I hope you see the parallel between the life of Joseph & Jesus. At the time of the crucifixion, one thief received Salvation and the other damnation.
5 Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in 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 [a]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.”
We do not know exactly what caused the baker and butler to dream such a strange dream. Perhaps their own conscience, innocent in one case and guilty in the other, caused them subconsciously to realize what future would be. Or probably God caused them to dream to give an opportunity to Joesph to come in the presence of Pharoah. In any case, both men were stressed out about their dreams. Joseph, of course, had experience in interpreting dreams and he trusted God to help him decipher the 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.” 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 [b]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.”
The chief butler shares his dreams and receives Joseph’s Interpretation. I suggest, he spoke first because he was confident of his own innocence and therefore was not hesitant to hear the meaning. I like to draw your attention to verse 14, “remember me when it is well with you” said Joseph. The thief on the cross said, “remember me when you come into your kingdom. At last Passover, Jesus said, “do this in remembrance of me.” How do you remember Christ? Do we only remember Him when we are in trouble or need something? Each time we have communion, we are to remember the ultimate sacrifice he made. Verse 15, Joseph proclaims his innocence just like Pilate said: “I find no fault in this man.” regarding Jesus.
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 [c]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.”8 So Joseph answered and said, “This is the interpretation of it: The three baskets are three days. 19 Within three days Pharaoh will lift [d]off your head from you and hang you on a tree, and the birds will eat your flesh from you.”
The butler dreamed of the cup and baker dreamed of the bread. Does that remind you of something? The two elements of communion. There are some meanings attached to the interpretation of these verses. The contrast between butler and baker has been suggested as parallel to saved and lost. The butler with his grape juice is associated with redeeming blood; the baker with his breadbasket is identified with those who present their own works for salvation. The 3 days is tied in with the 3 days Jesus spent in the grave.
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.
What does the third day speak of? The resurrection. Our whole Christian faith is based on the resurrection. Without the resurrection, we do not have salvation. Those who believe in resurrected Christ are elevated to place in the kingdom. And, those who do not believe to hell.
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.
These outcomes were exactly what Joseph had predicted. I am sure butler was amazed by Joseph’s prophetic knowledge; nevertheless, in the joy and excitement of his restoration, he forgot about Joseph. Jesus has freed us from the prison of sins. We were all in the bondage of sin, with no hope of ever being released. Jesus came down to this sinful world to free us and all he asked his, remember me. Butler went back to his daily routine, I am sure he got busy with chores, and before he knew it, Joseph was a distant memory. Like Butler, HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN JESUS? Are you so busy with the responsibilities of daily life that you don’t take time to remember Jesus? To talk to him? Spend time with him? I hope and pray, you are in communion with Jesus daily. Amen.
only savior jesus 