The Book of Genesis
Day 372
Ge 40:9 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. 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." 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." 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.
I can’t help but
feel sorry for the baker. He let’s the butler go first, and when he hears the
interpretation of the butler’s dream, he is greatly encouraged. He proudly states to Joseph that he too, had
a starring role in his dream. One can almost see him greedily rubbing his hands
together in anticipation of the honor and privilege await him from Pharaoh!
That bubble burst rather loudly upon hearing the interpretation from Joseph.
The baker would be hung by Pharaoh and
the birds would eat his flesh!
Oh, the
imaginations of the heart. So often we imagine things the way we want to see
them, and we get so caught up with our imaginations and our dreams that we push
reality aside. We forget that ultimately God is in charge! We look at
circumstances and events in our lives and seek to put our spin on them. We
forget that interpretations belong to God!
Even Joseph falls
into this trap as he imagines that the butler will put in a good word for him
when he returns to Pharaoh! (By the way, this is the first hint of a complaint
we hear from Joseph in this account as he unloads his personal situation on the
butler.) Joseph’s spin on the situation
was that the butler would be so pleased with Joseph’s interpretation that he
would surely immediately put in a good word for him to the Pharaoh and he would
be released!
This should remind
us again how foolish it is to put our trust in men. To the butler, who was
living the good life again, Joseph was forgotten. Out of sight, out of mind.
That’s the way it is with men, BUT IT’S NOT THE WAY WITH GOD! He has not
forgotten Joseph, and He has not forgotten you! Isa 49:15 reminds us, "Can a woman forget her nursing child,
And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I
will not forget you.” When the time is right according to God’s interpretation
He remembers and He moves!
Let us not allow
our imaginations to get the best of us, instead let us say with James, “If the
Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” (James 4:15) And let us simply
pray, Lord, my times are in Your hands.”
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