Seeing the Future through the Eyes of God
A. The Characters
B. The confusion
C. The clarification
D. The conclusion
DBF 4/7/02 Genesis 40
Boy the last few years in Bristol Bay have been really different.
Four years ago there were little or no salmon that came in. There was so much doom and gloom predicted. And quite a few families had hard times.
Three years ago they caught a few reds but the kings were slow coming in and the price was low on the reds. The King Salmon fishery was severely restricted and most camps closed early and lost money.
Two years ago they had a record harvest of red salmon, but a major seafood processor folded leaving many in the community with lots of fish delivered that they will never be paid for. Then the silver salmon run was so slow they closed that upriver causing guide services to close and lose a lot of money.
Last year there was a few red salmon caught and the price dropped out the bottom of the fishery. Man how can you even start to figure our what to do next year.
How should we make decisions today? How should we make decisions for tomorrow? How should we make decisions for next week, next month and next year?
In our walk with Joseph today we will see that Joseph well may have the answer for you and I.
That Joseph was set apart or “called” by God was evident early in his life. It is my prayer today that you young people might realize the call that God has placed on your life today.
A. The Characters
Genesis 40: 1-4
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.
We remember that Joseph was in jail and placed in charge of things. The Pharaoh sends a couple of his servants to jail for problems at the castle. Lets look at the people and who and what they represent.
The butler—mashkeh, the same as saky among the Arabians and Persians,
and signifying a cup-bearer. Baker—opheh; rather cook, confectioner, or the like. What we are talking about here are people that were accustomed to having their cakes and eating it to. The Pharaoh had servants who tasted his food and drink before he did to ensure his health. The lucky people ate of the best of the world. To go from this position to jail would have seemed a cruel, cruel irony. Joseph had come to his predicament not be his actions but by the actions of others—yet he continued to have hope. Do you have hope when all seems against you.
Romans 8:31 (KJV)
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Claim this today, it is God’s promise to those who are called of God.
It seems that these two servants Had offended—They may have possibly been accused of attempting to take away the king’s life, one by poisoning his drink, the other by poisoning his bread or confectionaries.
Do you know of anyone who has offended? Do you know of anyone who hasn’t offended? Remember…
Romans 3:23 (KJV)
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
As the butler and. the baker were state criminals they were put in the same prison with Joseph, which we learn from the preceding chapter, Genesis 39:20, was the king’s prison. All the officers in the employment of the ancient kings of Egypt were, according to Diodorus Siculus, taken from the most illustrious families of the priesthood in the country; no slave or common person being ever permitted to serve in the presence of the king. As these persons, therefore, were of the most noble families, it is natural to expect they would be put, when accused, into the state prison.
They continued a season—literally days; how long we cannot tell. But
many suppose the word signifies a complete year; and as Pharaoh called them to an
account on his birthday, it could be supposed they had offended on the
preceding birthday, and thus had been one whole year in prison.
I have never been to prison but to visit, but I have heard that time stands still it seems. I can remember times in my life that time has seemed to stand still. I think that it is fair to say that when I wanted time to move it stood still and when I now wish it would stand still it moves all too fast. Let’s now look at the confusion faced by these two servants and God’s way of bringing Joseph out of his current situation.
B. The confusion
Genesis 40:5-8
And one night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation. [6] When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. [7] So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, "Why are your faces downcast today?" [8] They said to him, "We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them." And Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me."
These men were confounded by their dreams--Each man according to the interpretation—Not like dreams in general, the disordered workings of the mind, the consequence of disease or repletion; these were dreams that had an interpretation, that is, that were prophetic. Because of this--They were sad—They concluded that their dreams portended something of great importance, but they could not tell what. There is no interpreter—They either had access to none, or those to whom they applied could give them no consistent, satisfactory meaning.
Have you ever been there?
I wonder what the salmon season will bring this year…
…wonder what job I’ll have next year…
…wonder what girl I will marry…
…wonder how my health will be next year…
…wonder how I will do in college…
Can you are I give a satisfactory answer to this? I think not. Joseph tells us that only God is able to interpret or to bring things about anyway. Our bible tells us it does not pay to be worried about things, because with all the worry we can bring to bear we cannot even make the littlest change of even time—what of other things. I pray this brings you some clarification.
C. The clarification
Genesis 4:9-19
Genesis 40:9-22 (KJV)
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. [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.
And I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup—We can see that some of the things anciently referred to as wine could be simply squeezed grape juice, without fermentation. The cup-bearer, took the bunch, pressed the juice into the cup, and instantly
delivered it into the hands of his master. You and I do likewise today and all the days of our lives. We serve one of two possible masters—the eternal loving God or the deceiver, lier, prince of the present age. I pray that you take and make this decision once and for all. The world may tell you that there are several ways to peel an orange, but there are only to ways in the end God’s way which leads to eternal life or Satan’s way which leads to eternal damnation.
The three branches are three days—That is, The three branches signify three days and is the same for both dreams.
After interpreting the good fortune of the first servant Joseph asks that he--Make mention of me unto Pharaoh—You would maybe supposed that this didn’t even need to be asked. But remember these servants came from prominent families and positions and upon being restored it is hard to remember the ones who helped you in you day of affliction.
For indeed I was stolen—I have been stolen—most assuredly I was stolen; and here also have I done nothing. These were simple true assertions, into the proof of which he was ready to enter if called on.
The second servant didn’t get the same good news although the “good news” is exactly what he needed as he learned--Lift up thy head from off thee—Thus we find that beheading, hanging, and gibbeting, were modes of punishment among the ancient Egyptians.
How do you think he felt? Do you think he ran around for a second opinion?
We often do likewise, when God gives us a clear indication of the direction he asks for us to take—many often seek a second opinion. When they do who do you think answers their questions?
God calls each and every one of us to a special walk with him. Some as servants, some as helpers, some as teachers, and some as servant leaders.
One thing that we who are called of God need to know—God is not and never has been wrong with anything that he has done. Our lack of understanding of God’s good and perfect will does not change the character of God. Amen. God is light in him is no darkness at all.
D. The conclusion
Genesis 40:20-23 (ESV)
On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. [21] He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, 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 cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
God’s interpretation given to Joseph was proven at Pharaoh’s birthday—and it appears that the birthday party is a very ancient custom.
Pharaoh brings his servants before him--Lifted up the head of the chief butler, etc.—no more is meant than they were to be tried. The issue of the trial was, the baker alone was found guilty and hanged; and the butler, being acquitted, was restored to his office.
As is often the case of people who believe in themselves and not God we see--Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph—Had he mentioned the circumstance to Pharaoh, Joseph may have been released. What was God’s will?
When you find yourself in a difficult situation is this something you ask—What is God’s will in this?
For whatever reason he was left two years longer in prison.
Joseph following God’s call meant being in prison for the next two years. What will the call God have on your life call you to endure and strive for in the next two years?
We have talked about calls for the past three days, has anyone here felt the call of God for direction in your lives. Of course the first thing required is putting God first in your life, much as Joseph is showing us in his walk.
A crucial step in being able to put God first in your life is to ask God into your heart.
Have you ever asked Jesus Christ into your life? This is the means by which we have all come into fellowship of Christ and is the first step in anything that you will do as a “called of Christ”.
We would like to have you come forward for decisions or for prayer at this time.
We would like to pray for you and lift you up in your walk.
Closing Prayer.
