Seeing The Future Through The Eyes Of God Series

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.