Genesis 40 Lesson: The Testing of Joseph and Humanity

Bible Study Series: Joseph, Jesus and You

Genesis 40 Lesson: The Testing of Joseph and Humanity

by I Gordon

Welcome. When we left our good friend Joseph, he was... well, in prison. We saw that despite doing nothing wrong, he was framed by a not-so-lovely woman, the wife of his master, Potiphar. This would be one of the hardest times in the life of young Joseph. Prison time is not easy. It's not meant to be. So right about now you are probably wondering if I am speaking from experience. Yeah I've spent time in prison. Well, visiting. Now you are wondering who I was visiting. I was visiting my mother. Ok, no I wasn't visiting my good mother! All being fair she would be the last person in prison! But our church was connected to a prison ministry so we would go in and share the gospel with those inside. But some people, like Joseph, and John the Baptist for that matter, found themselves jailed despite having done nothing wrong. Church history shows that many Christians have ended up in prison for actually doing what is right. John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim's Progress, was put in prison for that oh-so terrible crime of holding a religious meeting. His three month sentence ended up being nearly twelve years because he wouldn't give an assurance that he would refrain from preaching if released! So sometimes people are imprisoned because they did what is wrong. Sometimes because they have did what is right. And sometimes, like young Joseph, because someone said they did what is wrong, when actually they did what was right!

So in this lesson we'll concentrate on Genesis chapter 40 looking at:

• The prison time of Joseph - how did he still care for others when everything was going so wrong for him? And how was he able to bring God into the conversation?
• The prophetic aspects in this chapter - How do the dreams of Joseph's fellow inmates point to Jesus and the test given to all of humanity? And in what way does Pharaoh speak of God the Father? 
• The humanity of Joseph - what can we learn from Joseph's courage in this testing time, even when all is uncertain and doubts arise?

Joseph cared enough to ask...

Gen 40:1-8 Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. (2) Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, (3) and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. (4) The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them. After they had been in custody for some time, (5) each of the two men--the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison--had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. (6) When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. (7) So he asked Pharaoh's officials who were in custody with him in his master's house, "Why are your faces so sad today?" (8) We both had dreams, they answered, "but there is no one to interpret them." Then Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams."

So as mentioned, Joseph, through no fault of his own, finds himself in the slammer. But he is not alone for too long because two of Pharaoh's servants misstep and quickly find themselves in the same uncertain, lonely boat. Pharaoh's cupbearer and chief baker fall out of favor with the king and fall into confinement. Some believe that there was a plot to kill Pharaoh. Was it the baker with some dodgy cupcakes? Was it the cupbearer slipping some nasties into Pharaoh's tea? Or was it actually Colonel Mustard all along with the candlestick in the library? We don't know. But Pharaoh had complete power in those days so if there is even the smallest question mark in his mind... well, it's off to prison you go! (Assuming he is in a good mood!) Simply put, you feared the King of Egypt in those days. Today? Not so much. But back then his judgement was final, whether right or wrong, and there was no higher court or authority to appeal to. And if someone did question his judgment... well, off to prison you go too!

Pharaoh as a picture of God the Father

There is obviously a picture here showing the ultimate authority that rests with Almighty God. As mentioned above, the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt were seen as a god and had the final word on judgments with no one able to dispute it. Now God's judgement is always just and true (unlike Pharaoh's at times!) But like Pharaoh every mouth will be shut before Him. Imagine those that have not accepted God's salvation coming before the Great White Throne of judgment, which we looked at in the Revelation series, realizing that no argument you can make has any merit, no charm that you can muster holds any sway and no pleading, whining or sorrow at that time can change the outcome. You stand before the One who sees all, knows all, and has judged you in perfect justice. Rev 20:15 puts in distinctly - 'If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.' That's it. No appeal, no bribes, no talking back, no worming your way out of it. And all that stand before God on that day will know they deserve His judgment. Case closed.   

"Why are your faces so sad today?"

Now I was interested in Joseph's response to these two in prison with him. He saw they were down and was genuinely concerned about them. If anyone had reason to be sad it was Joseph himself. Hated by his own brothers... sold into slavery... served his master faithfully and honestly, only to be falsely accused of raping his master's wife... And in none of these cases had he done anything wrong! He was the one who should have the long face and an upside down smile on his dial. And yet instead of being sad he was actually concerned with their sadness! Why is that? Because God was with him. It was hard. Yes. It was trying, yes. He wanted out, yes! But Joseph had something that the others didn't. Well, he had two things that the other didn't. He had God's presence and he had God's promises. God had given Joseph His word through a dream and Joseph knew that would come about. How? He didn't know how. When? He didn't know when. But it would come about. And so he was able to look past his own difficulties and actually be a blessing to others. That is how God would have us to be and that is what the presence of God produces in our life. Joseph learnt in that dark lonely prison what David would put into words later in the Psalms:

How can I get away from your Spirit? Where can I go to escape from you? If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I lie down in the deepest parts of the earth, you are also there. Suppose I were to rise with the sun in the east and then cross over to the west where it sinks into the ocean. Your hand would always be there to guide me. Your right hand would still be holding me close. Psalm 139:7-10

"Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams."

So Joseph asks why they are sad and when he hears that it involves some mysterious dreams his ears prick up, his eyebrows rise and his eyes widen! He knows a thing or two about dreams. The Bible says 'A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men' (Pro 18:16) and that would certainly be the case here with Joseph! But Joseph wasn't trusting in himself. He knows that God understands all dreams and their interpretation so he immediately brings God into the conversation.

Bringing God into the Conversation

There are two quick points that I want to make here about sharing the Lord with people. 

1. You will note that Joseph heard about their dreams because he did something. He asked them a question. He said 'why are your faces so sad?' He actually cared about them and had he not asked that question he wouldn't have had this amazing experience. In like manner we often fail to introduce God or talk about meaningful topics because we fail to ask questions that can lead to such a discussion.¹ Or maybe it is because we don't actually care enough to ask how someone really is?  
2. The second point is related. Often we fail to bring the Lord up because we are afraid that we won't have the answers or that it might cause an argument. In our passage, Joseph was happy to introduce God into the conversation saying 'Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams'. In other words, Joseph still wanted to go there and trusted that God would give the answer and he wasn't afraid to tell the others that. We would do well to do likewise. If we feel inadequate before others, fearing a question will arise that we don't know the answer to, that is ok. We are to be transparent and honest on what we know and don't know, but always confident that God can reveal what is needed, when it is needed. I like the following wee story from Pastor David Guzik that illustrates this:  

"Joseph was confident that God knew what the dream was about. He was like the one boy who told another, "My father and I know everything." When the other boy asked a hard question, the boy just said, "That's one for my dad." Joseph knew he and his Father together knew everything."
David Guzik

The Dreams Revealed

Gen 40:9-18 So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, "In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, (10) and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. (11) Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup and put the cup in his hand." (12) This is what it means, Joseph said to him. "The three branches are three days. (13) Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh's cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. (14) But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. (15) For I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon." (16) When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, "I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets of bread. (17) In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head." (18) This is what it means, Joseph said. "The three baskets are three days. (19) Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat away your flesh."

So the cupbearer reveals his dream and when a favorable interpretation is given by Joseph, the baker plucks up some courage and does likewise. But his dream is not met with the same pleasant reply. You will notice a few similarities and some differences in the dreams. Both men had dreams involving food and both involved the number three. But while the cupbearer's dream had him squeezing grapes into Pharaoh's cup, the baker's dream had Pharaoh's bread getting eaten by the birds while still in the basket on his head. Now I'm no dream interpreter, but even I can pick up the general vibe here! And sure enough, Joseph is very clear on what it means for both men. There is a 'lifting up' and a 'lifting off' - and all within three days.  

Gen 40:13 Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head... and restore you to your position
Gen 40:19 Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head... and hang you on a tree

Learning from Joseph

Let's look now at what we can see in Joseph and learn from his situation. I'll draw your attention to verse 14 where after giving the interpretation Joseph says:

"But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. For I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon." (Gen 40:14)

This is Joseph in his humanity and uncertainty, trying what he can to work his way out of the situation. And this is what we all do it a tricky situation. This is our default. We think 'what can I do? Who can I speak to? What levers can I pull? Who can help me here?' As the book of Job says:

Job 35:9-11 "Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help because of the arm of the mighty. (10) "But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night, (11) Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth And makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?'

Like I said, this is the default response of the natural man and we do it without thinking. And yet it isn't faith. It isn't trusting. It isn't waiting on God to see what He can do. And so what do we read? 'The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.' The fact is that this was not God's timing and no about of pleading, sobbing, begging, protests or repeat emails would make the cupbearer remember Joseph... well not yet anyway. But in God's timing he would! We would do better if our first response to difficulty is to come and lay it before God just as Hezekiah did when faced with the troubling letter from his Assyrian enemy, King Sennacherib: 

Isa 37:14-20 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. (15) And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: (16) O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. (17) Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. (18) It is true, O LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands. (19) They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. (20) Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God. "

Faithfulness with the message

We can also learn from Joseph in the message that he gave to the two men. The first message was one of comfort and hope. 'Don't fear... You will be restored in three days! All will be well!' And yet the second message was much more difficult, for things would not end well for the baker. Yet Joseph was able to deliver this message as well. Joseph was willing to speak the good and the bad, without watering either one or shying away from the other.  As Pastor and Bible commentator James Boice writes:

How many there are who are willing to preach the cupbearer's sermon but are unwilling to preach the baker's sermon!
James Boice

The Bible reminds us of our responsibility saying: 

2Co 2:14-16 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. (15) For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. (16) To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?

2Co 5:20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

The Dreams Realized.. but not for Joseph (yet)

Gen 40:20-23 Now the third day was Pharaoh's birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials: (21) He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh's hand, (22) but he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation. (23) The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

Yikes... So on the third day it all went down. Note that it wasn't on the second day or the fourth. Key events involving life and death seemingly always occur on the third day in scripture!² This of course is all a pointer to the monumental events that occured on the third day of Jesus death. So one man was restored to his position and service unto the King. The other was hanged. Just to repeat the seriousness of the message and its spiritual lesson, Jesus can lift up our heads and restore our position before the Father because He was the One who hung on a tree. But if we refuse then we too will be condemned to death. And it all happens on the third day. All of humanity is seen in these two men. One was restored. One doomed. This is the seriousness of the Gospel message, that all of humanity will be tested with only one of these two outcomes. 

And what of Joseph? Our chapter ends with the words 'The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.' In other words, while the cupbearer now enjoys his new found freedom, he forgets to do the one thing asked of him - to remember Joseph. 

The butler’s forgetfulness reminds us of our shameful forgetfulness of the Redeemer, who has brought us up out of the pit, and redeemed us with precious blood. Yet He said: “This do in remembrance of me.”
F.B Meyer

So Joseph remains in prison, in uncertainty. The tests of his two prison buddies are over but his remains. He was able to foretell the future of the cupbearer and the baker yet he remains unsure of his own. He is forgotten by man but not forgotten by God. And when the timing is right everything will change very, very quickly! As we shall see in the next chapter and study lesson in this incredible life of Joseph.

Conclusion

So as we conclude, what have we seen? We have seen this chapter is about the testing of both Joseph and humanity in general. 

1. All of humanity is tested by their response to God and the gospel. All of humanity finds itself in the position of either the cupbearer or the baker. There are only two outcomes: life or death, salvation or condemnation, everlasting life or everlasting separation. 
2. We have also seen that this chapter portrays the great testing that was upon Joseph in the quiet lonely solitude of a prison, while he waits and wonders... He has been forgotten by men but when will he be remembered by God? Yet all this time is in the providential hand of God³. 

It is good to think about this for our own lives. What uncertainty troubles you? How are you currently being tested? What have you learned in the difficult times that you can now look back and see the hand of God in? Charles Spurgeon once said:    

“I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me up against the Rock of Ages.”
Charles Spurgeon 

That is worth thinking about. Often we don't see that the waves are for that purpose so we don't learn to treat them that way or think fondly upon them! But looking back we can. 

Joseph's life, seen on the human level, was the greatest example of getting thrown around by wild waves. Yet he would soon see that it was all from God's providential hand, and underneath him the whole time was the Rock of Ages! 

God Bless.

FOOTNOTES