Genesis 40:1-23 Dreams of Butler and Baker

1 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 the 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.

5 Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the 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 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." And Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please."

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 there 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. NKJV

Facts revealed:

Y God works in ways far beyond the imagination of man and behind the scene God set in motion the series of events that not only set Joseph free from prison but exalted him to the second highest position in the nation.

Y God was at work when the chief butler and the chief baker displeased Pharaoh and were cast into prison just before Pharaoh’s birthday and they were given to Joseph to administer.

Y God sent them both dreams and gave Joseph the interpretation of the dreams, and Joseph asked the Butler to: “Remember me when it is well with you, and show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house.” [Genesis 40:14]

Y Pharaoh did as God had predicted without knowing that he was fulfilling prophecy.

Y As is normal human reaction, the Butler was so wrapped up in his own experience he forgot all about Joseph when he was restored to his position in the service of Pharaoh, as Joseph had predicted.

Y Remember, all things happen in God’s own timing and not necessarily in ours.

Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold into slavery. [Genesis 37:2-36]

Joseph had been sold a slave in Potiphar’s house and in prison for 11 years by the time the butler and baker were there with their dreams.

Two years later, when he was 30 years old, Joseph was brought before Pharaoh and exalted. [Genesis 41:1-46]