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GENESIS 40
Joseph interpreted dreams in prison. -- (DATE: Around 1672 before Christ)
DISCOVER Genesis 40: Some time after having been put into prison, two officers from Pharaoh’s household, his chief cupbearer and chief baker, where put into prison for an offense against their king. Because Joseph had the complete trust of the overseer there, he was placed in charge of the two new additions to this rent-free establishment. Then, one night thereafter the two servants of Pharaoh dreamed eerily similar dreams, but neither of them could understand what they meant. So they looked rather troubled when Joseph came to see how they were doing. Taking his responsibility seriously, Joseph inquired what had them in such a bad mood. Answering him, they told him of their dreams and how they bemoaned the sad state of not having anyone to tell them the meaning of their dreams. Since he had the favor of God, Joseph reminded them that the interpretation was God’s prerogative, so they should tell him their dream as God’s go-between. -- Convinced, the cupbearer began and told Joseph of a vine with three branches that quickly bloomed and ripened into gapes, which he took and pressed into a cup to put into Pharaoh’s hand. Hearing this, Joseph told him that in three days’ time, Pharaoh would lift up his face, and reinstate him in his old position. In return for his favorable interpretation, Joseph only asked that the cupbearer would remember him, and mention him to Pharaoh, for he was not only wrongfully imprisoned here but also stolen from his homeland. -- Having heard the good news for his colleague, the baker told of his dream next, describing how he had seen himself balancing three baskets of delicacies on his head. Only in his case, birds had been eating the contents off the top basket. To this Joseph answered that in three days’ time the Pharaoh would raise up his head too. However, in his case it was by hanging, as he would be put to death. -- Three days later, on Pharaoh’s birthday, the two men were dealt with as Joseph had foretold them: The chief cupbearer was reinstated into his office and the chief baker was hanged. In spite of this, the cupbearer did not remember Joseph before his king and instead chose to forget the whole ordeal of having been in prison.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, in you are hidden all treasures of knowledge and understanding. Thank you for giving Joseph a wisdom and understanding, which only you can give, to interpret these dreams of the two officials imprisoned with him. Thank you for the holy and devout life Joseph conducted in prison and for granting him the grace of having access to the meaning of these two puzzling dreams. You see how Joseph had hoped that this power from you to interpret dreams would facilitate his immediate release from prison. But you had still more wonderful plans in store for Joseph, which he did not see at the time. Help us to always wait for your timing, lest we lose your greater blessings and instead only get our immediate wishes. Amen.
QUESTION 40: How was Joseph able to correctly interpret the meaning of the two dreams of his high ranking fellow prisoners?