Joseph, all cleaned up for his appearance before the one of the most powerful men in the world, is brought before Pharaoh to hear the perplexing dreams and asked to interpret them. Genesis 41:16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” 17 Then Pharaoh said […]
Genesis 41:10 “Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 12 Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a […]
Genesis 41:1 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, 2 when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood […]
Two full years and everyone was in the dark about God’s hidden working. Joseph was going about daily prison life. The cupbearer in forgetful living. Pharaoh had a dream. Genesis 41:1 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, 2 when out of the river there came […]
Joseph awoke every morning probably never knowing whether the cupbearer had said something (but Pharaoh did nothing), or whether the cupbearer had resumed his position, remaining ever silent about Joseph’s dream interpretation. Genesis 41:1 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream. Two full years. Watching. Waiting. Seeing if anything would change.Two full […]
Joseph was probably both gratified and sad about the outcome. He was glad that the interpretations from God were correct, and happy also for the cupbearer’s being restored to serving Pharaoh. However, he must have been sad that the baker was killed. After all, relationships even in prison are relationships nonetheless, and they can be […]
Time went by and relationships formed. Mundane, so they seemed. Commonplace is what they appeared to be. After all, what kind of relationships could exist among fellow prisoners? Actually, a shared road of suffering and common experience often form a foundation of deep friendship. The cupbearer and baker may have felt it for Joseph, and […]
Genesis 40:1 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 […]
Had Potiphar been mad primarily at Joseph, he could have executed him then, there in front of his wife, no questions asked. But Potiphar had likely seen God’s favor that followed Joseph and noted that his wife seemed awfully comfortable with that trophy cloak as a souvenir. He probably knew she was a liar from […]
Joseph—he was trying to do everything right. He tried avoidance, reason, diplomacy, theology, and escape. He didn’t expect false accusation as the result of his fleeing the scene of Potiphar’s wife’s unwelcome advances. Genesis 39:13 When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, 14 […]
