Genesis 40:8-19 – Interpretations

Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer and baker have angered him and been thrown into the same prison as Joseph. While there God has sent them troubling dreams that have greatly upset these men. When Joseph finds out that these men are sad because they do not know the interpretation of their dreams, he takes this opportunity to point them to God as the only source of truth and the only One who can provide an accurate interpretation of their dreams.

The chief cupbearer’s dream is a happy one that foretells his restoration to his old job. Interestingly, even though Joseph is given this interpretation, Joseph has no new revelations about what will happen to him. He must trust in the promises of God made to him, just as we must trust in God’s promises to us found in His Word when we are unable to see the way ahead.

When the baker hears the happy interpretation of the cupbearer’s dream, he is quick to ask for an interpretation of his dream. But it foretells his shameful death. Joseph, here, is almost a picture of what Christians should be doing. We must warn the world that a time is quickly coming when they will either be restored to a good relationship with God through putting their faith in Him, or through turning away from God, wanting nothing to do with Him, they will die an eternal death. Joseph didn’t tell these men what he thought they wanted to hear – he told them about the reality of their situation. We have a responsibility to do the same.