GENESIS
CHAPTER
40
1. Some time after this, the cup bearer of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord the king of Egypt. 2. Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cup bearer and the chief baker, 3 and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined.
(Genesis chapter 40 verses 1 to 3)
At times we end up in situations and places that we never planned to be. For instance throughout my life I ended up working in many places. In turn God permitted me to meet and work with many people, both local and foreign, all having a different background, character and or personality. According to the will of God I was to be at that and or this place of work for a particular reason that only God knows the reason why. Without my being aware, God permitted me to meet people who needed Him as much as I need Him myself. By means of the work setting I could share the Word of God and be of help to others without being aware, I realise that I am an instrument in the hand of God.
4. The captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he waited on them; and they continued for some time in custody.
(Genesis chapter 40 verse 40)
It can be observed that although Joseph's status as a slave had improved, he still remained a humble person and waited in a spirit of humility on both the cup bearer and the baker. Humility is very important to us, especially when considering that as humans we tend to be egoistic and self-centred. Therefore when we practise humility we are conditioning our natural self, so that our new self-renewed in the Holy Spirit of God can take over and bring the much desired change in us.
5. One night they both dreamed-the cup bearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison-each his own dream, and each dream with its own meaning.
(Genesis chapter 40 verse 5)
Many dreams have been interpreted from a psychological point of view, however it is not the common practise to interpret if the dream has its roots from the mind of God, or whether it is the work of a healthy unconcsious, that is very active even when we are not aware of it.
From my own experience God uses dreams in order to reveal messages to us. My peak experience of God came by means of a dream during which God told me to leave all I had and follow Him. Although the message was clear, I was still baffled by the meaning of the message as how I was to implement the message of the dream as I have mentioned during the analysis of other chapters of the book of Genesis. During such moments it is very wise to refer to God and his ministers such as priests, or our own spiritual director in order to help discern if the dream is really from God, and if so, embark on the necessary action in order to respond adequately to the message of the dream.
6. When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. 7 So he asked Pharaoh's officers, who were with him in custody in his master's house, "Why are your faces down cast today?"
(Genesis chapter 40 verses 6 to 7)
Although we may not say one word our, faces always have a message to pass on to others. Without saying a word we can say a discussion about how we are feeling. Our faces reflect what we may be feeling inside, however in order to interpret this form of non verbal language we have to be observant and sensitive to others and their needs. Today I was feeling very sad at work. My colleagues tried to help me out of my sadness by enquiring what was wrong. Sadly enough I did not feel that I could share my feelings at the moment and I clammed up instead of opening up. However although I clammed up to humans, I am aware that I can open up with you my God. I am finding it hard to carry my cross. I drastically need your help in remaining focused on you, so that together we will reach the goal. By means of the cross you fulfilled my salvation, therefore by means of the cross you have given me with a particular purpose I know that You will help me reach the same goal. However this requires alot of sacrifice and the going against my human nature. Oh God I pray tonight that you give me the needed endurance, along with alot of peace of heart and mind. At times I feel so lonely that I think that this life is not worth living, however you are my strength and my sole aim and purpose for living. Thank you for listening to me and always loving me.
8. They said to him, "We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them." And Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me."
(Genesis chapter 40 verse 8)
Joseph here makes a very important declaration. This is the fact that dreams and their interpretations come from God. God is the primary agent who places these dreams in our minds. There have been circumstances in life and in history, where new ideas, and or ideals or even inventions, had their inspiration from a dream. Moreover there is nothing that God cannot do, therefore if He wants to communicate with us personally by means of a dream or, maybe permit us to interpret the dream in a way that is an eye opener for others, so shall it be, for nothing is impossible for God.
God permitted Joseph to apply the skills of dream interpretation that he had acquired when he was still at home. Apparently God gave Joseph this skill beforehand in preparation for this particular moment. On reflecting we are to think on the fact that God gave us particular skill that fit our character and or personality type, in order to help others and even as a benefit for ourselves.
9. So the chief cup bearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, "In my dream there was a vine before me, 10 and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms came out and the clusters ripened into grapes. 11 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."
(Genesis chapter 40 verses 9 to 11)
On reflecting the cup bearer's dream has significance even for me. I feel that by means of this dream God is telling me, that the when the last three remaining years of the work contract of my occupation have expired, I will give them back to God as an offering and like the cup bearer as in the following verses, God will either reinstate me to my former occupation or renew the current contract at C.V.A. Technology as a call agent.
12. Then Joseph said to him, "This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days; 13 within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office and you shall place Pharaoh's cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cup bearer. 14 But remember me when it is well with you; please do me the kindness to make mention of me to the Pharaoh, and so get me out of this place. 15 For in fact I was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews; and here also I have done nothing that they have put me into the dungeon."
(Genesis chapter 40 verses 12 to 15)
According to Joseph's interpretation of the cup bearer's dream after three days, the latter was to be reinstated with his job, however in repayment to Joseph's good deed to him, the cup bearer was to speak good of Joseph in the presence of the Pharaoh so that Joseph would have justice done to him and in turn would be given back his freedom and the opportunity to be sent back home to his family.
When reflecting on verses 12 to 15 of the fortieth chapter of the book of Genesis, we can recollect on whether we compensated others who were helpful to us, by another good deed instead of stabbing them in the back when we did not need them anymore. If this is the case we have done a great injustice to others and we need to confess our sins. Another issue that we can reflect on is that of corruption. We can use the good deed negatively as a means of corrupting the other person. In English we have the expression, 'You scratch my back and I scratch yours', which can mean I will expose your involvement in this act and get you into serious trouble if you do not help me in getting what I desire.
16. When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favourable, he said to Joseph, " I also had a dream; there were three cake baskets on my head, 17 and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head."
(Genesis chapter 40 verses 16 to 17)
On reflecting I can also come up with a personal interpretation of the baker's dream. The three baskets represent His first visit as God the baby human son of God, the second cake basket represents, second visit or manifestation after He rose from the dead after having been crucified for my sins and that of the world, and the third cake basket represents, the third and final visit as God the just, loving and merciful judge of the world at the end of time, when God will come and destroy sin and death and create a new perfect order for those who according to His judgement (which I hope I will pass the test) have lived a good life according to His ways or at least had the good intention to do so. The birds who were eating out of the basket represent the many chances and opportunities that God gives me to change my ways which at times go to waste due to my rejection for the ways of the world.
18. And Joseph answered, "This is its interpretation; the three baskets are three days; 19 within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head-from you! and hang you on a pole; and the birds will eat the flesh from you."
(Genesis chapter 40 verse 18 to 19)
The image of the cup bearer and the chief baker symbolises two types of people before the judgement throne of God. These are those who in God's eyes deserve heaven although maybe as humans we may perceive them as having committed many sins and do not deserve to inherit heaven and on the other hand three are those, who categorically decide to choose evil and permit it to become the central driving force of their lives.
20. On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast for all his servants, and lifted up the head of the chief cup bearer, and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 He restored the chief cup bearer to his cup bearing, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand; 27 but the chief baker he hanged, just as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief cup bearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
(Genesis chapter 40 verses 20 to 23)
I would like to end Chapter 40 of the book of Genesis with the following prayer:
4. The captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he waited on them; and they continued for some time in custody.
(Genesis chapter 40 verse 40)
It can be observed that although Joseph's status as a slave had improved, he still remained a humble person and waited in a spirit of humility on both the cup bearer and the baker. Humility is very important to us, especially when considering that as humans we tend to be egoistic and self-centred. Therefore when we practise humility we are conditioning our natural self, so that our new self-renewed in the Holy Spirit of God can take over and bring the much desired change in us.
5. One night they both dreamed-the cup bearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison-each his own dream, and each dream with its own meaning.
(Genesis chapter 40 verse 5)
Many dreams have been interpreted from a psychological point of view, however it is not the common practise to interpret if the dream has its roots from the mind of God, or whether it is the work of a healthy unconcsious, that is very active even when we are not aware of it.
From my own experience God uses dreams in order to reveal messages to us. My peak experience of God came by means of a dream during which God told me to leave all I had and follow Him. Although the message was clear, I was still baffled by the meaning of the message as how I was to implement the message of the dream as I have mentioned during the analysis of other chapters of the book of Genesis. During such moments it is very wise to refer to God and his ministers such as priests, or our own spiritual director in order to help discern if the dream is really from God, and if so, embark on the necessary action in order to respond adequately to the message of the dream.
6. When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. 7 So he asked Pharaoh's officers, who were with him in custody in his master's house, "Why are your faces down cast today?"
(Genesis chapter 40 verses 6 to 7)
Although we may not say one word our, faces always have a message to pass on to others. Without saying a word we can say a discussion about how we are feeling. Our faces reflect what we may be feeling inside, however in order to interpret this form of non verbal language we have to be observant and sensitive to others and their needs. Today I was feeling very sad at work. My colleagues tried to help me out of my sadness by enquiring what was wrong. Sadly enough I did not feel that I could share my feelings at the moment and I clammed up instead of opening up. However although I clammed up to humans, I am aware that I can open up with you my God. I am finding it hard to carry my cross. I drastically need your help in remaining focused on you, so that together we will reach the goal. By means of the cross you fulfilled my salvation, therefore by means of the cross you have given me with a particular purpose I know that You will help me reach the same goal. However this requires alot of sacrifice and the going against my human nature. Oh God I pray tonight that you give me the needed endurance, along with alot of peace of heart and mind. At times I feel so lonely that I think that this life is not worth living, however you are my strength and my sole aim and purpose for living. Thank you for listening to me and always loving me.
8. They said to him, "We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them." And Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me."
(Genesis chapter 40 verse 8)
Joseph here makes a very important declaration. This is the fact that dreams and their interpretations come from God. God is the primary agent who places these dreams in our minds. There have been circumstances in life and in history, where new ideas, and or ideals or even inventions, had their inspiration from a dream. Moreover there is nothing that God cannot do, therefore if He wants to communicate with us personally by means of a dream or, maybe permit us to interpret the dream in a way that is an eye opener for others, so shall it be, for nothing is impossible for God.
God permitted Joseph to apply the skills of dream interpretation that he had acquired when he was still at home. Apparently God gave Joseph this skill beforehand in preparation for this particular moment. On reflecting we are to think on the fact that God gave us particular skill that fit our character and or personality type, in order to help others and even as a benefit for ourselves.
9. So the chief cup bearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, "In my dream there was a vine before me, 10 and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms came out and the clusters ripened into grapes. 11 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."
(Genesis chapter 40 verses 9 to 11)
On reflecting the cup bearer's dream has significance even for me. I feel that by means of this dream God is telling me, that the when the last three remaining years of the work contract of my occupation have expired, I will give them back to God as an offering and like the cup bearer as in the following verses, God will either reinstate me to my former occupation or renew the current contract at C.V.A. Technology as a call agent.
12. Then Joseph said to him, "This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days; 13 within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office and you shall place Pharaoh's cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cup bearer. 14 But remember me when it is well with you; please do me the kindness to make mention of me to the Pharaoh, and so get me out of this place. 15 For in fact I was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews; and here also I have done nothing that they have put me into the dungeon."
(Genesis chapter 40 verses 12 to 15)
According to Joseph's interpretation of the cup bearer's dream after three days, the latter was to be reinstated with his job, however in repayment to Joseph's good deed to him, the cup bearer was to speak good of Joseph in the presence of the Pharaoh so that Joseph would have justice done to him and in turn would be given back his freedom and the opportunity to be sent back home to his family.
When reflecting on verses 12 to 15 of the fortieth chapter of the book of Genesis, we can recollect on whether we compensated others who were helpful to us, by another good deed instead of stabbing them in the back when we did not need them anymore. If this is the case we have done a great injustice to others and we need to confess our sins. Another issue that we can reflect on is that of corruption. We can use the good deed negatively as a means of corrupting the other person. In English we have the expression, 'You scratch my back and I scratch yours', which can mean I will expose your involvement in this act and get you into serious trouble if you do not help me in getting what I desire.
16. When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favourable, he said to Joseph, " I also had a dream; there were three cake baskets on my head, 17 and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head."
(Genesis chapter 40 verses 16 to 17)
On reflecting I can also come up with a personal interpretation of the baker's dream. The three baskets represent His first visit as God the baby human son of God, the second cake basket represents, second visit or manifestation after He rose from the dead after having been crucified for my sins and that of the world, and the third cake basket represents, the third and final visit as God the just, loving and merciful judge of the world at the end of time, when God will come and destroy sin and death and create a new perfect order for those who according to His judgement (which I hope I will pass the test) have lived a good life according to His ways or at least had the good intention to do so. The birds who were eating out of the basket represent the many chances and opportunities that God gives me to change my ways which at times go to waste due to my rejection for the ways of the world.
18. And Joseph answered, "This is its interpretation; the three baskets are three days; 19 within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head-from you! and hang you on a pole; and the birds will eat the flesh from you."
(Genesis chapter 40 verse 18 to 19)
The image of the cup bearer and the chief baker symbolises two types of people before the judgement throne of God. These are those who in God's eyes deserve heaven although maybe as humans we may perceive them as having committed many sins and do not deserve to inherit heaven and on the other hand three are those, who categorically decide to choose evil and permit it to become the central driving force of their lives.
20. On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast for all his servants, and lifted up the head of the chief cup bearer, and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 He restored the chief cup bearer to his cup bearing, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand; 27 but the chief baker he hanged, just as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief cup bearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
(Genesis chapter 40 verses 20 to 23)
I would like to end Chapter 40 of the book of Genesis with the following prayer:
Thank You Oh God my father for loving me so much, thank you for standing up for me when in the face of injustice. Thank you for always providing a peaceful solution to the problem. I am sorry on the other hand for not always being grateful to You. You deserve more love, worship and and praise, because you give us alot but receive the bare minimum in return. Thank You for paying the price of my redemption by permitting that you only son be crucified to atone for my sins
Thank You God
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