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THIS WEEK’S BIBLE INSIGHTS ARE BY:
Bob Lunt and are based on Genesis 40
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ON THIS WEEK’S MAJOR THEME:
Genesis 40 & Psalm 31
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 prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them. After they had been in custody for some time, 5 each of the two men – the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison – had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.
6 When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in
custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?” 8 “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”
20 Now the third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials: 21 he restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand, 22 but he impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation.
23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
Sunday September 7 - God the perfect planner
The cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master... put them in the same prison where Joseph was confined. Genesis 40:1-3
Joseph was confined. But the God who was with Joseph is not confined. Therefore Joseph was free in mind and spirit.
We might think, on reading the opening verses of chapter 40, that the strong man is the king of Egypt: Pharaoh, the dictator. A friend of mine once said that the best form of government was a benevolent dictatorship. “But,” he added with a telling smile, “not many dictators are benevolent!” Pharaoh showed some humanity later in allowing Joseph’s family to settle in Egypt; but Joseph recognised that decision as God’s overruling, because Pharaoh was not essentially benevolent, as our opening verses show.
Two of his most important officials were his cupbearer and baker, whose duties included providing royal-quality wine and bread. Centuries later God’s servant Nehemiah had the role of cupbearer to another king, a valued position bringing him close to the monarch (Nehemiah 1:11-2:1). But Pharaoh’s men had somehow betrayed his trust – were the wine and food they’d served him not up to the royal standard? Never upset a dictator! So he had them imprisoned. But there they found themselves in the company not of a tyrant but of a man of God – Joseph, who believed that God is the sovereign ruler. And over and above these earthly acts God was slowly unfolding his plan for Joseph and his people – God’s people – to know God and his benevolence.
We praise you, Lord God; you know the end from the beginning; our times are in your hands. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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