As we journey through Genesis, we learn a truth that remains today: God does not cause our tribulation, the actions of other people do. God rescues us from our tribulation, protects us from it. Joseph's brothers have betrayed him, his household does not accept or appreciate him. Through their corrupt actions, Joseph actually ends up in a home were he is respected for who he is. Joseph is then betrayed by a woman who becomes infatuated with him and then angered by his refusal to accept her. Even her betrayal does not thwart Joseph's success.
The lessons to learn from these chapters is that no matter how entanglement we get into, God is able and willing to lead us out of it. He loves us. Through our relationship with Him, He is able to wield our lives directly into his blessings.
40:1-4 The butler and baker offend their king (the king of Egypt). He places them in prison, the same prison Joseph currently resides. Joseph had been given authority of the prison and the therefore serve him while in custody.
40:5 The butler and the baker each have a dream but they each have differing interpretations of it.
40:6-7 Joseph noticed their sad countenance and asked them what was bothering their minds. These men had experienced very vivid dreams, so powerful that they could not think of anything else. Joseph also reveals himself to be a compassionate person: he cares, he wants to know what is worrying them.
40:8 They explain that they have had a powerful dream that they cannot interpret.
40:9-11 The butler tells his dream to Joseph: in his dreams, there was a vine in front of him. There were three branches on the vine and they had buds on them, blossoms even of ripe grapes. He then pressed the grapes into a cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand.
40:12 Joseph is immediately able to accurately interpret the dream. This time, Joseph is on the other end of dreaming: he's the interpreter rather than the dreamer. Yet still, he is an instrument of God; Joseph knows that is is God who sends dreams of such powerful and symbolic nature.
Joseph explains that the tree branches represent three days.
40:13 He explains that within the three days, the Pharaoh will take him out of the prison and he will resume his job as butler (taking on such tasks as placing the cup in Pharaoh's hand).
40:14 After given the news of his freedom to the butler, Joseph requests that the butler remember him and speak well of him once he is freed. God has given Joseph and opportunity to also be released.
40:15 Joseph explains his circumstance: he's not even supposed to be in Egypt at all. He was stolen from the land of the Hebrews, taking away from his family. Moreover, he's innocent of the crime he has been accused of.
40:16-17 The baker observes that Joseph's interpretation is accurate and tells him about his own dream: there were three white baskets on his head. In the top basket there were baked goods for Pharaoh and the birds ate them out of the basket on his head.
40:18-19 Again, Joseph explains that the three baskets represent three days. He tells the baker that within three days the Pharaoh will hang him and he will die.
40:20-23 Everything happens exactly as Joseph predicts but the butler does not remember to spread good word on Joseph's behalf.
