Genesis Part 3 Week 3

Day 1 

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Genesis 40:1-4 

¹ Some time later, Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer and chief baker offended their royal master. ² Pharaoh became angry with these two officials, ³ and he put them in the prison where Joseph was, in the palace of the captain of the guard. ⁴ They remained in prison for quite some time, and the captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, who looked after them. 

Although in prison, Joseph was put in charge of watching over others. He continued to please his superiors, and now it was the captain of the guard who gave him responsibility. In this case it was over the chief cup-bearer and chief baker of Pharaoh. It does not say what they had done but somehow they had displeased Pharaoh and that made him angry so he had them thrown into prison. 

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes been punished for some reason you did not understand? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 40:1-15. This passage tells of the dreams the cup-bearer and baker had. Joseph let it be known that interpreting dreams was God’s business, but he asked what their dreams were. The cup-bearer told his dream first and the interpretation was a positive outcome for him.  

Day 2 

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Genesis 40:16-17 

¹⁶ When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given the first dream such a positive interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I had a dream, too. In my dream there were three baskets of white pastries stacked on my head. ¹⁷ The top basket contained all kinds of pastries for Pharaoh, but the birds came and ate them from the basket on my head.” 

Because the interpretation of the cup-bearer’s dream was good, the chief baker told about his dream. He surely was expecting a positive response from Joseph as well. It is interesting that the baker had a dream about pastries. He dreamed he had made the pastries for Pharaoh, but the birds came and ate them.  

REFLECT 

Have you ever had a strange dream as the chief baker had? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 40:16-23. The interpretations given by Joseph of the dreams of the chief cup-bearer and chief baker came to pass as Joseph told them. Joseph wanted the cup-bearer to remember him when he was released from prison. The last verse in this chapter is a sad one in saying the cup-bearer never gave Joseph another thought.  

Day 3 

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Genesis 41:1-4 

¹ Two full years later, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing on the bank of the Nile River. ² In his dream he saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. ³ Then he saw seven more cows come up behind them from the Nile, but these were scrawny and thin. These cows stood beside the fat cows on the riverbank. ⁴ Then the scrawny, thin cows ate the seven healthy, fat cows! At this point in the dream, Pharaoh woke up. 

Joseph spent two more years in prison by the time Pharaoh had some dreams that he needed interpreted. His dreams involved seven fat cows and seven scrawny cows. When he dreamed that the seven scrawny cows ate the seven fat cows it is no wonder that Pharaoh woke up. He was startled by his dreams. 

REFLECT 

Have you had a dream that startled you enough to wake you? Some might call it a “nightmare.” 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 41:1-13. Try to put yourselves in the situation of Joseph in prison who had been forgotten for two years. Think what it would have been like if you had forgotten something that was so important to another person.  

Day 4 

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Genesis 41:14-15 

¹⁴ Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was quickly brought from the prison. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he went in and stood before Pharaoh. ¹⁵ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.” 

Pharaoh immediately sent for Joseph and had him brought from prison. Before he could stand before the King of Egypt, Joseph had to shave and change his clothes. Pharaoh was direct in saying why he had sent for Joseph. One wonders what would have occurred if Joseph had not been able to interpret the Pharaoh’s dream.  

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes been face to face with a difficult situation? Did you wonder what you would do if you did not come through successfully at that time? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 41:14-24. Joseph tells Pharaoh it was beyond his power to interpret his dreams, but God would tell what his dreams meant. Pharaoh repeated what his dreams were like and added that the magicians could not tell him what they meant.  

Day 5 

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Genesis 41:25-27 

²⁵ Joseph responded, “Both of Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God is telling Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. ²⁶ The seven healthy cows and the seven healthy heads of grain both represent seven years of prosperity. ²⁷ The seven thin, scrawny cows that came up later and the seven thin heads of grain, withered by the east wind, represent seven years of famine.” 

God enabled Joseph to tell the Pharaoh what his dreams meant. There would be seven years of prosperity followed by seven years of famine. This had to be shocking news for the leader of one of the greatest nations at the time. It was one thing for Pharaoh to hear the interpretation of his dreams, but quite another as how he might respond. 

REFLECT 

How do you react when you hear both good news and bad news at the same time? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 41:25-36. In this passage we see that Joseph not only told Pharaoh about his dreams but also what to do. The good news would be followed by bad news and Pharaoh needed to be ready for the results. Joseph had been asked only to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, but he also gave detailed instructions on what should be done.