“Genesis 41:9-13”

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

“Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, 'I would make mention today of my own offenses. Pharaoh was furious with his servants, and he put me in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, both me and the chief baker. We had a dream on the same night, he and I; each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. Now a Hebrew youth was with us there, a servant of the captain of the bodyguard, and we related them to him, and he interpreted our dreams for us. To each one he interpreted according to his own dream. And just as he interpreted for us, so it happened; he restored me in my office, but he hanged him.””

---End of Scripture verses---

“Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, 'I would make mention today of my own offenses.” (verse 9) Two years earlier, Joseph had begged the cupbearer to, “keep me in mind when it goes well with you, and please do me a kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house” (Genesis 40:14). It wasn't until this precise moment of crisis in the life of Pharaoh that the memory of Joseph and his obligation dawned on him. Perhaps when the cupbearer reported his “offenses,” he used the plural because he not only related the wrongdoing he had perpetrated against Pharaoh, but also made confession of his offense of omission against the “Hebrew youth” (verse 12). Then again, he could have merely been ingratiating himself with his master for personal favor.

The Benson Commentary, referencing the King James Version's use of “butler” instead of “cupbearer” stated the following concerning God's perfect timing: “God’s time for the enlargement of his people will appear, at last, to be the fittest time. If the chief butler had at first used his interest for Joseph’s enlargement, and had obtained it, it is probable he would have gone back to the land of the Hebrews, and then he had neither been so blessed himself, nor such a blessing to his family. But staying two years longer, and coming out upon this occasion to interpret the king’s dreams, a way was made for his preferment.”

“Now a Hebrew youth was with us there, a servant of the captain of the bodyguard, and we related them to him, and he interpreted our dreams for us.” (verse 12) The cupbearer related the specifics of Joseph's lineage, his youthful age and his status as Potiphar's servant to Pharaoh, and even that he had interpreted his and the baker's dreams. But the one fact that undoubtedly caught Pharaoh's undivided attention was this: “Just as he interpreted for us, so it happened.” (verse 13) Anybody can interpret a dream, but not just anyone can do so with precision and accuracy, so Pharaoh immediately seized upon this miraculous resource that the Lord had placed directly within his reach. “Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon.” (verse 14) It was time for Joseph's star to rise and shine yet again, and this time it would blaze with meteoric intensity and providential longevity.

Please read Genesis 41:14-24.

Have a great day!

-Louie Taylor

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