9 So the chief cupbearer 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 shot forth, 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.” 12 Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. 13 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. 14 Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. 15 For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.”
16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, 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.” 18 And Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. 19 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.”
Two dreams and two interpretations. One interpretation brings good news, the other interpretation brings bad news. Both of these interpretations never-the-less tell the full truth, about their future. God reveals the truth to his people in various ways. Here he reveals his truth to gentiles through dreams.
Joseph asks the cup bearer to remember him when he is elevated back to his position. God reminds the reader that Joseph does not belong in prison along with the cup bearer or the baker. But even more than that Joseph does not belong in Egypt. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. Joseph says, "He was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews." Joseph belongs to be with his family in the land of Canaan.
There are many times when people end up in places they do not belong. But sometimes we end up in places we do belong, but are not were we should be. Joseph does not belong in prison, but God placed him there for a purpose. Joseph does not belong in Egypt, but God has placed him there for a purpose. God places us were we need to be. God calls us to be holy people, but we do not act like holy people.
We are sinful people. We are corrupt people. We are not in a perfect creation, but in a fallen creation. We are displaced people. We are trapped in a pit of despair and darkness. This is not were we belong. But God listens to our cries for mercy. God hears our prayers and answers.
In order to deliver us from this pit and corruption, he sends Jesus Christ as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Christ offers us the gift of eternal life. He offers displaced people a perfect place to live once again. He does deliver us from the pit. God does remember you and he will not forsake you even when all seems lost.
Joseph asks the cup bearer to remember him when he is elevated back to his position. God reminds the reader that Joseph does not belong in prison along with the cup bearer or the baker. But even more than that Joseph does not belong in Egypt. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. Joseph says, "He was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews." Joseph belongs to be with his family in the land of Canaan.
There are many times when people end up in places they do not belong. But sometimes we end up in places we do belong, but are not were we should be. Joseph does not belong in prison, but God placed him there for a purpose. Joseph does not belong in Egypt, but God has placed him there for a purpose. God places us were we need to be. God calls us to be holy people, but we do not act like holy people.
We are sinful people. We are corrupt people. We are not in a perfect creation, but in a fallen creation. We are displaced people. We are trapped in a pit of despair and darkness. This is not were we belong. But God listens to our cries for mercy. God hears our prayers and answers.
In order to deliver us from this pit and corruption, he sends Jesus Christ as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Christ offers us the gift of eternal life. He offers displaced people a perfect place to live once again. He does deliver us from the pit. God does remember you and he will not forsake you even when all seems lost.
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