The Lord Used Joseph to Communicate to Pharaoh (Gen. 40:1-8)

Wayne Galloway
02/24/14 - N/A

Series: Character Lessons from Joseph

Introduction:

1.  Joseph was 17 when he pastured the flocks of his father in Canaan (37:2). 2.  When he was 27 or 28 Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of attempted rape and he was placed in prison. 3.  The events that we have just read transpired while he was in prison.  He would be here for two full years before he would get out. 4.  But the text says that God was with him so that while in Potiphar’s household he was blessed, until he went to prison.  While he was in prison the Scripture says, “the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him” (39:21).  The chief jailor put everything in Joseph’s charge and the Lord caused him to prosper.  But he was still in prison! 5.  For two years it would seem that his life would go nowhere.  Perhaps you feel like Joseph.

a.  Betrayed.

b.  Abandoned.

c.  Unfairly treated.

d.  Confined to a dungeon (cf. Psa. 105:17-18).

6.  But God was not finished with Joseph yet and I am confident He is not finished with you either although how He is about to use you may not be clear at all. 7.  Your job, like Joseph’s, is to be faithful to the Lord no matter what.  God will use you in His time.  You might recall that Moses was 80 when God used Him to deliver Israel from Egypt.  And God is about to use Joseph to bring Israel to Egypt. 8.  But first there are some lesser episodes that we must give consideration to.

Discussion:

I.  Joseph interprets the chief cupbearers dream and the chief baker’s dream (Gen. 40).

A.  In days gone by God sometimes communicated to men through dreams.

1.  In recent studies we observed the same in the days of King Saul (1 Samuel 28:6).

2.  He recognized three methods that God used to communicate.

a.  Dreams.

b.  Urim.

c.  Prophets.

3.  Joseph had himself experienced dreams.  His brothers and his father had interpreted them (37:5-11).

4.  These were no ordinary dreams but dreams given by God to communicate His message.

B.  In this case it is not entirely clear why God gave these dreams to the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.

1.  Perhaps it was not for their personal benefit.

2.  Maybe their dreams were only for the purpose of validating Joseph as God’s interpreter.

C.  It would appear that the Egyptians also believed that dreams were revelatory.

1.  When Pharaoh had a dream he sent for the magicians of Egypt and the wise men of Egypt.

2.  He told them his dream, but they could not interpret it.

D.  Joseph was clear with the cupbearer and the baker that interpretations belonged to God but he was confident in his role as God’s agent of interpretation.

1.  The cupbearer’s dream (40:9-11).

2.  Joseph’s interpretation (40:12-13).

3.  Joseph’s request (40:14-15).

4.  The baker’s dream (40:16-17).

5.  Joseph’s interpretation (40:18-19).

6.  It was only three days before Joseph’s interpretations were fulfilled (40:20-22).

7.  But the chief cupbearer forgot Joseph.  He stayed in prison.

II.  Pharaoh had a dream.  Joseph was remembered and he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream (41:1-36).

A.  Pharaoh’s dream (41:1-8).

B.  The cupbearer remembered Joseph (9-13).

C.   God revealed the future to Pharaoh (14-32).

1.  Observe how God is active in the affairs of men.

2.  He is working in the life of Joseph.

3.  He is operative in the affairs of the Egyptians.

4.  Joseph said, “God has shown to Pharaoh what He is about to do” (28).  He said, “The matter is determined by God and God will quickly bring it about” (32).

D.  In light of the revelation Joseph proposed a plan (33-37).

1.  Had God told Joseph what to do?

2.  Was Joseph just wise and discerning to propose such a plan?

3.  He was 30 years old.

III.  Joseph was made ruler over all Egypt (41:38-57).

A.  Pharaoh considered him as having a divine spirit (38).

B.  Named him Zaphenath-panea (NASB margin, “probably Egyptian for God speaks.”).

C.  Joseph married Asenath and had two sons.

1.  Manasseh (making to forget) “for God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.”

2.  Ephraim (fruitfulness) “for God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

D.  Joseph sold to all the people of the earth during the time of the famine.

E.  And so you see how God was active in the life of Joseph, in the lives of the Egyptians, and in the affairs of all the earth.

Conclusion:

1.  Recognize that the Lord God rules over the earth. 2.  Know that He is active in the affairs of this life. 3.  Know that He will use you to accomplish His purpose. 4.  Give yourself to Him.