51 PHARAOH’S DREAMS

When the chief cupbearer forgot Joseph, the further delay would have been a another difficult test for Joseph. He was in Egypt because his brothers had sold him, in prison on false charges, and now forgotten by a prison mate whom he had helped. Would it ever end? Yes, it would. Two years later, when Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret (or because the meaning was so bad that no one had the courage to interpret it), the stage was set. Joseph had been humbled, mellowed, tried, tested, and proven. He was ready. If Joseph had not endured until this juncture, he would not have been able to seize the opportunity that now came his way in a timely manner. What events surround you today? What is happening in your neighborhood, village, city, and nation? What opportunities might the Lord be preparing for you at the same time He is preparing you for them? Remember Joseph and stay faithful. Sovereign opportunities are providentially arranged. No human has the power to appear to another in a dream. No one could make Pharaoh have a certain kind of dream. No one can know the future or declare what will be and then make it happen the way God can. Christians who follow Joseph’s model also follow the God Joseph trusted.

Pharaoh’s birthday was a big occasion and the servants were expected to attend the celebration. God had worked in such a way that the cupbearer survived and could later tell the story of the correct interpretation of his and the chief baker’s dreams to Pharaoh at the opportune time that was yet to come. God was setting the stage, preparing the events. God also prepared a way for Mordecai to be welcomed into the king’s court when Mordecai had saved the life of the king, but no reward had been given to him. God had been at work beforehand. The chief butler and baker were both advanced, one to his office, the other to the gallows, and both at the three days’ end. God was at work in the story. Very great changes, both for the better and for the worse, often happen in a very little time. Herod’s birthday was the event that severed John the Baptist’s head and promoted him to his reward. Mark 6:21 introduces the occasion as Herod’s birthday. “Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.” We Christians we may all profitably take notice of our birthdays for a much more noble purpose. With thankfulness for the mercies of our birth, sorrow for the sinfulness of our lives, we may expect that the day of our death will much better than the day of our birth.

On Pharaoh’s birthday he lifted up the head of these two prisoners, that is, called them to court and tried them. Jezebel in Ahab’s name put Naboth on trial and set him up high according to 1 Kings 21:9, “In those letters she wrote: ‘Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people.’” Pharaoh here illustrates the power of an earthly ruler. “He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand—but he impaled the chief baker” (21 & 22).  If the butler was innocent and the baker guilty, we must acknowledge the fairness of God in clearing up the innocency of the innocent, and exposing the sin of the guilty. If both were either equally innocent or equally guilty, it is an illustration of the unfair arbitrariness of such kings who think they are great and pride themselves in that power which Nebuchadnezzar claimed for himself and Daniel identified in Daniel 5:19, “Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled.” Rulers like that forget there is one higher than they to whom they are accountable. Jesus said that we were to not be like the rulers of the world. When we promote anyone who is under our authority, we have an opportunity to make a decisive distinction between the world’s arbitrary use of power and the way Christian’s teach responsibility.

The chief butler forgot Joseph. “The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him” (23). Here is an instance of base ingratitude. Joseph had deserved good treatment from the butler,  had ministered to him, sympathized with him, comforted  him with a favorable interpretation of his dream, presented to him briefly the story of the unfair treatment that he himself had received and made a simple and sincere request, yet the butler forgot Joseph. If we receive hatred for our love, neglect for our service or slights for our respects that is probably normal for the world. God, however, is not like that. We can see through this how apt those who are at ease themselves are to forget others in distress. Amos was concerned that the people of God were enjoying their drinks too much and not concerned enough for the moral decline and spiritual condition of Israel and said, “You drink wine by the bowlful

and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.” We can use those same words to point out that at the birthday party of Pharaoh, the butler was enjoying himself and his party too much and not remembering his friend who had encouraged him while he was in prison. Let us learn from this to expect less from man. If Joseph were greatly disappointed at this juncture, it might have been because he depended too much on the chief butler, and promised himself too much from a mere man. As we read this story we can be reminded by Joseph’s disappointment to trust in God only. We sometimes expect too much from man and fail to expect that what we need will more likely come from our true Source, God.

We might compare the forgetfulness of Joseph’s cell-mates and Jesus. One of Joseph’s fellow-sufferers was like the thief who was crucified with Christ. The prisoner to whom Joseph said, Remember me when it goes be well with you, forgot him, but Jesus did not forget the thief, who said to Jesus, Remember me when to you come into your kingdom. Jesus does not forget. The butler should have remembered Joseph. However, before we judge the forgetful butler too harshly, let us take a look at ourselves. Do we justly blame the chief butler’s ingratitude to Joseph, if we conduct ourselves in a similarly and yet much more disingenuous way towards the Lord Jesus? We must never forget what Jesus did for us to take us from our prison and place us in heavenly places. Joseph had just foretold the chief butler’s enlargement, but Jesus purchased our freedom and promotion, mediating with the King of the universe for us, yet we too often forget Him. Though often reminded of Him and though we have promised never to forget him, still we do not remember Him well enough. We forget Him too quickly, like foolish, unwise and ungrateful persons.

Even though delayed, Joseph’s opportunity did eventually arrive. “When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile,” (41). So long he waited after he had entrusted the chief butler with his case and only then began to have some prospect of relief. We need patience, not only to wait but to bear. We need patience to do either of these things and certainly to do both of these— bearing and waiting. Psalm 105 tells the story in poetic form like this: “He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; 17 and he sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave. 18 They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, 19 till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the Lord proved him true. 20 The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free  21 He made him master of his household, ruler over all he possessed, 22 to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom.”

There is a time set for the deliverance of God’s people; that time will come, though it seems to delay. And when it comes we will realize its was at the best time, and therefore we ought to wait for it. Waiting is part of our walk with God. “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:3). Two full years is not too long to continue waiting.

Pharaoh’s dreams were the means of Joseph’s great promotion. If we were to look upon them as ordinary dreams, we might observe in them the follies, imaginations and absurdities of a roving mind, how it describes tame cows as beasts of prey more ravenous than any, eating up those of their own kind, and ears of corn as devouring one another. Surely in the multitude of dreams or even in one dream, there are various imaginations. Foolish dreams related can amount to no more than foolish talk or unrealistic ambitions. Such dreams are spoken of in Ecclesiastes 5:7. “Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.” But the dreams Pharaoh dreamed contained enough evidence in them that they were sent of God that when Pharaoh awoke his spirit was troubled and verse 8 says, “In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.” It normally gives us concern to receive any extraordinary message from heaven, because we are all conscious that we have a responsibility to the one who sent the dream or vision. Pharaoh’s magicians were puzzled, the rules of their art failed them: these dreams of Pharaoh, it seems, did not make any sense to them. Or maybe the meaning was so very clear and disastrous that they were afraid to give Pharaoh the meaning. This possible background served to make Joseph’s performance by the Spirit of God the more awesome and admirable. Human reason, prudence, and foresight, when proven to be inadequate for understanding a matter helps make divine revelation appear the more glorious. A similar thing occurred in Daniel 2:27 “Daniel replied, ‘No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about,’” Daniel 4:7 “When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.” and Daniel 5:8 “Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant.” Joseph’s own dreams originally caused his own troubles, and now Pharaoh’s dreams were the means God used for Joseph’s promotion.

The chief butler in recommending Joseph to Pharaoh as an interpreter appears to have been done it more to put himself in a good light to Pharaoh, than in gratitude to Joseph. It was not done primarily in compassion for Joseph though he does make a fair confession, “Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, ‘Today I am reminded of my shortcomings’” (9). An obvious lesson we can draw from the butler’s delay of two years is that it is best to remember our duty, and to do it in its time; but, if we have neglected that, it is next best to remember our faults, repent of them, and do our duty at last; better late than never. The story he had to tell was, in short, that there was an obscure young man in the king’s prison, who had very correctly and properly interpreted his and the chief baker’s dreams. And that he would recommend him to the king, his master, as an interpreter of dreams.

God’s time for the blessing or promotion of His people will appear at last to be the fittest time. Consider that if the chief butler had spoken up for Joseph two years earlier, as Joseph in his own opinion had desired and requested, Joseph would have merely been released to return to Canaan. But now, when God had set the stage wisely so that Joseph would not only be an interpreter but also perceived to a “deliverer,” Joseph would be more blessed himself, and become a greater blessing to his family, as afterwards he proved to be. By staying two years longer, and coming out at this unique time seven years before a famine was to strike to interpret the king’s dreams, a special opportunity was provided for his very great preferment. Those that patiently wait for God will be paid for their waiting, not only the principal but also interest. Lamentations 3:26 says, “it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”

The introduction of Joseph to Pharaoh is a pivotal moment in Joseph’s story. The king’s business requires haste. Joseph is sent to come out of the dungeon with all speed; Pharaoh’s order discharged him both from imprisonment and servitude, and made him a candidate for the highest responsibilities at court. “So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh” (14). The king can scarcely allow him time, but Joseph needed to shave and dress properly.  It is done with all possible expedition, and Joseph is brought in, perhaps almost as much surprised as Peter was as recorded in Act 2:9, “Peter followed him (the angel) out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.” Pharaoh immediately tells Joseph his business, “Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it’” (15). To this Joseph gives a modest reply, “‘I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires’” (16). Joseph gives honor to God. “It is not in me, God must give it.” Great gifts appear much more graceful and illustrious when those that have them use them humbly, not taking any praise to themselves, but sincerely, from their hearts, giveing all the glory, credit and honor to God. To such persons God gives more grace. The people God has given to you to lead need you to be an example to them as Joseph is to all of us.

Waiting is difficult. Joseph waited, David waited, Jeremiah waited. If you will learn to wait for God’s time you will do more for Him and His glory then than if you plunge forward prematurely. Waiting shows our faith and trust. Let’s learn to wait.