The jail that Joseph was in charge of was the place
where royal prisoners were held. Two of those were the Pharaoh's butler and the
baker. Now, Joseph's relationship with
them was a strange one. It is said in verse 4 that the captain of the guard
(who was probably Potiphar) gave Joseph the specific responsibility for the
security of these two dignitaries. Somewhat strangely, it says that Joseph
"served" them.
Apparently Potiphar had determined that Joseph was
indeed as trustworthy as he had originally supposed (still he left him in
prison... probably to keep his wife pacified). But, though still incarcerated,
Joseph was becoming acquainted with more influential people and was indeed
continually being groomed for leadership.
God was in control.
God gave revelatory dreams to the butler and baker
one night, and, they awakened disturbed in their heart by those dreams. It's
pretty amazing that Joseph was so interested and attuned to the spirit of his
fellow inmates that he immediately asked about their sadness. Doesn't that seem
strange? I can't imagine that any warden in any prison anywhere else would be
as sensitive to the emotions of his prisoners.
"Good morning! Why the long faces fellas?" Fascinating man, this Joseph.
Well, those guys were sad because they didn't know
what their dreams meant. But, they hadn't long to wait. They were in the right
place with the right man to get an answer from God. The butler was going to be
relieved; the baker, devastated.
The butler dreamed a dream about three branches
with grapes which showed him being restored to his office in three days. The
baker dreamed a dream about three baskets of bread which showed him being
hanged in three days.
Now, most importantly in this story, Joseph had
expressly requested from the butler that a kind word about him be spoken to the
king so he might escape from his incarceration. But, ungratefully (yet
providentially), the butler forgot.
God was saving that card for just the right moment;
a moment when the Pharaoh would need a dream interpreted for him... and the
world would need a leader with God's wisdom in his heart. That man: Joseph!
No comments:
Post a Comment