Genesis 40:1-41:13
Dear RTB’ers,
Joseph, the interpreter of dreams. Today’s passages, with Joseph interpreting the dreams for Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer and chief baker are setting the foundation for tomorrow’s reading where Joseph will interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. So, what to make of dreams? Joseph has the answer for the interpretation of dreams, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” (Genesis 40:8b) Knowing that, Joseph then accepts his role as God’s agent and speaks the interpretations that God has given him.
But what about the dreams themselves, those of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker and of Pharaoh? I’m sure that we can all agree that these dreams came from God, that they were all part of His plan for Joseph. But with all that, my human head asks about the two-year lapse between the chief cupbearer’s release and his remembering Joseph. I’m thinking about Joseph during those two years, already serving time for no wrong done, now hoping for his release. Was that a depressing time for him? And I think about the cupbearer, how when he finally remembered Joseph, how he must have been guilt-ridden for having forgotten Joseph for those two long years. The strange thing about those two years is that Joseph did not have a 730-day calendar in his head or on his wall. He didn’t know that he only had two more years to serve; he was in prison with no release date. What was he thinking during this time? What was his attitude toward God?
So, let’s go forward two thousand years, visiting Paul while he sits in prison, also not knowing his release date. What is he thinking during this time? What is his attitude toward God? Here are his words:
Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
Philippians 1:18b-26
To live is Christ, and to die is gain. GLORY!!
Blessings!