Genesis 40:1

Genesis 40:1 says, And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.  Two of the kings servants offended him, his butler and his baker.  The king had complete authority over them, so it wasn't good to offend him.  The king was not at all concerned with what was best for them, but only with what pleased him.  Although God has control over the universe, He never acts out of anger when we as followers of Christ, His servants, don't please Him, but acts out of love.  Of course God reaches out to everyone with His love, but those who refuse to accept Christ and their Savior and Lord will one day feel His wrath, but that will not be based on an arbitrary act of displeasure.  Verse two states, And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.  Verse three adds, And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.  The king, or Pharaoh was very angry at these two, though we are not told what they did, so he threw them in prison.  Fortunately for us, when we make God angry, He still wants to set us free from our sins and restore us to Him.  The choice of suffering punishment for our sins is always ours, because of God's graceful gift of salvation.  Verse four declares, And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.  These two servants were placed under Joseph's authority.  They were there for a season, at least a few months.  We are not told what they were doing during this time, but I am sure that it was quite a step down from their position in the Pharaoh's household.  If we are imprisoned by sin, no matter what we may be doing, even if we are very successful in the world, it is a step down from what we would be if we were serving God faithfully.  Verse five adds, And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.  The butler and the baker both had a dream the same night.  Dreams at that time were viewed as more than just some random thoughts of the mind and were often treated as views of the future.  Some people today view them the same way.  Even though God can speak to us through dreams, not all dreams are God speaking to us.  I believe that God will let us know without a doubt when He is speaking to us.  Verse six states, And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.  Joseph knew them enough to know that they were sad for some reason the next morning.  Joseph could have just viewed them as two prisoners under his authority without having any real concern for them, but evidently he went beyond that and really got to know them.  We need to have that same caring attitude about the people around us today.  Verse seven adds, And he asked Pharaoh’s officers that were with him in the ward of his lord’s house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?  Joseph didn't just note the fact that they were sad, but asked them why they were.  The easiest thing for Joseph to do would have been to simply tell them to go to work, but he had a real concern for them.  I wonder how often we overlook those in need because it is simpler to just go about everyday life without getting involved.  As followers of Christ, we should have compassion for those around us and be willing to reach out to them with compassion when we see them in need, even if it is a lot easier to just ignore them.  Verse eight states, And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.  They told Joseph that they had both dreamed a dream and had no interpreter.  Joseph asked them if interpretations did not belong to God.  Joseph did not say that he could give them the answer, but that God could.  We cannot put the emphasis on ourselves when people come to us with problems, but should always give God the credit if we are able to help them.