Today as we read verses 9-15 of Genesis chapter 40, we are going to listen
in on the chief butler's dream as told to Joseph who readily came along
side this man to clarify the message of the Lord…
And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my
dream, behold, a vine was before me; And in the vine were three branches:
and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters
thereof brought forth ripe grapes: And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and
I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the
cup into Pharaoh's hand. And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation
of it: The three branches are three days: Yet within three days shall
Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou
shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when
thou wast his butler. But think on me when it shall be well with thee,
and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh,
and bring me out of this house: For indeed I was stolen away out of the
land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should
put me into the dungeon.
Clearly we can see that the chief butler's dream foretold of his advancement,
just like Joseph's own dream had done back in Genesis chapter 37. I don't
think it's a coincidence that the butler shared his dream with Joseph
first… How sweet it is of the Lord to send a gentle reminder of His promise
back into Joseph's life through this man's dream! Do you see how important
it is that we minister to others? Not only does our heavenly Father have
something special for the hurting, but something special for the helper
as well! Our Lord works ALL things together for our good and knows our
hearts. Considering that Joseph is currently in a position of waiting
on the Lord himself and might be losing hope, God has just sent him a
reminder of His plan for Joseph's life and encourages him not to lose
sight of it.
Ladies, I wonder how much encouragement we have missed out on that the
Lord had designed for us to receive specifically through the lives of
those we neglected to help! So often when you engage in dialogue with
a suffering, perplexed person you are able to see how much the Lord has
done for you personally and how far He has brought you and it keeps us
humble and trusting. But when we avoid getting involved, when we resist
reaching out and helping others, not only do they lose out on a blessing,
but we do too! You see, God has unique, hidden encouragements to bless
us with found only when we reach out to others. Give it a try and you
will see what I mean. Remember though, that selfishness stops the blessing
process, therefore your willing heart is the key to unlocking these treasures
from heaven!
Acts 20:35
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support
the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It
is more blessed to give than to receive.
How much better it is to share with others than to stash what we have
and gather more. Today women have so many "collections" going such as
teacups, angel figurines, book series, etc., that I wonder if it's starting
to affect our spiritual outlook! Instead of hoarding all the riches we
have in Christ, I think it's time we stopped "collecting" them and started
a new habit of giving them away as our Savior exemplified…
2 Cor. 8:9
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich,
yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be
rich.
Because Joseph assisted the chief butler in his understanding of what
God was doing in his life, this officer learned that promotion was on
the horizon for him, that he would be restored to his former position.
What good news, amen? So too, God has a promise of promotion and restoration
for every person who will accept His will for their life - salvation through
His son Jesus Christ!
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness;
but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but
that all should come to repentance.
The sad part is, not everybody will pay attention to the message, the
truth that God has sent through the servant of the Lord, the interpreter
of His Word, so to speak. Many reject the opportunity to enjoy a right
relationship with the Master and spend eternity in heaven with Him through
the blood of Christ - the Chiefest of Butlers, our personal Cupbearer
who willingly bore our sins at Calvary…
Matthew 26:39
And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying,
O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless
not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Ladies, you can see how God was encouraging Joseph through the butler's
dream to be as Christ - to go a little farther, to fall on his face and
pray and remain resigned to His Father's will to the finish! And He would
encourage you and I the same way today. How resigned are you to God's
will for your life though your persecutions may last awhile? No matter
what your trial might be today, are you willing to trust God and rest
upon His promises of deliverance, promotion, and restoration as the butler
was given? You see, I think Joseph was missing his family. I think he
was longing to be restored to them and certainly there is nothing wrong
with this desire for it is born of love, not bitterness! Therefore, Joseph
asked the butler to remember him when he was delivered from prison. He
asked the butler to show kindness and make mention of him unto Pharaoh
in hopes that he too could be released. Certainly we should all be willing
to help one another out as much as possible, amen? Folks should especially
care for that servant of the Lord who has greatly affected their understanding
of God…
Galatians 6:10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially
unto them who are of the household of faith.
After all this time, Joseph began to share some of his own troubles with
the butler, but in a proper way. He did not negatively reflect upon his
brothers treatment; nor did he reflect on the wrong done him by Potiphar
and his wife, but mildly states his own innocence. What a wonderful example,
for even with a heavy heart Joseph relates his circumstances to others
in a godly fashion! Ladies, when we tell of our past troubles, we should
carefully avoid speaking ill of others. We should simply be content to
prove ourselves innocent as Joseph did and not bring reproach upon others…
Ephes. 4:29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which
is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
To clutter your conversation with corruption would be to interfere with
your ability to minister properly to others as a servant of the Lord.
Corrupt words corrupt the minds and manners of those listening. They block
the grace of God from shining through you and hinder the Holy Spirit's
influence in you. Because Joseph didn't obstruct God's encouragement for
others by his life, it was not withheld from him!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003