Coachlight Bible Study – Genesis Lesson 44 – Genesis Chapter 40
Preparation For God’s Service
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
We have seen in our study of the trials we all go through, the various ways in which God uses these to perfect His own. For instance we have seen that trials will give us “patience” or “endurance” to go through our trials:
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
We also have found that trials are used by God to bring us to a better place:
Psalm 66:10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
Psalm 66:11 Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
Psalm 66:12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
We also know that no matter how impossible to endure, our trials can be endured:
I Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
We also have found out from our Savior Himself that there are rewards for enduring our trials:
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Matthew 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
The study of the life of Joseph is truly a study of trials. We need to add to this study and realize that throughout our trials we who are in Christ have hope and the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts. Trials are not just something to endure, but are preparation for what God has for us.
We know through hind sight that God was going to mightily use Joseph in the lives of everybody connected with Joseph. We know that Joseph was seventeen years old when he was sent down into Egypt and thirty years old when he appeared before Pharaoh and placed in charge of the grain conservation plan in Egypt. (Genesis 37:2; 41:46). This tells us that he must have spent a total of thirteen years in Potiphar’s house and his prison. This might seem to be a long time for a bright young man to spend as a servant and in jail.
This knowlege seems to leave us with these questions:
Why did God wait so long to deal with the people that shamefully treated Joseph?
Why did God wait so long to put Joseph in the ministry of delivering his family?
In God’s timing, however, this was not time wasted, but was needed preparation for the position of leadership and deliverance that God had in store for Joseph. Many times the young in age and those young in Christ, as well as those of us that have spent but a little time in the Word, would rather skip the preparation time needed in the Word and immediately get immersed into God’s service.
To those of us that fit this scenario, the story of Joseph will prove to be invaluable. Joseph thought he was old enough for leadership at seventeen. Why God had blessed him with prophetic dreams, proving that God was going to use Joseph. But the Lord had to chastise Joseph and put him through a training program before he was ready at the age of thirty. Onr might say, that this was the case with young Joseph, but is this true in every case?
King David finally became king at the age of thirty (II Samuel 5:4) even though he was anointed while he was yet a youth (I Samuel 16:11-13).
Those who were trained for levitical service when they were young had to wait until they were age thirty to come into service (Numbers 4:46-47).
The apostle Paul, who was very well trained by Israel’s best teacher’s before his conversion, had to spend three years preparation in the desert before he was prepared for full time ministry(Galatians 1:15-18).
Christ’s twelve disciples received over three years in preparation by Christ Himself before they were equipped for the great commission. For that matter, Christ Himself did not enter full time ministry until He was about thirty years of age. (Luke 3:23). Christ devoted His early years in preparation:
Luke 2:52 … Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
A ministry is more fruitful with the proper foundation than without a proper grounding in the Word.
Joseph was faithful in whatever came his way during those frustrating thirteen years. He no doubt spent his time seeking God’s ways and God continued to use Joseph until the time came that God announced him ready for full-time participation in God’s plan.
I. Two Of Pharaoh’s Chief Officials In Prison With Joseph
Genesis 40:1 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler[08248] of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.
Genesis 40:2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.
Genesis 40:3 And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
Genesis 40:4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.
A. Only One Event Is Recorded
1. Joseph probably spent a few years in Potiphar’s prison
2. Only the account of Joseph’s experience with the cupbearer and the baker
3. Undoubtedly because this later lead to Joseph appearing before pharaoh
B. The Bible Does Not Give The Offense For Which They Were In Prison
1. The Bible says the Pharaoh was offended
2. The word translated “offend” shakaw literally means “to sin against”
08248 hqv shaqah shaw-kaw' - a primitive root; v;
drink 43, water 17, butler 9, cupbearer 3, misc 1; 74
1) to give to drink, irrigate, drink, water, cause to drink water
1a) (Hiphil)
1a1) to water, irrigate
1a2) to water, give drink to
1b) (Pual) to be watered
1c) (Niphal) variant
C.The Captain of the Guard Put Joseph over Pharaoh’s Officials
II. Pharaoh’s Two Officers Dream Dreams
Genesis 40:5 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.
Genesis 40:6 And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.
Genesis 40:7 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?
Genesis 40:8 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.
A. Even In Prison Joseph Gives God The Glory
B. Joseph’s Mindset Was “Do Not Interpretations Belong To God?
C. Joseph Did Not Have Romans 8:28, But He Knew To Walk In The Spirit
1. As Joseph was tempted by Potiphar’s wife - Genesis 39:9;
2. As Joseph named his children – Genesis 41:16, 51-52;
3. As Joseph met the brothers who had shamfully treated him – Genesis 45:8
III. Pharaoh’s Chief Cupbearer Tells His Dream To Joseph
Genesis 40:9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
Genesis 40:10 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:
Genesis 40:11 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.
Genesis 40:12 And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:
Genesis 40:13 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.
Genesis 40:14 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:
Genesis 40:15 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.
IV. Pharaoh’s Chief Baker Tells His Dream To Joseph
Genesis 40:16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:
Genesis 40:17 And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.
Genesis 40:18 And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:
Genesis 40:19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.
V. The Prophetic Interpretations Are Fulfilled
Genesis 40:20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
Genesis 40:21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:
Genesis 40:22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.
Genesis 40:23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.
A. Joseph Used A Key Expression: “Lifted Up The Head”
1. Capable of being interpreted in opposite ways
2. Could Mean The Cupbearer’s Pardon And Restoration
3. Could Mean The Baker’s Hanging
B. Also Used In II Kings 25:27
C. Joseph Had To Wait Another Two Years Because The Butler Forgot
VI. The Bible Teaches That Abraham Gained Hope In Trials
Romans 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Romans 4:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
Romans 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
Romans 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,)before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
Romans 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Romans 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
Romans 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Romans 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Romans 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
Romans 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
VII. The Bible Teaches That To Whom Ye Yield You Obey
Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Romans 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
Romans 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Romans 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
VIII. The Bible Teaches That The Law Can Not Deliver From Sin
Romans 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,)how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
Romans 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
Romans 7:3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
Romans 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Romans 7:8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
Romans 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Romans 7:10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
Romans 7:11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Romans 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Romans 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Romans 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Romans 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,)dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Romans 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Romans 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Romans 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Romans 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Romans 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
IX. Walking In The Spirit Delivers From The Power of the Flesh
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Romans 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
X. Walking In The Spirit Gives Sonship
Romans 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
XI. Walking In The Spirit Gives Assurance Of Future Glory
Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Romans 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Romans 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Romans 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Romans 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
XII. Walking In The Spirit Gives Assurance Of Final Victory
Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Romans 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Romans 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.