Summary of Genesis 40:1-8:
Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker offended Pharaoh and were put in the same prison as Joseph. Both men had a dream that they could not interpret. Joseph saw that they were sad and asked them why. They said they could not interpret their dreams, so Joseph told them God could and to tell them the dreams.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 24, Day 4: Genesis 40:1-8
11) Joseph noticed that they cupbearer and the baker were sad and asked them why. They said they could not interpret their dreams, so Joseph told them God could and to tell them the dreams. This shows that Joseph knew the men well enough to know when they were dejected and cared enough to ask and to offer help.
12) My family. Be more present with them, ask more questions, listen more.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 24, Day 4: Genesis 40:1-8
I’m wondering about the repeated phrases here I never noticed before: the repetition of their positions and the fact they were in prison. No word in the Bible is wasted, so there has to be some reason here.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 24, Day 4: Genesis 40:1-8
The cupbearer was responsible for tasting all of the drink and food before Pharaoh ate it to make sure it was not poisonous. The baker cooked Pharaoh’s food. Scholars believe there was a plot against Pharaoh, and these two were accused. However, the cupbearer and the baker were in prison for God’s reasons and plans.
Note how Potiphar, who is the captain of the guard, assigned these men to Joseph. Potiphar probably believes Joseph is innocent as indicated by this action. (Genesis 39:1).
Here’s we see Joseph’s heart is like Jesus’s. He helps others and pays attention to their feelings. Most people would not have cared about the sadness of these two men. After all, they were all leading desperate lives as prisoners, so why care about others?
Joseph had a sincere desire to help these men feel better about their dreams. He knew God used dreams to foretell the future like the dreams God had given him. (Genesis 37:5-11), Note how it’s God who knows. Joseph takes no credit for these dreams.
God Uses Dreams To Foretell the Future in the Bible
- Abimelech (Genesis 20:3).
- Jacob (Genesis 28:12, 31:11).
- Laban (Genesis 31:24).
- The Midianite (Judges 7:13).
- Solomon (1 Kings 3:5).
- Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:1).
- Daniel (Daniel 7:1).
- Joseph (Matthew 1:20, 2:13, 2:22).
- Pilate’s wife (Matthew 27:19).
Fun Fact: The Bible records God speaking to almost twice as many nonbelievers as believers. God uses all people in His plans the world.
Not all dreams are prophetic (Ecclesiastes 5:3, 5:7). and some are from false prophets (Deuteronomy 13:1-5, Jeremiah 23:25-28).
We know God speaks to us in the Bible for sure. He can speak to us individually as well in other ways.
One thought on “BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 24, Day 4: Genesis 40:1-8”