Genesis 40 Devotional Bible Study

Genesis 40 Chapter Summary

Some time later, Pharaoh sent his cupbearer and baker to prison. After a while, they both had a dream on the same night. Not knowing what their dreams meant, they were concerned. 

Then Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams."

- Genesis 40:8

 

The cupbearer dreamed he would fill Pharaoh's cup again with the wine from three grapevine branches, and Joseph correctly interpreted that he would do so in three days. He asked the cupbearer to remember him and mention him to Pharaoh because he had done nothing wrong to be put into prison.

 

The baker dreamed he had three baskets of bread on his head, and birds were eating it. Joseph correctly interpreted that in the three days, Pharaoh would have the baker executed, and birds would eat his flesh.

 

What Do Your Dreams Mean?

Genesis 40:8

“We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

New Age mystics and some psychologists focus on dream interpretation. They’ll tell you that your dreams all come from your subconscious or your inner self. What do we see in the Bible?

Every time someone has a dream in the Bible, it’s from the Lord, and He’s the one who’s supposed to interpret it. So, the next time you have a vivid dream, pray and ask the Lord what it means. What is He communicating to you in your dream? Is He warning you to avoid a certain sin? Is He showing you what you’re afraid of and asking you to trust Him with it? Is He painting a picture to give you hope and reassurance?

 

 

Ask!

Genesis 40:14-15

“But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”

• “I don’t want to bother that person.”
• “I shouldn’t overstep my boundaries.”
• “They don’t care about me anyway.”
• “I don’t know them very well.”
• “They’re probably too busy.”
• “I should just wait.”
• “I’ll handle it myself.”

These are all excuses not to ask someone for help. They’re not valid. If you need help, ask! That’s what Joseph did. Yes, it took a while for the cupbearer in this account to help Joseph, but eventually he did. 

Oh, and don’t hesitate to help others, either. If Joseph hadn’t helped the cupbearer understand his dream, the cupbearer wouldn’t have had a reason to remember Joseph later.