Genesis 40
We have seen that although Joseph had not done anything wrong, yet he was put into prison. They hurt his feet with chains, and he was laid in iron (Psa. 105:18), but God was with him and showed him mercy. He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison who put into Joseph’s hand all the prisoners. He did not look to anything that was under his hand, because God was with Joseph and made all that he did to go well. Before this in Potiphar’s home, God made everything go well. Now while Joseph was in the prison, God did the same. It is much better to live in a prison with God, than to live in a king’s house without Him.
The king of Egypt put his butler and his baker into prison. We do not know what they had done, but the king of Egypt was very angry and put them where Joseph was.
One night they both dreamed and in the morning Joseph saw they looked sad, so he asked, “Wherefore look ye so sadly today?” They said that they both had a dream but nobody could tell them the meaning. Joseph asked if they knew that God could tell the meaning. Perhaps Joseph thought of the dreams he had had. And Joseph knew that God was able to make his own dreams come true. So Joseph said to tell him the dreams. Then the chief butler told his dream. (Read Gen. 40:9-23.)
The butler who pressed the juice of the grapes into the king’s cup was set free to live, but the baker who made the cakes was put to death. The juice of grapes is red, a picture of blood. At the Lord’s supper the fruit of the vine is a picture of the blood of the Lord, which was shed for us. But the cakes made by the baker do not tell us of blood or death, so the baker himself died. The butler poured out the wine, which pictures blood, and tells of somebody to die in his place, so he could live. We all have sinned against God, but he who comes to God trusting only in the precious blood of Jesus has everlasting life. The baker may have worked very hard, but his work could not take away his sins. But the juice of the grapes made the butler go back to the king’s house, as the blood of the Lord Jesus will make those who trust His precious blood live in the heavenly home with Him. Joseph said to the butler, “Think on me, when it shall be well with thee.” This makes us remember the night in which the Lord Jesus was betrayed, He took the cup and gave unto His disciples saying, “This do in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). That cup is a picture of His blood. He wants us, who have eternal life by believing on Him, to remember Him in His death. The butler should have thanked Joseph, and remembered his goodness. But he forgot Joseph. Have you got everlasting life by trusting in His blood, yet forgotten His last words “Remember Me”?