Devotional Thoughts From Every Chapter of the Bible
Genesis Chapter 40:
Gen 40:1-23 KJV
(1) And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.
(2) And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.
(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.
(4) And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.
(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.
(6) And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.
(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?
(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.
(9) And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
(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:
(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.
(12) And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:
(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.
(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:
(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.
(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:
(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.
(18) And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:
(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.
(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.
(21) And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand:
(22) But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.
(23) Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.
Thought For This Chapter…
Meeting the needs of others…
Gen 30:21-23 – And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand: But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.
When Joseph saw that both the baker and butler needed their dreams to be interpreted, Joseph was faithful to the Lord and stood up and worked to meet their needs. After Joseph successfully interpreted the dreams of both the butler and baker, all that he asked was that the butler would “make mention of me to Pharaoh”. This would include reminding Pharaoh that the Lord’s hand of blessing was upon Joseph and that Joseph had been faithful to Pharaoh as overseer of Pharaoh’s household.
The butler, unlike Joseph, was not willing to step up and work to meet Joseph’s need. He did not make it a priority but instead “forgat him (Joseph)”
Folks, how often have we done the same thing? How often does the Lord bring someone into our lives that has a need and we are not willing to stand up and meet that need? Instead their need is soon forgotten. This is truly a shame.
We should always seek to be a blessing to those whom the Lord brings into our circle of acquaintances. We can do that in many ways…
Do they have a need for prayer? We can daily pray for them and present them before others to pray for them as well.
Do they need to have relationship with Christ? We can share what the Lord has done for us with them.
Do they have any physical needs in life that we can fulfill? Perhaps their car or house needs work they cannot do and we have the ability and knowledge to meet their need.
Or maybe just an encouraging word or a small favor on their behalf would mean so much to them.
Everyone has needs in their lives that we can fulfil, if we just take the time to recognize the need and act to meet that need. This is one of the great callings that God has placed upon each one of us…
Mat 25:35-40 KJV – For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
This type of attitude that looks for ways to fulfill the need of others is a hallmark of one who has experienced the love of God in their life…
1Jn 3:17 KJV – But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
May we all reveal outwardly the love God has shown to us by serving others seeking to meet their needs.
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