Cup Bearer and Baker of the King of Egypt

In Genesis 40, there is one of the most balanced stories in Scripture. Often times God either shows the people bad things because of their sinfulness. Other times God shows his mercy and steadfast love for his people. God does not often give us a story with both life and death. Maybe I am wrong.

Joseph was placed in Prison under a false witness, but immediately was raised to be in charge of the prison. Now he finds two very distraught. The Cup Bearer and the Chief Baker had previously angered the King of Egypt. But Joseph desires to help them. God is the one who interprets these dreams. Joseph merely speaks the interpretation.

Here comes the balance for these two officials. The first is the cup bearer who will be restored to fill Pharaoh's cup. This interpretation is seen as good in the eyes of the Chief Baker. But the Baker does not find a good interpretation. The Baker will be killed and the Cup Bearer will be restored.

The Cup Bearer's and the Chief Baker's encounter with Joseph can tell us a great many things. It can first tell us that God can interpret our dreams. Most of us forget about our dreams. But for the Cup Bearer his dream is very great. The Chief Baker has a more troubling dream. Pharaoh will even have a great difficulty with his own dreams. Dreams can give us insight into the world around us and our personal desires, but they are for God to interpret.

This encounter can also tell us how God places us in special situations. If Joseph had not met up with the Cup Bearer he would not have been lifted up to the second in all of Egypt. God places people in our lives for many reasons. God also gives us hardships to help strengthen us and discipline us.

There is another lesson we can learn. God raises one man, restoring him to new life. God also points a man to his coming death. The Prophets in the Old Testament often reminded the people that they are going to die. We are all going to face Judgment Day. Upon that day people will either be restored or condemned. Through Jesus Christ we have won the Victory. Jesus is the one who was condemned so that we may be restored. There is a Balance.

Joseph tells the truth to both the Cup Bearer and the Baker. The truth can give us great pain, when we realize our sinfulness. We have not acted like God has commanded us to act. All People commit sins of disobedience, lust, hatred, falsehood, and personal passions. St Paul reminds us that all people have fallen short of the Glory of God.

The truth can set us free. This is not a freedom from Politics. This is not a freedom from responsibility. It is a freedom from sin. The truth is Jesus Christ who has set us free from our bondage to sin. Jesus Christ has died for our sin so that we will never die.

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