INTRODUCTION:  Joseph is 28 years of age at the time of this chapter.  [He has 2 more years of prison (Genesis 41:1And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.
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See All..., 21) but deliverance always seems out of his grasp.  This chapter gives the breakthrough for which he had been looking.  But, as we will see, it is also part of a long drawn out plan.

1. THROWN INTO PRISON (Genesis 40:1-4 [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.
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1. The Offense of the King’s Servants (Genesis 40:1And 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.
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1. The timing of the offense
1. “After these things” - This points back to Genesis 39:21-23 [21] But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. [22] And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. [23] The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
   See All..., where Joseph is promoted to watching over the prisoners and all of the activities of the prison.
2. This demonstrates the beauty of God’s timing.  One of these men is going to be the way Joseph gets out of prison and into authority in Egypt.  If God had not waited until Joseph was ruling in the prison, Joseph would never have made it to ruling in Egypt.
2. The offenders
1. The chief butler
2. The chief baker
2. The Wrath of the Pharaoh (Genesis 40:2And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.
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3. The Imprisonment of the Servants (Genesis 40:3And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
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1. Put in ward in the house of the captain of the guard
2. This is the place where Joseph was bound.
4. Their Keeping Given to Joseph (Genesis 40:4And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.
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2. DREAMS AND THEIR INTERPRETATION (Genesis 40:5-8 [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.
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1. Two Dreams in One Night (Genesis 40:5And 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.
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1. Both men had a dream in the same night.
2. Each man had a different dream particular to himself.
2. Sadness on Two Faces (Genesis 40:6-7 [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?
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3. The Source of All Interpretation (Genesis 40:8And 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.
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1. Each man had a dream, but had no one to interpret.
2. Joseph points out that all interpretations belong to God (Daniel 2:47The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
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3. THE DREAM OF THE BUTLER (Genesis 40:9-15 [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.
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1. The Dream of the Butler (Genesis 40:9-11 [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.
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1. A vine was before him (Genesis 40:9And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
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2. In the vine were three branches (Genesis 40:10And 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:
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3. It was as though the vine budded and blossoms shot forth and the clusters brought forth ripe grapes (Genesis 40:10And 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:
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4. Then he saw Pharaoh’s cup in his hand (Genesis 40:11And 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.
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5. The butler took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup (Genesis 40:11And 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.
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6. Then the butler gave the cup to Pharaoh (Genesis 40:11And 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.
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2. The Interpretation of His Dream (Genesis 40:12-13 [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.
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1. The three branches are three days (Genesis 40:12And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:
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2. The growth of the branches pictures a restoration of life and responsibilities.
3. Within three days Pharaoh will restore the butler (Genesis 40:13Yet 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.
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4. The butler will deliver Pharaoh’s cup as in former times (Genesis 40:13Yet 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.
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3. The Request of Joseph (Genesis 40:14-15 [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.
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1. The request for kindness (Genesis 40:14But 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:
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1. Think on me when it shall be well with thee.
2. Make mention of me to Pharaoh and bring me out of this house.
2. The miscarriage of justice upon Joseph (Genesis 40:15For 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.
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1. Joseph was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews.
2. Even in Egypt, Joseph had done nothing worthy of being imprisoned.
4. THE DREAM OF THE BAKER (Genesis 40:16-19 [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.
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1. The Joy of the Baker (Genesis 40:16When 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:
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1. The baker is thrilled with the interpretation of the butler’s dream and expects a similar interpretation.
2. This joy will be extremely short lived.
2. The Dream of the Baker (Genesis 40:16-17 [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.
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1. The baker had three white baskets on his head (Genesis 40:16When 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:
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2. In the uppermost basket there was all manner of bakemeats for Pharoah (Genesis 40:17And 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.
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3. Birds began to eat the bakemeats out of the basket upon his head (Genesis 40:17And 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.
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3. The Interpretation of His Dream (Genesis 40:18-19 [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.
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1. The three baskets are three days (Genesis 40:18And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:
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2. The removal of bakemeats pictures the loss of life and responsibilities.
3. Within three days Pharaoh will hang him from a tree (Genesis 40:19Yet 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.
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4. The birds will eat his flesh (Genesis 40:19Yet 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.
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5. THE FULFILLMENT OF THE DREAMS (Genesis 40:20-23 [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.
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1. The Birthday of Pharaoh (Genesis 40:20And 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.
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1. The third day - the day appointed for the fulfillment of prophecies
2. Pharaoh made a feast unto all his servants.
3. Note:  This is one of two instances where birthdays are specifically mentioned in the Bible.
1. In both cases a king makes a feast and in both cases a man is killed.
2. Both of the punishments invoked at the birthday feast have to do with the head.  In one case a man is beheaded and in the other case a man is hung.
3. The baker is killed here and the other instance is the birthday of Herod when John Baptist is beheaded.
2. The Fulfillment of Prophecy (Genesis 40:21-22 [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.
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1. The chief butler (Genesis 40:21And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:
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1. Restored by Pharaoh
2. He again gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.
2. The chief baker (Genesis 40:22But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.
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1. Hanged from a tree
2. Just as Joseph had interpreted
3. The Forgetting of Joseph (Genesis 40:23Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.
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CONCLUSION:  God’s hand is still on Joseph, but there is yet to be any evidence of freedom.  While supervising in the prison, Joseph meets a butler who will soon be free and he requests that the butler remember him when restored to his position with Pharaoh.  The day of freedom comes for the butler and his memory of Joseph is forgotten.  Joseph, though in the center of God’s will, has no hope of freedom in sight.