Joseph part 4
40 Now it happened that after these things, the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was furious with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. 3 So he put them in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, in the jail, the same place where Joseph was imprisoned. 4 And the captain of the bodyguard appointed Joseph as overseer over them, and he [a]attended to them; and they were in confinement for [b]some time. 5 Then the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt, who were confined in jail, both had a dream the same night, each man with his own dream and each dream with its own interpretation. 6 Now Joseph came to them in the morning and saw them, and behold, they were dejected. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were with him in confinement in his master’s house, saying, “Why are your faces so sad today?” 8 Then they said to him, “We have [c]had a dream, and there is no one to interpret it.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Recount it to me, please.”
Well, we have been considering the life of Joseph in the Old Testament as a type of Jesus Christ. The story of his life is like a sneak peek into God’s plan of salvation revealed in the New Testament at the advent of Christ. Now I’m not going to go through all the parallels that we’ve talked about before this. I’ve done that in every sermon so far. But, for the sake of those who weren’t here for all of it let be just list the parallels.
I. His introduction
Joseph and Jesus were both the beloved sons of their fathers, elevated above their brethren.
II. His rejection
Joseph and Jesus were both sent to their brethren, but both were rejected by their brethren.
III. His enslavement
Joseph and Jesus were both sold by their brethren, and turned over to the Gentiles.
IV. His temptation
Joseph and Jesus were both tempted, but withstood the temptation.
V. His imprisonment
Joseph and Jesus were both bound and imprisoned. Joseph in a jail, Jesus going to trial and to the imprisonment of the tomb. Today we’re going to look at their ascendance and inheritance.
Illustration: There are a few of what we would call rags to riches stories in our country.
https://historycollection.com/10-true-rags-to-riches-tales-from-american-history/
“The story of a person rising from grinding poverty to financial wealth and social success is a tried and true theme in novels and films, popular for centuries. It was a storyline followed by Dickens in Oliver Twist and in dozens of works by Horatio Alger.”
Harland Sanders was born on an Indiana farm, which his father struggled to operate after breaking a leg, eventually taking work as a butcher in Henryville, Indiana. When his father died in 1895 Harland’s mother found work in a cannery and the upkeep of the farmhouse and his two younger siblings became the boy’s responsibility. Sanders learned to cook before he was seven, by the age of ten he was working as a farmhand. Their mother was often gone for long periods of time and Sanders and his siblings found food as they could. When his mother remarried in 1902, Sanders found his new stepfather incompatible, and by 13 he was living on his own, dropping out of school in the seventh grade.
Sanders worked as a farmhand, a painter, and eventually as a streetcar conductor in New Albany, Indiana. In 1906 he lied about his age and joined the army, in which he served as a teamster. After being discharged the following year he went to Alabama, where an uncle helped him get a job with the Southern Railway. In 1909 he went to work for the Norfolk and Western Railway, rising to the position of fireman. Married and with three children, Sanders studied law at night via correspondence courses and eventually practiced law in Little Rock, his legal career ending after a courtroom brawl with his own client.
Sanders sold insurance for a time, operated a ferry boat across the Ohio River to Louisville, and used the proceeds to start a business manufacturing lamps, which failed. He then sold tires, losing that job in 1924, and then operated a gasoline station in Nicholasville, Kentucky. When that station was closed Sanders was offered another by the Shell Company in North Corbin, KY. At that station, Sanders began offering meals to customers in the portion of the station which was set aside as his living quarters. He purchased a motel in Asheville, North Carolina and when his North Corbin gas station was destroyed in a fire he rebuilt the property as a restaurant.
Similar stories of John D. Rockefeller, Jack London, Elvis Presley, Andrew Jackson,
To those stories we could add the Biblical stories of Joseph and Jesus.
VI. His ascendance
After their imprisonment, both Jesus and Joseph were elevated from their positions as slaves to being second to the highest monarch. Joseph was second only to Pharaoh. Jesus rose from the grave, ascended to heaven and now sits at the right hand of the Father as King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s.
Today we will continue this story with some final parallels. And I believe that the ones we look at today are the most exciting of them all; His salvation of the Gentile world, His salvation of the Jews, His Faith in the future Kingdom.
And these are exciting to me because they speak to our circumstances. The central truth of Joseph’s life could have been, if anything bad can happen, it will. But because God was with him, the central truth was “What you meant for evil, God meant for good.” And the same can be said of Jesus’ life. His life ended in an excruciatingly painful death. He was put to death by the very people that He was sent to save, that He healed and loved. But, “What they meant for evil, God meant for good.”
Prayer
First, we will look at Joseph and Jesus: Ascendence.
And as I studied for today, I was struck with even more parallels between their lives. Salvation of the Gentile world, salvation of the Jews, faith in the future kingdom.
Let’s look first at the salvation of the Gentile world.
We started last time with the story of Joseph’s ascendance. This is how it happened. He is in jail because of a false accusation. He is in charge of two prisoners put in his care. These two were apparently housed together. They are the cupbearer and baker for Pharaoh. They were put in jail because Pharaoh was upset with them for some reason. Some have surmised that someone tried to poison the Pharaoh. But regardless, this is what happened. One morning, he is doing his rounds.
7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were with him in confinement in his master’s house, saying, “Why are your faces so sad today?” 8 Then they said to him, “We have [c]had a dream, and there is no one to interpret it.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Recount it to me, please.”
So, Joseph is maybe bringing them breakfast. They have just awakened from a night of restless sleep, because each of them has had a vivid dream. Now, the dreams were disturbing enough to each man, but I’m sure it was more disturbing when they told each other their dreams. The dreams parallel each other. The butler, 3 branches of clusters of grapes, and serving Pharaoh from the grapes. The baker, 3 baskets of bread for Pharaoh, birds eating out of the top basket. Not only did that society put more stock in dreams than we typically do, but the fact that they both dreamed very similar dreams in one night gave them the sense that this meant something. I’m just going to read this part to you with little elaboration.
9 So the chief cupbearer recounted his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream, [d]behold, there was a vine in front of me; 10 and on the vine were three branches. And as it was budding, its blossoms came out, and its clusters produced ripe grapes. 11 Now Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; so I took the grapes and squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I put the cup into Pharaoh’s [e]hand.” 12 Then Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days; 13 within three more days Pharaoh will [f]lift up your head and restore you to your [g]office; and you will put Pharaoh’s cup into his hand according to your former custom when you were his cupbearer.
To summarize, Joseph tells him that the dream means that in three days he will be restored to his former position. What good news. I’m sure the cupbearer was overjoyed. But then Joseph adds this.
14 Only remember me when it goes well with you, and please show me lovingkindness by remembering me to Pharaoh and getting me out of this house. 15 For I was in fact stolen from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing that they should have put me into the pit.”
Now, before we move on, I want you to notice what a sweet spirit Joseph has. He is explaining how he ended up in prison. And he says, “I was stolen from the land of the Hebrews.” Uh, there’s far more to the story than that. He could have told him how his brothers, threw him in a pit, and ended up selling him as a slave because of their jealousy. Well, then he continues telling the cupbearer that, “I have done nothing wrong that deserves jail.” Not a word about Potiphar’s wife trying to seduce him, and then accusing him of exactly that for which she was guilty. Well, why do I point this out? Because I think it is another astounding parallel to Jesus.
Jesu was brought up on false charges, facing crucifixion, yet He went “as a lamb to slaughter, He opened not His mouth, He didn’t lash out at His accusers.
Jesus could have stood in those trials, and exposed every evil in the heart and life of every person accusing Him. But He did not. He was gracious even when His life was being threatened.
Joseph to, did not accuse his brothers, or his master’s wife, he simply asserted that he was innocent and didn’t deserve imprisonment. And I’m sure the cupbearer, in his gratitude for such a fortuitous dream interpretation promised that he would remember Joseph.
16 And the chief baker saw that he had interpreted favorably, so he said to Joseph, “I also saw in my dream, and behold, there were three baskets of white bread on my head; 17 and in the top basket there were some of all [h]sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.” 18 Then Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days; 19 within three more days Pharaoh will lift up your head off of you and will hang you on a tree, and the birds will eat your flesh off of you.”
This dream’s meaning was not so good. It could be that while they were in prison there had been an investigation, and that someone had indeed tried to poison the Pharaoh, and maybe it was the chief baker. Regardless, everything happens just as Joseph interpreted it; after 3 days, the cupbearer is restored to his position, and the chief baker was executed.
And as sad as the circumstance is for the baker, we are encouraged by this story because we can see God at work. Joseph can see a glimmer of hope. A man that he helped is going to be in a place of influence again in Pharaoh’s house. He’ll tell someone of my circumstance, and I’ll get out of here. But, sadly for Joseph, the butler forgot about him.
How many times have you felt that in your gut? A glimmer of hope, and then it is squashed.
If we see light at the end of the tunnel, it's the light of the oncoming train.
But what Joseph had to remember, and what we have to remember is that God has a bigger plan than we can comprehend.
Any body here ever played with a Rubiks cube? I have. I don’t even have the patience to get one side all one color. But we have a relative, just a kid, that you can hand a mixed up Rubiks cube, and he will have all the sides matching in a couple of minutes. That is a very basic illustration of the difference between our take on our circumstances, and God’s. We can’t figure it all out. We don’t know how any of it is going to work out for our good, as God promised. It just looks like a jumbled mess. But we don’t understand that God can look at our lives, and He can visualize every twist and turn that will get us to a place of total peace and joy.
And God had a purpose for Joseph’s struggles. Joseph couldn’t see it yet. But God could. And even in a larger sense, God had a plan for Jesus.
So how does Joseph get out of jail? His ascendance
Now I’m going to summarize the next part of the story for the sake of time.
41 Now it happened at the end of two full years (two more years for Joseph in prison) that Pharaoh had a dream, and behold, he was standing by the Nile. 2 And behold, from the Nile there came up seven cows, sleek and [a]fat; and they grazed in the reeds. 3 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, [b]ugly and [c]thin, and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 And the ugly and [d]thin cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. Then Pharaoh awoke. 5 He again fell asleep and dreamed a second time; and behold, seven ears of grain came up on a single stalk, plump and good. 6 And behold, seven ears, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. 7 And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8 Now it happened that in the morning his spirit was troubled, so he sent and called for all the [e]magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. And Pharaoh recounted to them his dream, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
So, Pharaoh has this frightening dream. And it was frightening for a couple of reasons. First, it’s 7 cows, 7 ears. Seven was a mystical and important number for many ancient societies. The easiest explanation for why is that all mankind descended from Adam, and God created the world in 6 days, and rested on the 7th. God instituted a 7 day week. So, the fact that there are repeated 7’s would have indicated that the source of this dream was supernatural. Second, it’s cows eating cows. 3rd, it was repeated. First cows eating cows, then stalks eating stalks. 4th, he remembers it vividly. We forget most dreams even before we wake. But this one was burned into Pharaoh’s brain.
But none of his advisors seemed to have a clue as to the meaning of the dream. Well, in steps the cupbearer.
Genesis 41:9 Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, “I would bring to remembrance today my own [f]offenses.
He tells Pharaoh about this Hebrew young man in jail, who rightly interpreted his and the chief baker’s dreams.
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they rushed him out of the pit; and he shaved himself and changed his clothes, and he came to Pharaoh.
Stop there. I hadn’t noticed this before. But what is our theme? That Joseph’s life was a foreshadowing of Christ. Read that verse again.
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they rushed him out of the pit; and he shaved himself and changed his clothes, and he came to Pharaoh.
Joseph was brought up out of that dungeon pit, cleaned up, and given new clothes, to eventually sit at the right hand of the supreme ruler of the land.
Ephesians 1:20-23 These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Jesus was raised by the Father from the tomb, given a new body, and ascended to the right hand of the Father in heaven.
Well, back to our story.
15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, but no one can interpret it; yet I have heard [j]it said about you, that [k]you hear a dream and that you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, “[l]It is not in me; God will [m]answer concerning the welfare of Pharaoh.”
(summarize)
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s [u]dreams are one and the same; God has declared to Pharaoh what He is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years; the [v]dreams are one and the same. 27 And the seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven lean ears scorched by the east wind will be seven years of famine. 28 [w]It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh: God has shown to Pharaoh what He is about to do. 29 Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming in all the land of Egypt; 30 and after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine will [x]ravage the land, 31 so that the abundance will be unknown in the land because of that subsequent famine; for it will be very heavy. 32 Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that the matter is confirmed by God, and God will quickly bring it about.
Then Joseph advises Pharaoh.
33 So now let Pharaoh look for a man understanding and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh take action and appoint overseers over the land, and let him exact a fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance. 35 Then let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming, and let them store up the grain for food in the cities under Pharaoh’s authority, and let them keep watch over it. 36 And let the food be appointed for the land for the seven years of famine which will happen in the land of Egypt, so that the land will not be cut off during the famine.”Pharaoh sets Joseph up as that ruler.
37 And the [y]proposal seemed good [z]to Pharaoh and [aa]to all his servants. 38 Then Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?” 39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made you know all of this, there is no one so understanding and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and according to your [ab]command all my people shall [ac]do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put the gold necklace around his neck. 43 And he had him ride in [ad]his second chariot; and they called out before him, “[ae]Bow the knee!” And he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Though I am Pharaoh, yet without [af]your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 Then Pharaoh named Joseph [ag]Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of [ah]On, as a wife. And Joseph went forth over the land of Egypt.
Joseph is elevated. And quite an elevation. From prison to the throne. That kind of rags to riches story is quite rare. But there is one rags to riches story that is more profound. It is the story of Jesus. But technically you have to call Jesus’ story a riches to rags to riches story.
Philippians 2: 5 Have this way of thinking [d]in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although existing in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing [e]to be grasped, 7 but [f]emptied Himself, by taking the form of a slave, by being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death [g]on a cross. 9 Therefore, God also highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is [h]Lord, to the glory of God the Father.