Genesis 41:1-13

It happened at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and behold, he stood by the river. Behold, there came up out of the river seven cattle, sleek and fat, and they fed in the marsh grass. Behold, seven other cattle came up after them out of the river, ugly and thin, and stood by the other cattle on the brink of the river. The ugly and thin cattle ate up the seven sleek and fat cattle. So Pharaoh awoke. He slept and dreamed a second time: and behold, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, healthy and good. Behold, seven heads of grain, thin and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. It happened in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all of Egypt’s magicians and wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.

Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, “I remember my faults today. Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, me and the chief baker. We dreamed a dream in one night, I and he. We dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream. There was with us there a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard, and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams. To each man according to his dream he interpreted. It happened, as he interpreted to us, so it was: he restored me to my office, and he hanged him.”

It is comical that the cupbearer said: “I remember my faults today.” I guess that this would be like saying: “Oh wow, I really messed up!” He had completely forgotten about Joseph in the jail for “two full years!”

It is true that he had really messed up for Pharaoh too because had Joseph been out of jail and serving Pharaoh, the answer would have probably been available for him sooner. We read here that “no one” could interpret the dream for Pharaoh and that “his spirit was troubled.” He had actually called for “all of Egypt’s magicians and wise men.” Isn’t it amazing how uniquely gifted Joseph was? We know from the Bible that God is the same today as He was then. God still gives unique gifts to people and you are a person. It is very likely that there are things that only you can do on earth today and God knows what those things are. We shouldn’t limit ourselves, it is God who made us and He knows what is best for us to do.

Also notice that even though the cupbearer was so negligent in getting the word out that Joseph was locked in jail, God arranged the details so that Joseph would get a chance. It is important for us to realize that God has power over every leader on earth today. He was able to control Pharaoh with a simple dream. God can do anything He wants. Knowing this, it is good to be patient because He has a good reason for everything He does. We should not forget that this powerful God made us to be unique for a reason.