16 When the chief baker saw that he had interpreted favorably, 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 kinds 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 from you and will hang you on a wooden post, and the birds will eat your flesh off you.”

20 So it came about on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he held a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his office, and he put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand; 22 but he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Genesis 40:16-23 (NASB)

Interpretation #2

Yesterday we heard the cupbearer’s dream and its interpretation from God through Joseph. It had a good ending. So the baker was excited for his dream to be interpreted. He assumed that his dream would also have a good interpretation since it followed a similar structure. Wrong! That’s not the way to think about dreams. 

In fact, the interpretation of the baker’s dream has the exact opposite (and deadly) result – he will be publicly humiliated and killed. “The baker would not simply suffer execution, but his corpse would then be impaled and publicly exposed.” (planobiblechapel.org) 

Proof in the pudding

The expression goes, “the proof of the pudding is in the eating” or, “the proof is in the pudding” for short. So will Joseph’s interpretation actually come true in 3 days? Yes indeed. The cupbearer is restored and the baker executed.

Joseph and Jesus

Often people compare Joseph to Jesus. There are a number of similarities (such as, “He is the object of his father’s special love”, “He was falsely accused.”, etc.). “We may also see a great difference or contrast between Joseph and Jesus: Joseph’s word only rescued the innocent prisoner, not the guilty one. The good news – the greatest news– is that the message and rescue of Jesus is for the guilty, also.” (enduringword.com)

Chapter summary

“The significance of this chapter lies in Joseph’s God-given ability to interpret dreams. This gift, and Joseph’s use of it on this occasion, prepared the way for Pharaoh’s calling for Joseph, two years later, to interpret his two dreams—and exalting him to high office in the government (ch. 41).” (planobiblechapel.org)

RЯeflection

• Do you understand this good news? Have you accepted it, in faith? If not, click here.
• For more on dreams, check out this article.