The Butler and the Baker

Genesis 40:1-23

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Introduction: Joseph is 28 years of age at the time of this chapter. [He has 2 more years of prison (41:1) and is 30 years when he is exalted (41:46).] It has been 11 years since his brothers sold him into slavery. God has always been with him (39:3, 21) but deliverance always seemed out of his grasp. This chapter gives the breakthrough he had been looking for. But, as we will see, it is also part of a long drawn out plan.

I. THROWN INTO PRISON (40:1-4)

A. The Offense of the King’s Servants (v.1)

B. The Wrath of the Pharaoh (v.2)

C. The Imprisonment of the Servants (v.3)

D. Their Keeping Given to Joseph (v.4)

II. DREAMS AND THEIR INTERPRETATION (40:5-8)

A. Two Dreams in One Night (v.5)

B. Sadness on Two Faces (v.6-7)

C. The Source of All Interpretation (v.8)

III. THE DREAM OF THE BUTLER (40:9-15)

A. The Dream of the Butler (v.9-11)

B. The Interpretation of his Dream (v.12-13)

C. The Request of Joseph (v.14-15)

IV. THE DREAM OF THE BAKER (40:16-19)

A. The Dream of the Baker (v.16-17)

B. The Interpretation of his Dream (v.18-19)

V. THE FULFILLMENT OF THE DREAMS (40:20-23)

A. The Birthday of Pharaoh (v.20)

B. The Fulfillment of Prophecy (v.21-22)

C. The Forgetting of Joseph (v.23)

Conclusion: We close with another comparison of Joseph with Jesus Christ.

1. He was numbered with the transgressors (40:1-4). As was Jesus (Isaiah 53:12).

2. He was placed with two particular transgressors. Jesus was placed between the two thieves (Matthew 27:38).

3. Joseph was a means of blessing to one of them and a pronouncer of judgment to the other. Compare Jesus on the cross with the two malefactors (Luke 23:39-43).

4. The one who was spared pressed grapes into the cup (40:11). This is typical of the shed blood of Christ (Matthew 26:27-28).

5. The one who was judged carried a basket of bakemeats (40:16-17). This is typical of his own works. Compare this with the offering of Cain (Genesis 4:3).

6. This all came to pass on the third day (40:12,18,20). This pictures the completion of all things when Jesus rose from the dead (Matthew 12:38-40).

7. The butler forgot to speak in Joseph’s favor when he was restored (40:23). How often do we forget our Redeemer as well!

BACKGROUND STUDY: THE OCCUPATION OF BUTLER

A. The Title

1. The word butler is used in the Bible only in reference to this story (Genesis 40:1,2,5,9,12,13,20,21,23; 41:9).

2. The English butler was originally the servant in charge of the wines. Later, he became the head servant of the household.

3. Pharaoh’s butler was also in charge of the wine (40:11) and was one of his chief officers (40:2).

4. A biblical title that is synonymous to butler is cupbearer. They are two titles for the same office (like pastor and bishop). Butler comes from the French word bouteillier. It is related to the word bottle and means bottle bearer or cupbearer.

B. Biblical Cupbearers

1. Cupbearers are mentioned by name three times in the Bible (1Kings 10:5; 2Chronicles 9:4; Nehemiah1:11).

2. Solomon impresses the Queen of Sheba with his retinue of cupbearers (1Kings 10:4-5; 2Chronicles 9:3-4).

3. Nehemiah served as cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 1:11; 2:1).

C. The Purpose of Butlers or Cupbearers

1. Most ancient rulers were in constant danger of assassination by a rival to the throne.

2. One of the most common forms of assassination in ancient times was by poisoning.

3. The primary duty of the butler or cupbearer was to ensure the safety of the wine, etc., and to serve them to the king (Genesis 40:11; Nehemiah 2:1).

D. The Place of the Butler or Cupbearer

1. The cupbearer was often a foreigner who would be unlikely to want the throne for himself.

2. Because of his closeness to the king and his much time spent with him, the cupbearer often became intimately acquainted with the king.

3. As a trusted companion and adviser, the cupbearer held an office of high repute and often had influence and wealth to go along with his position.

a. Nehemiah’s power can be seen in the influence he had with Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 2:1-8) and in the wealth he had at his disposal (Nehemiah 5:14-17).

b. The Greek historian, Herodotus, called the office of cupbearer “an honour of no small account in Persia” (Histories, 3:34).

c. The Apocryphal book of Tobit (1:22) speaks of one in the Persian court who was “cupbearer, and keeper of the signet, and steward, and overseer of the accounts.”

4. There were often several cupbearers (1Kings 10:5). Pharaoh’s butler was “chief of the butlers” (Genesis 40:2).

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