Genesis 40:9-23 The divine word is revealed to those who think they know nothing

Genesis 40:9-23  The divine word is revealed to those who think they know nothing

So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “In my dream, 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 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 lift up your head and restore you to your office; and you will put Pharaoh’s cup into his hand according to your former custom when you were his cupbearer. 14 Only keep me in mind when it goes well with you, and please do me a kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house. 15 For I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon.”

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 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 from you and will hang you on a tree, and the birds will eat your flesh off you.”

20 Thus it came about on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made 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.

Background

Joseph spoke the divine words that vindicated the cupbearer and perhaps stirred the chief baker towards repentance. Indeed, the divine word liberates, but human ideologies stifle. As we shall see in the later chapters, Joseph spoke the divine word bringing life not only to the Egyptians but also to Israel. God reveals the secrets of abundant life to Joseph because he is humble. Today’s devotion teaches us that the divine word is revealed to those who think they know nothing.

Observation

In my dream, behold, there was a vine in front of me; and on the vine were three branches.

The dream was told to Joseph in full vivid details. The vine budded, blossomed and produced ripe grapes. The cupbearer, having the Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, squeezed the grapes into it and gave it to the Pharaoh. The cupbearer will be acquitted and given his job back. It is important to note that Joseph did not employ human reasoning to arrive at the interpretation even though the dream may appear favourable even to the unskilled. He spoke the divine word vindicating the cupbearer from all accusations. For Joseph perceived the interpretation purely by divine revelation, and therefore dogmatic.

Joseph, having realised that the interpretation was favourable asked the cupbearer to speak to the king on his behalf. Joseph maintained his innocence and attributed his predicament entirely to being forcibly removed from his homeland (land of the Hebrews). Even then, he did not do anything in Egypt that warranted imprisonment.

I also saw in my dream, and behold, there were three baskets of white bread on my head.

The willingness of the cupbearer to share his dream hints at his innocence. As for the baker, his reluctance to share his suggests his guilt. For the baker shared his dream only upon hearing a optimistic interpretation concerning the cupbearer.

Joseph’s interpretation of the baker’s dream was swift as it was gruesome. The baker will be executed and his body exposed to the elements and as food for the birds. Here, the divine word portended judgment in order to move the baker towards repentance.

Thus it came about on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants.

On the third day as Joseph has interpreted, all that was said came to pass. Although the cupbearer had forgotten about his promise to Joseph, the impression of Joseph as a man of divine wisdom etched deeply in his mind.

Truth

The divine word liberates, but human ideologies stifle

The divine word is liberating, imbuing eternal life to all who seek it. Human ideologies give an appearance of life but has no power to give it. The cupbearer and chief baker came so that they may be ministered by the divine word. The divine word vindicates the cupbearer as innocent while stirring the baker towards repentance. As we will see in the later chapters, the divine word brings life not only to the Egyptians but to Israel as well. Jesus refers to the divine word as the Spirit and human ideologies as the flesh. Jesus said,

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. John 6:63

The flesh endeavours to prosper life through human ideologies and earthly resources. But abundant life comes from Jesus’s words perceived through the Spirit. Many embraces human ideologies but despises the divine word. As a result, many are disappointed wondering why they cannot experience life as promised in the bible. Here are some observations:

• Many are not in good health despite having access to the latest medical technologies.
• Many are not free from the cares of life and oppressions of sin despite having the resources to travel the world.
• Many do not experience the warmth of a home despite living in opulent houses.
• Many have no job satisfaction despite having stable and well paying jobs.
• Many were dead inside although they expect to live a long life.
• Many live like poor men despite being wealthy.
• Many have little faith and experience little joy despite professing to be Christians for many years.
• Many have no authority to break strongholds or power to change lives even though they are trained in established bible schools.
• Many are busy looking at earthly things even though they come from well-established mainstream churches.

Therefore, we must discover within ourselves while discerning between human ideologies and divine truths. Some of the human ideologies that are prevalent in Christendom today are:

• Human ideology: God rewards us according to our achievements.
• Divine truth: God rewards us according to our attitudes, the motives and intents of the heart.
• Human ideology: The more educated we are, the better equipped we become in understanding spiritual things.
• Divine truth: The more humble and pure we are, the easier it is to perceive God and divine wisdom.
• Human ideology: The more blessed we are, the less problems we will encounter in life.
• Divine truth: God disciplines those He loves with tribulations so that they may be purified to become blessed sons of God.
• Human ideology: God has set a limit to the authority given to us because we are mere men.
• Divine truth: God gives us authority progressively to the extent of Christ’s authority so that we may rule with Him.
• Human ideology: Access to things in the spirit realm are closed to us until we go to heaven.
• Divine truth: God is constantly preparing us for a heavenly life. He will progressively reveal the things of heaven so that we may keep seeking the things above. However, he does so in a way that we are not distracted from our tasks and calling on earth.

By cleansing our minds from human ideologies and by embracing divine truths, we begin to experience the abundant life as promised in the bible.

The divine word is revealed to those who think they know nothing

The divine word is revealed to those who think they know nothing. Jesus said, “the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” The divine word that comes from heaven are from a spiritual dimension, thus making it impossible to decipher through an earthly mindset. Therefore, spiritual truths cannot be understood unless by divine revelation when man’s mind is enlightened by the Spirit. Unless we recognise our depravity in the light of God’s infinite wisdom, our depraved minds remain closed.

While a humble person professes his utter depravity in spiritual matters and begs to be taught… A prideful person, thinks he is clever enough to decipher the spiritual truths within the written word. While a humble person professes that there is no wisdom within him that did not come from God, and it is by grace that he begins to understand… A prideful person thinks he can decode the written word and surface the truth by his own ingenuity. But Jesus explicitly says, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.” It follows that divine truths cannot be decoded and understood by human effort alone. For God unilaterally reveals them to whom ever He chooses.

Joseph acquires the divine word through a posture of humility and dependence. Joseph’s formula, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” Genesis 40:8b and “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” Genesis 41:16 reveals the key to receiving divine wisdom: unless God reveals, I know nothing! That said, Joseph must perform his due diligence to study the dream before seeking divine interpretation. The dream is the written word through which Joseph receive divine interpretation. It follows that believers must invest time and effort to study the written word in its proper historical and biblical context before seeking divine wisdom for abundant living. One cannot acquire divine wisdom without first knowing the written word. Much like Joseph requiring the dream to be told to him before he can perceive its interpretation.

Application

Are you accustomed to mixing divine truths with human ideologies? So much so that confusion and contradictions set in whenever you read the bible. Clear your mind of all human ideologies propagated by various schools of thought. Seek to study the bible for yourself and allow the Spirit to reveal to you divine wisdom that brings eternal life.

Do you see the bible as trite and dry? Have you experienced the promises that you have been teaching? Are you living out the passion, and the power of the early church? If not, you have gained human ideologies but missed out on the divine word of Christ. The bible does not serve to correct or perfect us in theologies and ideologies, but to help us encounter Christ in the Spirit. Indeed, eternal life is found in encountering Christ face-to-face, not in theology! Therefore, seek to encounter Christ! And this is the purpose for which the word is written.

Dear Lord, I repent of my complacency and pride. I confess that even though I know much about the word, and the church’s ideologies I know nothing of your divine truth. As I humble myself, cleanse me from all falsities and ideologies that does not give life. As I come into your presence by your blood, reveal yourself to me so that I may live life and experience the promises. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.