Genesis 40.
Introduction.
I wonder if you were aware how often the phrase “third day” comes in this passage? This is a key thought which leads us directly to the gospel. I remember when I was young my first ever novel was by Alexandre Dumas entitled ‘The Count of Monte Cristo.” It speaks of a man by the name of, Edmond Dantès, who is falsely accused of treason. Imprisoned he does not waste the opportunity to get ready, to learn patience, and to plot an escape, and he declared: “God has sustained me” in the afflictions of his imprisonment.
In this sermon we shall confide our thoughts to the two men imprisoned by Pharaoh, the chief butler and the chief baker. We are presented with two men, two dreams, and two destinies. The setting is in a place of darkness where there is no hope. And into this dire setting the Lord sends His servant Joseph, for it was Joseph alone who could interpret the dreams and show them the way out. We shall consider these two men and their experiences under three headings:
[1] Rebellion.
[2] Revelation.
[3] Reward.
[1] Rebellion.
These men were not simply household servants, (butler and baker), as may be imagined in some grand household of old, for they are both termed “chief” in their respective positions. In modern terms we might liken them to a high cabinet position in the government (home secretary, or foreign secretary perhaps). In verse 1 we learn that both had “offended” Pharaoh, although we are not told how. This word “offended” is more often translated as “sinned.” They had both sinned against Pharaoh. Both the chief butler and the chief baker were responsible for ensuring that Pharaoh had all he needed and was not given anything bad or offensive. These two were Pharaoh’s closest advisers. It might have been tempting, for example, for the chief butler to squeeze more grapes into the wine diluting it down. This suggestion is not in our text. We have no idea what it was that offended the Egyptian king. Perhaps it was a coup attempt? But the fact that it is not detailed means that we can apply this to all offence or sin against God, for just as these two sinned against Pharaoh, we too have become an offence against God.
Both the chief butler and the chief baker deserved to be in the prison. Joseph did not deserve to be there. And by nature we are all revolutionaries and rebels. Does not mankind shake his fist against God? Are not many so indifferent to Him that they could not care? Are not all rebels before the Lord? What of Frank Sinatra’s most famous song “I did it my way”? Isn’t this our way too? We like to think that as people we can chart our own course, but such thinking is all wrong. We either live life God’s way or we live it in some fashion according to mere men. There is no third or neutral way. David declared that we were born in sin (Psalm 51:5). We know that we are guilty before God. We are in the same boat that these two men found themselves in. In the same way the two thieves on either side of our Lord as He hung on the cross were thoroughly guilty deserving of death. From Luke’s account we hear one of these thieves blaspheming the Lord as He was there on the cross. The other thief answered in rebuke and pointed out that they were both guilty whereas concerning the Lord Jesus he stated “but this Man has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:39-41). After this he then asks the Lord to remember him when He would come into His kingdom, to which the Lord replied “assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:42,43).
Sin always leads to misery. Nothing good comes from sin. In fact the very wages of sin is death. Far too often we think that the world revolves around us and we feel aggrieved when things do not go our way. Now imagine the International Space Ship. What would happen to it if a needle pierced the outer casing through to the interior? Surely if it is not attended to quickly the end result will be the utter destruction of the whole ship? Heaven is a glorious and wholly pure place. It is impossible for even the tinniest of sins to be found there. Nothing can pierce into heaven to bring destruction. The thought is laughable because God inhabits heaven. The problem of sin is a grave one (excuse the pun). If we are to enter heaven (the place where God dwells in eternity) then we cannot bring our sin with us. It must be removed. Both the thieves were guilty. Both of Pharaoh’s close advisers were guilty. One thief was brought into glory with the Saviour and one was left to pay for his own sins. In the same way one of Pharaoh’s two advisers was restored to his former position and one was hanged.
[2] Revelation.
The dreams of both men were simple and straight forward enough. The great problem was that neither man understood what they meant. It is very clear from the text that these dreams were supernatural somehow. Both men appeared very sad as a result of these dreams, a fact which Joseph noted. But then into this sad and desperate situation comes Joseph, God’s man. Now Joseph acknowledges that revelation must come from God (“do not interpretations belong to God?” Genesis 40:8). We are not told how Joseph received this revelation. Earlier encounters with this man Joseph show that he was a man of God who could receive revelation. Now Joseph does not hold back on the truth here. To one man (the chief butler) the news is good news, but to the other (the chief baker) the news is bad news. As ministers of the gospel, and as born again believers who must pass on the truth, we cannot simply tell people the good news. The bad news that sin must be paid for must be delivered as well as the good news that Christ has made the way of redemption and forgiveness.
Now in both dreams we have this recurring phrase “within/are three days” (Genesis 40;12,13,18,19). Both are told that “within three days” they will each be lifted up (Genesis 40:13,19). The word “three” comes five more times in the passage so that this repeated theme is surely significant (Genesis 40:10,12(x2),13,16,18(x2),19). Thus day three is the key date. We are alerted to the fact that our Saviour rose from the dead on the third day (1Corinthians 15:4)! On the third day one would be lifted up to be restored and the other would be lifted up to his death. Now in all of this we can see the Lord’s kindness. There were three days for the chief baker to prepare himself for what was to come. Time is short. In many ways life on earth is a bit like life on the Titanic – the ship that was doomed on its maiden voyage. We think we have plenty of time but we do not! We have but a short time to prepare ourselves to meet with the Lord. How much better if we do it now? The Old Testament is not without witness to this idea of three days or of life being restored on the third day. Consider Jonah who was in the belly of a great fish and was vomited up on the third day (Matthew 12:40). Or what about the prophecy found in Hosea 6:2: “after two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight”? These all point to the greatest lifting up of all time! On the third day Christ arose from the grave! This is good news! This has changed the world. The good news is not: ‘copy Jesus and be like Him,’ as many may say, but hear the word of life and be born again for Christ is risen! It is not ‘try your best’ but realise your sinful state and know that Christ has done what you could not and has given you life! Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will have everlasting life. We have been restored by all that Christ has done. We are being restored as we seek Him and walk in His life. We will be restored when Christ comes again to judge the living and the dead. We do not yet have our resurrection bodies but we are new creatures and the old has passed away. The story of these two close advisers to Pharaoh pictures mankind teetering on the brink of eternity. There are but three days! It was Joseph (a type of Christ) who observed the sadness of these two men and brought hope.
[3] Reward.
God is kind. It was Pharaoh’s birthday and so there was a celebration or feast. For these two close advisers there is triumph and there is tragedy. For you and I death will result in this same outcome: triumph or tragedy. Now Pharaoh granted pardon to one of his subjects (the chief butler), but how? We are not told, but he was restored to his former position. The chief baker, however was hanged as an example to all. Both of the thieves who died besides the Lord Jesus had an opportunity to turn from their wicked ways towards the Saviour in their midst, but only one entered Paradise. Now in verse 13 we find that the chief butler did not remember Joseph when he had been restored. But the greater Joseph (our Lord Jesus) remembers us! What makes you consider the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you for or against Him? What do you think of the Lord Jesus Christ? Make no mistake He is the revealer of truth and he is the Saviour of the world (exclusively). Do not rely on ‘cultural Christianity’ which is all the vogue today. Christ was lifted up as the spotless Lamb of God even though considered a rebel and a criminal. He died to save us from sin and He rose to bring in new life. What think ye of Him? Our reaction to Him is determinative for our destiny.
It is very interesting that in the narrative of the four gospels no one dies in the presence of the Lord Jesus. Mary and Martha said that if the Lord had been with them and their brother Lazarus, he would not have died. But the Lord Jesus responded to these sorrowing sisters by saying that He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). Christ is life! Take hold of Him. Listen to the third verse of Hark the Herald:
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.
Part of this comes from Malachi:
But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings … (Malachi 4:2).
May you know the healing of your soul unto life!
Penuel Baptist Chapel, Roch 