July
1st, 2018 “Dreams 1” Rev. Heather Jepsen
Summer
Sermon Series: Dreaming with Joseph
Genesis
40
This morning we continue our summer
sermon series “Dreaming with Joseph”.
When we began our story, Joseph was the favored one in a family of 12
sons. Fueled by their jealousy, his
brothers plotted his death. Instead, Joseph
was sold into slavery. Last week we
found Joseph wrapped up in a scandal with his master Potiphar’s wife. Though the Lord’s blessing was with Joseph,
that would not save him from going to prison on false charges. While in prison, Joseph was shown favor by
the jailor and put in charge of the care of the other prisoners. That is where we find him today.
(Read Genesis 40:1-8)
While Joseph is in prison, two
important prisoners come under his care; the Pharaoh’s own cupbearer and
baker. The reason for the imprisonment
is not mentioned, but one possible explanation is poisoning. If there had been an attempt to poison the
king, both the baker, who prepares food for the king, as well as the cupbearer,
who pours the wine and brings the cup to the king, would be under
suspicion. We might assume that both
have been put into prison, while officials sort out who the guilty party might
be.
While in prison, Joseph has charge of
the care of these important prisoners with ties to the Pharaoh. One night both of the men have troubling
dreams. The following morning Joseph
notices that they are upset. His
awareness of their agitated state and his compassion in offering to help them
are signs again of Joseph’s upstanding moral character and they help make clear
why the prison guard might give Joseph charge over the other prisoners. Joseph is simply good with people.
Upon hearing that the men are troubled
with dreams, Joseph offers to aid in the interpretation of these dreams.
(Read Genesis 40:9-15)
The cupbearer goes first relating the
details of his dream to Joseph and upon hearing the dream Joseph offers an interpretation. It is good to remind ourselves that in this
time, dreams were seen as relating to the future, not to the past or the
present. They were also seen as messages
from outside oneself, rather than something our own mind creates.
Joseph takes time to interpret various
details of the dream: three branches on the vine for three days’ time. The vine ripens quickly so Joseph interprets
this to mean that the events will happen soon.
Joseph says that Pharaoh will lift the cupbearers head, meaning he will
recognize the cupbearer again and the fellow will be restored to his place of
service within the king’s court.
After he interprets the dream, Joseph
asks the cupbearer to remember him before the King. The Hebrew word here is hesed which implies showing kindness. Joseph asks the cupbearer to show him a
kindness and to remember his cause before Pharaoh. Although much has happened to Joseph this is
the first time we hear him complain. “I
was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews; and here also I have done nothing
that they should have put me into the dungeon.”
Although he is a good worker, Joseph has had enough of prison and his
rotten string of luck.
(Read Genesis 40:16-19)
The baker too shares his dream for
interpretation, but the explanation Joseph offers is much less favorable. Three baskets for three days’ time and too
the baker’s head will be lifted up, and right off of his body! Joseph predicts that the baker will be
convicted of his crime, (that possible poisoning) and he will be hung by Pharaoh. The birds of the air will eat his carcass, as
represented by the birds picking at the bread in his dream. Joseph obviously doesn’t ask this fellow to
remember him since this guy won’t be around much longer!
(Read Genesis 40:20-23)
After three days, Pharaoh throws
himself a birthday party, and as Joseph predicted he lifts up the head of both
the cupbearer and the baker. The
cupbearer is recognized and restored to service within Pharaoh’s court. The baker is punished, and sentenced to hang,
just as Joseph predicted he would be.
Unfortunately, the kindness and
compassion Joseph shows to the prisoners is not remembered. As the chief cupbearer returns to work, but
does not remember Joseph. Thus, once
again, we leave Joseph in prison; accused of a crime he didn’t commit, with
seemingly no opportunity to ever achieve his freedom.
There are a few points to notice in our
reading today. Close studiers of the
text will notice that once again God has moved into the background of the
story. Last week in chapter 39, God
played a big role in the story; the Lord was with Joseph, the Lord blessed Joseph,
and others saw the work of God in Joseph’s life. Now, once again, Joseph seems alone. In verse 9 he mentions to the cupbearer and
the baker that interpretations belong to God, but other than that the Lord is
not mentioned.
So how about those dream
interpretations? Did God give Joseph a
divine insight into these men’s dreams, or is Joseph using some talents of his
own? I am going to guess that it is a
bit of both. God has given Joseph a gift
of insight into people’s lives, but Joseph himself also has a shrewd sense of
character. In interpreting the dreams, Joseph
is harnessing his own natural skills for interpretation along with God’s gift
of insight.
We too are most able to succeed when we
combine our own natural skills with the gifts that God has given us. One example of this is the sermons I preach
each week. I use my natural insight into
the congregation, my study of the scripture texts, and my observations of the
world and I combine that with insight from God that I achieve through prayer
and spiritual discipline. I write the
words of the sermon, but the Holy Spirit helps it to become a message from God
to you. It is a product that the Lord
and I achieve together, as I bring the best of what I have to this moment each
Sunday, and God meets us here and makes it a sermon.
You too, can combine your work with the
work of God to achieve great things. Perhaps you have a knack for organizing
people and events. You can use that
skill, with inspiration from God, to help the church further its mission and
ministry. Or perhaps you have a strong
sense of compassion and empathy. You can
notice when someone is hurting and then use the presence of the Holy Spirit
within you to offer a friend comfort and care.
Joseph uses his own shrewdness, his own
compassion, and his own confidence to work with the gifts God has given him as
he interprets the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker. We too, can achieve great things, when we
combine our natural skills with our God given gifts. It is a team effort between us and God that leads
to the greatest impact on our world.
And of course, it was that human effort
that was missing so often in Joseph’s story.
Although God is with him, and although Joseph feels the blessing of the
Lord in his life, the people around him continually let him down. His brothers abandoned him to an unknown fate
in Egypt. His master’s wife conspired
against him and his master sent him to prison without even questioning the
charges. And now, as he asks the
cupbearer to remember his case before Pharaoh, he is again disappointed as the
cupbearer forgets all about Joseph. Although
God is with him, Joseph cannot get by unless he has human help.
This too should remind us of our
obligation to use our skills and gifts for the up-building of others. God can do nothing without the hands and feet
of God’s people. God needs us to act in
the world and to remember the needs of our brothers and sisters. When we experience grace like the cupbearer
has, we need to remember those around us who are also in need. If we are in positions of power, we need to
remember those below us who are longing to be lifted up. Joseph will not be saved until someone steps
in to offer him help. The same is true
in our world, and often we are called to be the people who offer help and care
to others. God cannot work unless we
allow God to work through us.
And so today we leave Joseph much in
the same position he was in last week.
He continues to serve in the prison, offering care for other prisoners
within his midst. And he continues to
hone his natural people skills with his God given gift of dream interpretation. Come back next week to find out if anyone
ever decides to help him as we continue “Dreaming with Joseph.” Amen.
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