1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,840 Speaker 1: Let us pray. The captain of the guard charged Joseph 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:08,719 Speaker 1: with them, and he served them, and they continued a 3 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: season in ward. God, as I reflect on Genesis forty, 4 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: I ask that you give me the ability to give 5 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: divine solutions and walk in divine understanding. I will not 6 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: allow circumstances in my life to determine whether or not 7 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 1: I use my gifts to help the lives of others. 8 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: Even when I feel overlooked and imprisoned, like Joseph, I 9 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:38,840 Speaker 1: will hold fast to my calling and I will continue 10 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: to be faithful in the midst of my prison. I 11 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: declare that I will not lose hope, for I know 12 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 1: that once you make a promise, God, nothing on earth 13 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 1: can stop it. To day, I choose to be a 14 00:00:54,960 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 1: resource to fuel the dreams of others. My power her 15 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: flows in abundance. When my back is against the ropes, 16 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 1: I decree and declare that in all seasons, you can 17 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 1: use me, God, And because I'm willing to be used, 18 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: I know my deliverance is just around the corner. In Jesus' name, Amen, 19 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:26,320 Speaker 1: thanks for making prayer a priority in your life. To 20 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: hear the Bible come to life, stay tuned for The 21 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: Bible in a Year brought to you by Bible in 22 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: a Year dot. 23 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 2: Com Faithful in the Prison. Before this story, we learned 24 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 2: of Joseph's success as a slave. Everything Joseph put his 25 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 2: hand to succeeded and thrived, so much so that he 26 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 2: became the overseer of Potiphar's household. Yet Potiphar's wife's lust 27 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 2: towards Joseph would not cease, and eventually she lured him 28 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 2: into sleep with her. Joseph ran from her, but she 29 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 2: still claimed Joseph attacked her. Joseph was thrown into prison, 30 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 2: but God blessed him and he became the overseer of 31 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 2: all prisoners. Now we learn about Joseph's interpretation of dreams 32 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:20,240 Speaker 2: and how he ascended from prison to the Palace of Pharaoh, 33 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 2: inspired by the Book of Genesis. 34 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible 35 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 3: in a Year podcast. When we last saw Joseph, he 36 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 3: was standing firm in his convictions and resisting the advances 37 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 3: of Potiphar's wife. It was the god honoring thing to do, 38 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 3: the only thing to do, but there was a price 39 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 3: to pay. He found himself once again in change, this 40 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 3: time in the palace prison. He again became a trusted 41 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:51,959 Speaker 3: man and was placed in charge of the other captives. 42 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 3: He had a most excellent spirit about him. God remained 43 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 3: faithful to Joseph, of course, and likewise Joseph was faithful 44 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 3: to God. And today's reading we'll hear as Joseph has 45 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 3: an opportunity to interpret dreams again, only this time it's 46 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 3: not his own dreams, but those of two other inmates. 47 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 3: The dreams tell us the fate of the men who 48 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:17,080 Speaker 3: are in prison with Joseph. Rather than using his gift 49 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 3: of decoding dreams to exalt himself as he did when 50 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 3: he was a young boy, Joseph will use the gift 51 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 3: that God had given him to help and serve others. 52 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 3: But listen very carefully to the primary message of this 53 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 3: passage that Joseph credits God for what he does. Joseph 54 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 3: has integrity, and that integrity actually got him put in prison, 55 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 3: but it will be ultimately his way out. So here's 56 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 3: today's reading and the story of Joseph. 57 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 2: Joseph had become a great blessing to the prison out 58 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 2: of darkness and despair. God blessed Joseph and everything he did. 59 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 2: He worked with care and diligence, becoming loved and respected 60 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 2: by the prisoners and guards. During this time, Pharaoh's cup 61 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 2: bearer and baker had committed an offense against him, so 62 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 2: he sent them to prison to rot until death. The 63 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 2: captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them 64 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 2: and attend to them. One night, tossing and turning could 65 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 2: be heard in the darkness of the prison cells. Groans 66 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 2: and a few screams echoed in the middle of the night. 67 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 2: For the cup bearer and Baker were bothered all night 68 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 2: with confusing dreams. That morning, they were discussing what their 69 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 2: dreams might mean, and Joseph came to them when he 70 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:36,160 Speaker 2: saw they were troubled. Why are you two so downcast 71 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,159 Speaker 2: this morning, Joseph asked, with compassion in his voice. We 72 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:42,720 Speaker 2: have had dreams and have no one to say what 73 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 2: they might mean. They said, tired from the night before. 74 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:50,360 Speaker 2: Joseph grinned, remembering the dreams he once had as a boy. 75 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 2: He looked at the two of them with a shepherd's heart. 76 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 2: Do not dreams belong to God? Joseph said, tell them 77 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 2: to me. The cup bearer told his dream first. He 78 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 2: spoke with a mixture of joy, confusion, and anxiety. In 79 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 2: my dream, there was a beautiful vine before me with 80 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 2: three branches. As soon as the branches budded, blossoms shot 81 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:16,919 Speaker 2: forth and ripened into grapes. The cup bearer looked at 82 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,359 Speaker 2: Joseph intently as he continued. I took the grapes and 83 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 2: pressed them into Pharaoh's cup and handed it to him. 84 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:29,159 Speaker 2: Then I awoke. Joseph grinned eyes, never leaving the cup bearers. 85 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 2: He said to him, the three branches represent three days. 86 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:37,040 Speaker 2: In three days, Pharaoh will restore you to his side, 87 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 2: and you will be his cup bearer once again. The 88 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 2: cup bearer gleamed with joy. Joseph grabbed his shoulder and 89 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 2: spoke intently. Please remember me when you are back with Pharaoh. 90 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 2: Tell him about me, my gifts, and my story. The 91 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:56,599 Speaker 2: cup bearer nodded and agreed. The baker was pleased to 92 00:05:56,640 --> 00:06:00,920 Speaker 2: hear such a positive interpretation. Excited, he caught Joseph's attention 93 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 2: to tell him his dream. In my dream, there were 94 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 2: three cake baskets balancing on my head. On the top 95 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:11,720 Speaker 2: basket was food for Pharaoh, but the birds flocked around 96 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:14,039 Speaker 2: me and ate the food in the basket. What does 97 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:18,839 Speaker 2: this mean. Joseph's eyes did not meet the baker's. You 98 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 2: do not need to know, Joseph said. The baker, now worried, 99 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 2: was intent on hearing. Joseph sighed and spoke sombrely, saying, 100 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 2: the three baskets also represent three days. In three days, 101 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 2: Pharaoh will take you as well, but he will have 102 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 2: you hung on a tree, and the birds will eat 103 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 2: your flesh. Angry and scared, the baker left. Three days 104 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 2: had passed, and it was Pharaoh's birthday. A great festival 105 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 2: had taken place throughout the land, and a great feast 106 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 2: was prepared for all his servants. In need of his services, 107 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 2: Pharaoh sent for his cupbearer and restored him to his position. 108 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 2: The baker was not as fortunate. He was hung that day, 109 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 2: just as Joseph had predicted. Caught up in the festivities, 110 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 2: the cup bearer forgot the kindness Joseph had shown him. Forgotten. 111 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 2: Joseph remained in prison, wondering if his father and brothers 112 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 2: had forgotten about him too. Joseph's heart grew heavy, but 113 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 2: his hope in God did not wane. He pressed on, 114 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 2: praying to see the sun once again. 115 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 3: What an incredible story Joseph is imprisoned, and it was 116 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 3: because he did the right thing, not the wrong thing. 117 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 3: But he was falsely accused by his master's wife. But 118 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 3: rather than sink into bitterness and sulk in misery or 119 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 3: resign himself to a lost cause, helpless, hopeless confinement, Joseph 120 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 3: continued to work hard and he demonstrated his integrity every 121 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 3: single day. This has earned him a high position as 122 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 3: head over all the other prisoners, and in the providence 123 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 3: of God, he is a prisoner in Pharaoh's palace. Things 124 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 3: could have been worse, but God used this situation in 125 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 3: his life. This detail will prove very important soon enough, 126 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 3: as one day two new prisoners are placed in the 127 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 3: cell with Joseph, two servants of Pharaoh himself, a cupbearer 128 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 3: and a baker. One night in their cell, each man 129 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 3: has a dream, and the following morning, Joseph notices their 130 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 3: sad faces, and so he comes to their assistance. He's 131 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 3: seeking to comfort them and extend kindness. In those days, 132 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:40,559 Speaker 3: dreams had incredible importance, so Joseph offers to interpret their dreams. 133 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 3: After all, Joseph had been understanding dreams since he was 134 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:48,200 Speaker 3: a young man. Only now he's matured, and he's walking 135 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 3: in step with God, seeking to honor him in all things. 136 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 3: He's not the arrogant teen who used his gift to 137 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 3: make his brothers jealous. His response to these men is 138 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 3: very important. Listen to what he says inji Is forty 139 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 3: and verse eight. Then they said to him, we have 140 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 3: had a dream and there is no one to interpret it. 141 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 3: Then Joseph said to them, do not interpretations belong to God. 142 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:16,080 Speaker 3: Tell it to me, please, Now you see it, it's 143 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 3: hard to miss. He doesn't say, here's what I can 144 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 3: do for you. I'm Joseph, a gifted interpreter of dreams, 145 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 3: a dreamer and a dream interpreter. No, he acknowledges that 146 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 3: God is the one who helps him enables him to 147 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 3: understand the dreams. It's not his own power, but the 148 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 3: power of God. God gives us great gifts. In fact, 149 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:42,959 Speaker 3: the Bible says every good and perfect gift comes from God. 150 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 3: But we must always be willing to give God the 151 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 3: credit and the glory for the gifts that He has 152 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 3: given to us. Joseph hears the dreams and then gives 153 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:56,560 Speaker 3: the answer for the cup bearer. The news is well, 154 00:09:56,559 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 3: it's joyous, it's happy news. He will soon be released. 155 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 3: Joseph asked that the cup bearer speak up for him 156 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:06,839 Speaker 3: and help him attain his freedom when he's out, and 157 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:11,200 Speaker 3: the grateful happy man agrees. The baker also wants to 158 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 3: know the meaning of his dream, but for him the 159 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:17,560 Speaker 3: news isn't good. He will soon leave the prison too, 160 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 3: but not to be free. He will be hanged, and 161 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 3: just as Joseph told each man, in three days, they 162 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 3: met their foretold fates. Sadly, the cup bearer for God 163 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 3: all about his promise to Joseph to help him get 164 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 3: out of prison. So it was not a happy ending 165 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 3: for Joseph. But his trust was not in man. It 166 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 3: was always in Almighty God. Now there's a great lesson here. 167 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:46,559 Speaker 3: When we trust in men, they can fail us, disappoint us, 168 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:49,840 Speaker 3: even betray us. True freedom is not found in what 169 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 3: others can do for us, but in trusting God fully, 170 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 3: just like Joseph did. When we trust in God, not men, 171 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 3: even when others fail us or disappoint us, we can persevere. 172 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 3: We know that not all hope is lost because God 173 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 3: has it, and God has each one of us. The 174 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 3: same God who is faithful to Joseph is faithful to 175 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 3: us as well. Joseph would not yet taste freedom, but 176 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 3: the cup Bearer was right where God put him back 177 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 3: in Pharaoh's household, next to the most powerful man in 178 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 3: the known world. Soon enough, Pharaoh will have a troubling dream. 179 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:28,440 Speaker 3: Will the cup bearer then remember the hebrew Man who 180 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 3: helped him understand the vision. This is what we're going 181 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 3: to find out the next time. Dear Lord, thank you 182 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:39,560 Speaker 3: for teaching us your word today. Your word allows us 183 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 3: to understand who you are and how we can know 184 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 3: you and the gifts that you so graciously give to 185 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 3: each one of us. Thank you for the reminder that 186 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 3: even when people forget us and fail us, you continue 187 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 3: to be faithful, just as you were to Joseph. Help 188 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:59,679 Speaker 3: us always to trust in You and to wait on 189 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:04,439 Speaker 3: your perfect plan. Amen, thank you for listening to today's 190 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:08,720 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. 191 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:12,319 Speaker 3: Download Theprey dot Com app and make prayer a priority 192 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:15,320 Speaker 3: in your life. And if you enjoyed this podcast, share 193 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 3: it with someone you know. By sharing this podcast, you 194 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 3: can make a difference in their lives. And if you 195 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:25,439 Speaker 3: want more resources as to how to discover God's perfect 196 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 3: plan and power for your life. Be sure to visit 197 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 3: Jack Graham dot org. 198 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 1: This episode is sponsored by Meta Share, an innovative healthcare 199 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 1: solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality. 200 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 4: Welcome to the previous podcast, where Hope is our only bias. 201 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 4: Each day, we'll unpack the most prominent stories happening in 202 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:55,880 Speaker 4: the news and offer a Christian perspective. We won't shy 203 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 4: away from the hard topics, and we won't dilute the 204 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 4: hopeful message of Christ. This is more than a daily 205 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 4: brief on the news. It's a way to be informed 206 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:09,320 Speaker 4: and transformed. 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