1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,680 Speaker 1: The captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:10,320 Speaker 1: he served them, and they continued a season in ward. God, 3 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: as I reflect on Genesis forty, I ask that you 4 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 1: give me the ability to give divine solutions and walk 5 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: in divine understanding. I will not allow circumstances in my 6 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: life to determine whether or not I use my gifts 7 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: to help the lives of others. Even when I feel 8 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:33,879 Speaker 1: overlooked and imprisoned like Joseph, I will hold fast to 9 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,879 Speaker 1: my calling and I will continue to be faithful in 10 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:41,880 Speaker 1: the midst of my prison. I declare that I will 11 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: not lose hope, for I know that once you make 12 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: a promise, God, nothing on earth can stop it. To day, 13 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 1: I choose to be a resource to fuel the dreams 14 00:00:54,800 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 1: of others. My power flows in abundance when my back 15 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: is against the ropes. By decree and declare that in 16 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: all seasons you can use me, God, And because I'm 17 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 1: willing to be used, I know my deliverance is just 18 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:21,320 Speaker 1: around the corner. In Jesus name, Amen, thanks for making 19 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:24,639 Speaker 1: prayer or priority in your life to hear the Bible 20 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:27,480 Speaker 1: come to life. Stay tuned for the Bible. In a 21 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 1: year brought to you by Bible in a Year dot 22 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 1: com Faithful in the Prison. Before this story, we learned 23 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: of Joseph's success as a slave. Everything Joseph put his 24 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: hand to succeeded and thrived, so much so that he 25 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 1: became the overseer of Potipher's household. Yet Potiphar's wife's lust 26 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: towards Joseph would not cease, and eventually she lured him 27 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: into sleep with her. Joseph ran from her, but she 28 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: still claimed Joseph attacked her. Joseph was thrown into prison, 29 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 1: but God blessed him and he became the overseer of 30 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 1: all prisoners. Now we learn about Joseph's interpretation of dreams 31 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 1: and how he ascended from prison to the Palace of Pharaoh, 32 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 1: inspired by the Book of Genesis. Hello, I'm Jack Graham 33 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 1: with today's episode of the Bible in a Year podcast. 34 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:29,640 Speaker 1: When we last saw Joseph, he was standing firm in 35 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 1: his convictions and resisting the advances of Potiphar's wife. It 36 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 1: was the god honoring thing to do, the only thing 37 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 1: to do, but there was a price to pay. He 38 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 1: found himself once again in chains, this time in the 39 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 1: palace prison. He again became a trusted man and was 40 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 1: placed in charge of the other captives. He had a 41 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 1: most excellent spirit about him. God remained faithful to Joseph, 42 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:58,359 Speaker 1: of course, and likewise Joseph was faithful to God. And 43 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 1: today's reading well here as Joseph has an opportunity to 44 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 1: interpret dreams again, only this time is not his own dreams, 45 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,519 Speaker 1: but those of two other inmates. The dreams tell us 46 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 1: the fate of the men who are in prison with Joseph. 47 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 1: Rather than using his gift of decoding dreams to exalt 48 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 1: himself as he did when he was a young boy, 49 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 1: Joseph will use the gift that God had given him 50 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,520 Speaker 1: to help and serve others. But listen very carefully to 51 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 1: the primary message of this passage that Joseph credits God 52 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 1: for what he does. Joseph has integrity, and that integrity 53 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 1: actually got him put in prison, but it will be 54 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: ultimately his way out. So here's today's reading and the 55 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 1: story of Joseph. Joseph had become a great blessing to 56 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: the prison out of darkness and despair. God blessed Joseph 57 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: and everything he did. He worked with care and diligence, 58 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 1: becoming loved and respected by the prisoners and guards. During 59 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 1: this time, Pharaoh's bearer and Baker had committed an offense 60 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: against him, so he sent them to prison to rot 61 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 1: until death. The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to 62 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: be with them and attend to them. One night, tossing 63 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: and turning could be heard in the darkness of the 64 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: prison cells. Groans and a few screams echoed in the 65 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:21,160 Speaker 1: middle of the night. For the cup bearer and Baker 66 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: were bothered all night with confusing dreams. That morning, they 67 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 1: were discussing what their dreams might mean, and Joseph came 68 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 1: to them when he saw they were troubled. Why are 69 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 1: you two so downcast this morning, Joseph asked, with compassion 70 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 1: in his voice. We have had dreams and have no 71 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 1: one to say what they might mean. They said, tired 72 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 1: from the night before. Joseph grinned, remembering the dreams he 73 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: once had as a boy. He looked at the two 74 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: of them with a shepherd's heart. Do not dreams belong 75 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 1: to God? Joseph said, tell them to me. The cup 76 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: bearer told his dream first. He spoke with mixture of joy, confusion, 77 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 1: and anxiety. In my dream there was a beautiful vine 78 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,719 Speaker 1: before me with three branches. As soon as the branches budded, 79 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 1: blossoms shot forth and ripened into grapes. The cup bearer 80 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:17,479 Speaker 1: looked at Joseph intently as he continued. I took the 81 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 1: grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup and handed it 82 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: to him. Then I awoke. Joseph grinned eyes, never leaving 83 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: the cup bearers. He said to him, the three branches 84 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 1: represent three days. In three days, Pharaoh will restore you 85 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 1: to his side, and you will be his cup bearer 86 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 1: once again. The cup bearer gleamed with joy. Joseph grabbed 87 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 1: his shoulder and spoke intently. Please remember me when you 88 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:48,239 Speaker 1: are back with Pharaoh. Tell him about me, my gifts, 89 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:52,839 Speaker 1: and my story. The cup bearer nodded and agreed. The 90 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 1: baker was pleased to hear such a positive interpretation. Excited, 91 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: he caught Joseph's attention to tell him his dream. In 92 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 1: my dream, there were three cake baskets balancing on my head. 93 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 1: On the top basket was food for Pharaoh. But the 94 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 1: birds flocked around me and ate the food in the basket. 95 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:15,480 Speaker 1: What does this mean? Joseph's eyes did not meet the bakers. 96 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 1: You do not need to know, Joseph said. The baker, 97 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 1: now worried, was intent on hearing. Joseph sighed and spoke somberly, saying, 98 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: the three baskets also represent three days. In three days, 99 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 1: Pharaoh will take you as well, but he will have 100 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:37,479 Speaker 1: you hung on a tree, and the birds will eat 101 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 1: your flesh. Angry and scared, the baker left. Three days 102 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 1: had passed, and it was Pharaoh's birthday. A great festival 103 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: had taken place throughout the land, and a great feast 104 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 1: was prepared for all his servants in need of his services. 105 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 1: Pharaoh sent for his cup bearer and restored him to 106 00:06:56,200 --> 00:07:00,600 Speaker 1: his position. Yet the baker was not as fortunate. He 107 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: was hung that day, just as Joseph had predicted. Caught 108 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 1: up in the festivities, the cup bearer forgot the kindness 109 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 1: Joseph had shown him. Forgotten. Joseph remained in prison, wondering 110 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 1: if his father and brothers had forgotten about him too. 111 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: Joseph's heart grew heavy, but his hope in God did 112 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 1: not wane. He pressed on, praying to see the sun 113 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: once again. What an incredible story. Joseph is imprisoned, and 114 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 1: it was because he did the right thing, not the 115 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 1: wrong thing, but he was falsely accused by his master's wife. 116 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 1: But rather than sink into bitterness and sulk in misery 117 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: or resign himself to a lost cause, helpless, hopeless confinement, 118 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 1: Joseph continued to work hard and he demonstrated his integrity 119 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: every single day. This has earned him a high position 120 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 1: his head over all the other prisoners, and in the 121 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 1: providence of God. He is a prisoner in Pharaoh's palace. 122 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: Things could have been worse, but God used this situation 123 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: in his life. This detail will prove very important soon enough, 124 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: as one day two new prisoners are placed in the 125 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: cell with Joseph, two servants of Pharaoh himself, a cup 126 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 1: bearer and a baker. One night in their cell, each 127 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: man has a dream, and the following morning, Joseph notices 128 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 1: their sad faces, and so he comes to their assistance. 129 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: He's seeking to comfort them and extend kindness. In those days, 130 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: dreams had incredible importance, so Joseph offers to interpret their dreams. 131 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 1: After all, Joseph had been understanding dreams since he was 132 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 1: a young man. Only now he's matured and he's walking 133 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:48,839 Speaker 1: in step with God. Seeking to honor him in all things. 134 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: He's not the arrogant team who used his gift to 135 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 1: make his brothers jealous. His response to these men is 136 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:58,720 Speaker 1: very important. Listen to what he says in Genesis forty 137 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:02,199 Speaker 1: and verse eight. Then they said to him, we have 138 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:04,679 Speaker 1: had a dream and there is no one to interpret it. 139 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: And then Joseph said to them, do not interpretations belong 140 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: to God. Tell it to me, please, Now you see it, 141 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 1: it's hard to miss. He doesn't say, here's what I 142 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 1: can do for you. I'm Joseph, a gifted interpreter of dreams, 143 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 1: a dreamer and a dream interpreter. No, he acknowledges that 144 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 1: God is the one who helps him, enables him to 145 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 1: understand the dreams. It's not his own power, but the 146 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:36,440 Speaker 1: power of God. God gives us great gifts. In fact, 147 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 1: the Bible says every good and perfect gift comes from God. 148 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: But we must always be willing to give God the 149 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 1: credit and the glory for the gifts that He has 150 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:50,839 Speaker 1: given to us. Joseph hears the dreams and then gives 151 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:54,960 Speaker 1: the answer for the cupbearer. The news is well, It's joyous, 152 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 1: is happy news. He will soon be released Joseph asked 153 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:02,079 Speaker 1: that the upbearers speak up for him and help him 154 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:05,680 Speaker 1: attain his freedom when he's out, and the grateful happy 155 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: man agrees. The baker also wants to know the meaning 156 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 1: of his dream, but for him the news isn't good. 157 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 1: He will soon leave the prison too, but not to 158 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 1: be free. He will be hanged, and just as Joseph 159 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:25,320 Speaker 1: told each man, in three days, they met their foretold fates. Sadly, 160 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 1: the cup bearer for God all about his promise to 161 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 1: Joseph to help him get out of prison. So it 162 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 1: was not a happy ending for Joseph. But his trust 163 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 1: was not in man. It was always in Almighty God. 164 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 1: Now there's a great lesson here. When we trust in men, 165 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 1: they can fail us, disappoint us, even betray us. True 166 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 1: freedom is not found in what others can do for us, 167 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 1: but in trusting God fully, just like Joseph did. When 168 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 1: we trust in God, not men, even when others fail 169 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: us or disappoint us, we can persevere. We know that 170 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:03,320 Speaker 1: not all hope is lost because God has it, and 171 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 1: God has each one of us. The same God who 172 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 1: is faithful to Joseph is faithful to us as well. 173 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: Joseph would not yet taste freedom. But the cup bearer 174 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 1: was right where God put him back in Pharaoh's household, 175 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 1: next to the most powerful man in the known world. 176 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: Soon enough, Pharaoh will have a troubling dream. Will the 177 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 1: cup bearer then remember the hebrew Man who helped him 178 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: understand the vision. This is what we're going to find 179 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 1: out the next time. Dear Lord, thank you for teaching 180 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:37,960 Speaker 1: us your word today. Your word allows us to understand 181 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 1: who you are and how we can know you and 182 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:43,640 Speaker 1: the gifts that you so graciously give to each one 183 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 1: of us. Thank you for the reminder that even when 184 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 1: people forget us and fail us, you continue to be faithful, 185 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 1: just as you were to Joseph. Help us always to 186 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 1: trust in You and to wait on your perfect plan. Amen, 187 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 1: thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 188 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 1: I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download the Prey 189 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 1: dot com app and make prayer a priority in your life. 190 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:13,680 Speaker 1: And if you enjoyed this podcast, share it with someone 191 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,560 Speaker 1: you know. By sharing this podcast, you can make a 192 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:20,319 Speaker 1: difference in their lives. And if you want more resources 193 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 1: as to how to discover God's perfect plan and power 194 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 1: for your Life. Be sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. 195 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:37,560 Speaker 1: This episode is sponsored by Medicshare, an innovative healthcare solution 196 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 1: for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality