Bible Dreams.
Zion's Advocate, Vol. 41, No. 7, July 1902.
The wisdom and power of God was wonderfully displayed in promoting Joseph from imprisonment to a seat next to the king of Egypt and rulership over all that great country. A series of apparently disastrous events, in all which he was entirely passive, had brought him down to disgraceful imprisonment under a most heinous charge. He was sold by his brethren as a slave to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh's guard. His brethren succeeded in making his father believe that he had been killed by wild beasts, so no effort was made to find him. Under a false charge, made by Potiphar's wife to hide her own base guilt and avenge herself upon him, he was thrown into prison. How sad he must have felt! He was not only a slave in a strange land, but a prisoner in close confinement, separated far from his dear kindred with no visible prospect of release.But though all else seemed against him, yet the Lord was with him as a slave and also as a prisoner, giving him favor in the sight of Potiphar, and likewise of the keeper of the prison. The king's butler and baker, having offended him in some way, were put into prison, the place where Joseph was confined. How long they were in prison is not definitely told. It is only stated that they were there for a season. Some commentators think the Hebrew word Yowm, here rendered "season," means an entire year, and that, as Pharaoh called them to an account on his birthday, it was on his preceding birthday that he had become offended. At any rate, after being in prison with Joseph a "season" each of them dreamed a dream in the same night. The next morning Joseph observed their sadness and asked the cause. They then told him they had dreamed and there was no interpreter. Being in prison, they could have no access to the professed interpreters of dreams, "the wise men" of Egypt. Joseph told them that interpretations belong to God, teaching that he alone is the fountain of wisdom. At his request each told his dream.
Let it be remembered that Joseph's own dreams had not yet been fulfilled according to his interpretation of them, and there seemed no prospect of their ever being fulfilled. Yet it is evident that he was firm in his conviction of their truth, and that he was very deeply interested in the dreams of his fellow prisoners, searching for some sign of the fulfillment of his dream. The chief butler, accordingly, related his dream. In his dream he saw a vine, which had three branches, sent forth buds, blossoms and clusters of ripe grapes. He dreamed that he pressed the juice of these grapes into Pharaoh's cup and gave it into his hand. Joseph told him that the three branches signified three days, and that within three days he would be restored to his former position. Joseph saw a ray of hope for himself in this, so he begged the butler to think on him when he was restored, and show him kindness, and bring him out of the prison, relating the account of his misfortunes and protesting his innocence, saying nothing, however, against the unnatural conduct of his brothers or the base deed of his abandoned mistress. He said he was "stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews," while the scripture account says that his brethren sold him. But he was purchased of those who had no right to sell him, just as a kidnapper might purchase a child of an unprincipled nurse. This was, in reality, stealing, as the purpose of those who bought him was to gain by selling him.
The chief baker then became anxious to have his dream interpreted, seeing that the interpretation of the other dream was good. So he told Joseph that he had dreamed that he had three white baskets on his head, and in the upper basket was all manner of baked meats for Pharaoh, and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon his head. Joseph told him that within three days Pharaoh would cut off his head, and hang his body on a tree and the birds would eat his flesh. In this he was not to appear as an agent or servant but a sufferer, as he was not to give the meats to the king in his hand, as the other did the cup, but stood passive while the birds flew away with the dainties.
These dreams both proved true as Joseph interpreted them, but the leading design of the Lord was to use them for the subsequent advancement of Joseph to the governorship of Egypt. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" His trusting children need not fear what men, or even Satan, can do to them. He who is their God can turn their most adverse circumstances into good account, and use the persecutions of their enemies as instruments for their benefit. The trial of their faith may be long and severe, but in his good time he will bring them forth as gold tried in the fire.
Thus Joseph continued in the gloomy prison for two full years before another ray of hope was permitted to shine in upon his soul. Think how the days must have dragged along! May we not suppose that he almost entirely lost all hope of escaping from prison, and that his faith in his dreams became very weak at times? The chief butler, after being restored to his former position, did not remember poor Joseph as he had requested him to do. When raised from adversity to prosperity we are so prone to forget our former companions in adversity.
Finally the King had two very similar dreams that greatly distressed him. Among all the wise men of his country he could not find one that could interpret them. This brought the butler to remember Joseph and his own faults. Accordingly he told the king of the dreams he and the baker had while in prison, and of the true interpretation given by Joseph. Pharaoh then sent for Joseph, who changed his raiment and shaved himself and came into Pharaoh's presence. When interrogated in regard to his ability to interpret dreams, he said, "It is not in me; God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace." Thus he confessed his own ignorance and his entire dependence upon God. Here was one, who had been twice sold into servitude and finally cast into prison, standing in the king's presence to hear and interpret what had puzzled all the "wise men" of Egypt. After long waiting the time for his deliverance and exaltation had come.
The king related his two dreams. Joseph at once informed him that they were one in meaning; that the seven fat-fleshed and well-fed kine, and the seven rank and good ears of corn which had come up before the king, represented seven years of plenty; and the seven lean-fleshed kine and the seven thin ears represented seven years of famine. The wise and timely advice that Joseph gave was at once followed by the king, who said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God dwells?" He also said to Joseph, "Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art. Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou." The results that followed, the salvation of the country from the ruinous effects of a protracted famine, the coming of Joseph's brothers to him to buy corn, his finally making himself known to them, and the bringing of his venerable father and all his household to dwell in the most desirable part of Egypt, furnish a beautiful array of scenes full of touching pathos and instructive lessons, demonstrating the great truth that God rules, not only in the armies of heaven, but also among the inhabitants of the earth.
Joseph stands forth as a very fitting type of Christ, but much is to be gathered from his history that will touch the experience of the
humble child of God and afford him evidence of the Lord's gracious dealings with him. God is sometimes in the dreams of his people, and is always near them in adversity as well as prosperity. His providential sway is wielded in their favor even when all is darkness to them. He says, "Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God." Isaiah 50:10.
J. R. D.
Copyright c. 2005. All rights reserved. The Primitive Baptist Library.
