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Genesis 40
1After these things, the butler of the of Egypt and his baker offended their lord, the king of Egypt.
2Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cup bearer and the chief baker.
3He put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
4The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he took care of them. They stayed in prison many days.
5They both dreamed a dream, each man his dream, in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the cup bearer and the baker of the of Egypt, who were bound in the prison.
6Joseph came in to them in the morning, and saw them, and saw that they were sad.
7He asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”
8They said to him, “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it.” Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Please tell it to me.”
9The chief cup bearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “In my dream, behold, a was in front of me,
10and in were three branches. It was as though it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters produced ripe .
11Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the , and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.”
12Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three are three days.
13Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head, and restore you to your office. You will give Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, the way you did when you were his cup bearer.
14But remember me when it is well with you. Please show kindness to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house.
15For indeed, I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.”
16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was in my dream, and behold, three baskets of white bread were on my head.
17In the uppermost basket there were all kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.”
18Joseph answered, “This is its interpretation. The three baskets are three days.
19Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head from off you, and will hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from off you.”
20On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants, and he lifted up the head of the chief cup bearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants.
21He restored the chief cup bearer to his position again, and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand;
22but he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.
23Yet the chief cup bearer didn’t remember Joseph, but forgot him.
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Questions this passage answers
What is sin?
Scripture defines sin as lawlessness, as falling short of God's glory, and as failing to do the good we know we should do. It is not only a list of bad actions but a condition of the heart that produces them, and it is first against God rather than only against people. Scripture also says all have sinned, that its wage is death, and that God is faithful to forgive those who confess.
What does the Bible say about work?
Scripture presents work as something given before sin entered the world, made harder by the curse, and redeemed in Christ so that ordinary labour is done for the Lord rather than for people. It commands diligence, honest dealing, rest, and provision for one's household, and it refuses to make a person's worth depend on their job.
How do I forgive someone who hurt me?
Biblical forgiveness is the decision to release a debt you have every right to collect, made because God released yours. It is not pretending the wrong was small, and it does not always mean reconciliation or renewed trust. It usually begins as an act of obedience and becomes a feeling later, often much later.
How do I trust God when life is difficult?
Biblical trust is not a feeling you generate. It is leaning your weight on what God has revealed about himself, especially when your circumstances suggest otherwise. Scripture builds trust the same way every time: by remembering what God has already done, telling him the truth about what you feel now, and obeying the next small thing while the outcome is still hidden.