Genesis 40:14 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

Navigator

Genesis 40:14

Comments

Nevertheless, for Joseph it suddenly all seems to become clear. Evidently, he is reflecting on how his dream long ago can be fulfilled through the ups and downs of his life. He had been stolen out of the land of the Hebrews – for his brothers had in effect stolen him from his father – and he had been falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife. He makes this appeal to the butler, and through him to Pharoah. He has been providentially put in touch with someone who knows Pharoah, and, going over the head of Potiphar, he will appeal to Pharoah to get him out of prison. He tells the butler how he has twice been wronged, and he hopes that these wrongs will now come to an end and be corrected. He thinks he sees God plan. But he is wrong. Joseph makes only one mistake. He thinks this is God’s way of deliverance for him immediately, but it will take more than this. The fulfilment of the butler’s dream was truly going to be a cog in the means of his freedom, but not immediately. He is going to be further tested, further prepared, further humbled and sanctified, before he can be exalted.

Application

A prophet speaks better than he knows, and it is not for nothing that the prophets studied their own prophecies to learn from them. When not exercising their gifts, they were normal fallible men, and not supermen. Their understanding of the meaning of prophecy was not guaranteed to be right, and they too must wait on the Lord to see how he is going to fulfil his word given through them. It is foolish therefore to limit the meaning of a prophecy to what the original human author could understand, for what matter is not his understanding which can be wrong, but that God intended to say through him.

Joseph had certainly been wronged, and he had lived with these wrongs and was well aware of them, but they had not made him bitter, resentful, or complaining. The unbeliever is likely to be made bitter by his trials, but the believer meets them with humility, and submits to the will of God, whether it brings good or evil. God knows what is needed in my life. He uses trials to further increase my faith.

Questions

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

Genesis 40:14 Commentary and Bible Study