A Lamp Unto My Feet Bible Study Website
GENESIS 40
Lesson #57
THE PRINCIPLES CONCERNING THE DEATH OF A VISION
- Memory verse: Amos 8:7
- Read Gen 40:1-23 Joseph, forgotten in prison
- The importance of dreams
- Dreams were considered extremely significant throughout the Old Testament times. Dreams were specifically important to Joseph’s life.
- Remember that dreams already had an effect on Joseph’s life in Gen 37 when his dreams of authority caused problems between him and his brothers.
- The cupbearer or butler:
- The position of cupbearer to the Pharaoh was a very important position.
- He held the life of the Pharaoh in his hands. He would taste the wine before it was given to the Pharaoh just in case someone had poisoned the drink.
- The cupbearer’s dream (9-13):
- There is a vine with 3 branches, buds, blossoms, and that produces grapes.
- The cupbearer squeezes the grapes into Pharaoh’s cup.
- The interpretation revealed to Joseph by God: In three days Pharaoh would restore the cupbearer to his former position.
- The significance of the cupbearer’s dream:
- The cup into which the grapes were squeezed (40:10-12) reminds us of the communion cup.
- Read Mat 26:26-28
- The importance of dreams
- The cup represents the shed blood of Christ on the cross by which He paid for the sins of believers.
- Like the cupbearer, we, too, find grace and forgiveness through the shed blood of Christ.
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- The baker:
- The baker’s dream (16-19)
- He had three white baskets on his head containing all kinds of baked foods for Pharaoh, but the birds ate the food.
- The interpretation revealed to Joseph by God:
- In three days Pharaoh would have him killed by impaling him on a stake and birds would eat his flesh.
- This is an especially distressing interpretation for the baker. Keeping the dead body intact was extremely important to Egyptians. This is why they mummified a dead body. They thought that after 3000 years a soul would return to its former body, (if it was intact) and live again on earth.
- The significance of the baker’s dream:
- The baked foods in the baker’s basket represent the works of our own hands which do not justify us before God. We cannot be saved by our own good deeds. (Isa 64:6 Eph 2:8-9)
- Like the baker, the non-believer, does not find grace and ends up condemned.
- “hang thee on a tree” (19)
- While the actual meaning is impaled on a stake, the phrasing is reminiscent of Gal 3:13.
- Read Gal 3:13
- Joseph’s request:
- After interpreting the cupbearer’s dream, Joseph ask him to remember him to Pharaoh so that he would be released from prison. (14)
- Joseph’s faith is in the cupbearer and not in God at this point. We must always remember that God’s timing is perfect.
- The cupbearer forgot Joseph. Joseph stayed in prison 2 more years.
- But God did not forget Joseph even though at the moment it may seem as though he was forgotten.
Joseph a prefigure of Jesus Christ
| The Life of Joseph | The Life of Jesus Christ |
| Joseph was numbered with transgressors. Gen 40:1-3 | Jesus Christ was numbered with transgressors when crucified between 2 thieves. Mat 27:38 |
| Joseph was the means of blessing to one, but the bringer of judgment to the other. Gen 40:21-22 | Jesus is the means of blessing to those who accept him, but the bringer of judgment to those who do not. Joh 3:15
Rev 20:11-15. Of the 2 thieves, one was saved and one was not. Luk 23:43 |
| Joseph foretold the future giving the glory to God. Gen 40:8 | Jesus said that whatever He spoke was given to him by God. Joh 12:49 |
| Joseph’s predictions came true.
Gen 40:20-22 |
Every word that Jesus spoke shall come to pass. Mar 16:16 |
| Joseph desired to be remembered. Gen 40:14 |
Jesus asked his believers to remember him through the communion service. Luk 22:19 |
- Faith and the death of a vision
- Genesis 40 is also significant in that it demonstrates a very important principle in the kingdom of God. It is the principle of the death of a vision.
- It is extremely important to understand how God fulfills a vision in your life. If you don’t grasp these principles, you will give up the race before you reach the finish line and fail to see God’s fulfillment of the vision.
- God gives a vision of the future. This vision is something God wants to do in and through your life. It is a plan He wants to complete in your life.
- God may or may not inform you of the plan in some supernatural way like in a dream or supernatural vision.
- In whatever God shows it to you, this plan or vision is something you know without a doubt comes from God to you personally.
- God calls you to faith to believe that He will fulfill the vision.
- Remember that everything in the Christian life is obtained by faith.
- You struggle with doubts and patience along the way. Doubts as to whether this vision is really from God or just your own personal desires.
- Eventually, when things look as though the vision will be fulfilled, it all falls apart.
- This is the first death of the vision.
- This first death of a vision is the first supreme test of faith.
- God is asking whether you really believe He is in control.
- God is asking whether you really believer that He has the power to fulfill the vision despite the circumstances.
- As you continue to trust God despite the circumstances, the situation begins to improve.
- Finally, when things again look as though the vision will be fulfilled, it again falls apart. This is the second death of the vision.
- This is the second supreme test of faith.
- Why does God test your faith in the vision twice?
- Nothing of real value in the kingdom of God is ever achieved easily.
- God values perseverance and strong faith.
- If you continue to trust God despite the circumstances, God will fulfill the vision.
- God gives a vision of the future. This vision is something God wants to do in and through your life. It is a plan He wants to complete in your life.
- Joseph and the death of a vision:
- God gave Joseph 2 visions of authority as a young boy in Gen 37:7,9.
- When Joseph was given the coat of many colors, it looked as though God would fulfill the vision.
- The first death of a vision occurred when his brothers stripped him and sold him into slavery.
- It looked as though God would fulfill the vision when Joseph was given authority in Potiphar’s house.
- The second death of a vision occurred when Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him, and he was thrown into prison.
- It is after the second death of the vision that God fulfills the vision. This fulfillment occurred when Joseph was released from prison and given authority under Pharaoh.
- Notice that God’s timing and location are important to the fulfillment of the vision.
- Notice that the fulfillment of the vision fits in with a much broader scheme of things…God’s plan for the Jews.
- Another Biblical and historical example of the death of a vision:
- God gave Abraham a vision of a nation of descendants possessing the land.
- When the people of Israel possessed the land in the book of Joshua, it looked as though God would fulfill the vision.
- However, they lost the land in the Babylonian captivity. (The first death). They returned to the land from the captivity then Jesus came. It seemed as though God would fulfill the vision.
- However, they lost the land in 70 AD. (The second death). In 1948 Israel became a nation, and God is now beginning to fulfill the vision.
Homework
Genesis 41
- Application of Gen 40
- Do you sometimes feel as though God has forgotten you?
- What specific things can you do to maintain your faith and increase your awareness of God’s presence?
- Have you experienced the principle of death of a vision? Write your experience here.
- Preparation for Gen 41
- Read Gen 41:1-57
- What do you learn from Joseph’s story about enduring difficult times of trial and suffering?
- Based on this chapter, list as many ways as you can in which Joseph is a prefigure of Jesus Christ.
- Read Gen 41:1-57
- Memory verse: “…be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said,I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Heb 13:5b
