Genesis 41:1-13

God Rules In the Kingdoms of Men

For two years, the butler forgot Joseph. Sold and abandoned by family. Imprisoned by a woman's lie after doing the right thing. Hope, which seemed so bright with the promise of the butler, shattered by days, weeks, months and even years of forgetfulness. Seemingly, forgotten by God. Had we been in that prison cell, discouragement might have reigned supreme.

However, God was using the forgetfulness of the butler. If the butler had remembered Joseph right after his own release from prison, Joseph might have left the land of Egypt. How would God have preserved Abraham's seed then? Men do not always appreciate the fact that God causes everything to happen in its season (Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 3:8-12). He really does work in the kingdoms of men, as this story will plainly show (Daniel 4:25; 34-37).

Pharaoh's Dream Awakened the Butler

Two years after Joseph told the butler the meaning of his dream, Pharaoh had a dream. He saw seven fat cows come up out of the Nile River. Then, seven lean cows came up and stood beside them. The lean ate the fat, but grew no fatter. Pharaoh awoke. When he slept again, he dreamed about seven full heads of grain growing on one stalk. Then, seven withered heads sprang up. The withered heads ate the full heads, but grew no fuller.

The next morning, Pharaoh was troubled by what he had seen in his dreams. He called for the magicians and wise men of Egypt. He asked them to interpret his dreams, but none could. It was then that the butler remembered Joseph in prison. He briefly related the events of two years before. He told Pharaoh of the young Hebrew who had correctly interpreted his and the baker's dreams (Genesis 41:1-13).