their official rank, the governor of the tower appointed Joseph to wait upon them and act 01 their servant. 2. Their attendant. In this new capacity Joseph behaved himself wisely and with discretion. With regard to his illustrious companions in misfortune, he-(1) Served them faithfully. "Joseph had been unjustly enslaved, unjustly imprisoned, unjustly detained in his prison, and yet he declined not the work enjoined by hie master" (Lawson). Joseph appears to have always acted on the principle commended by the royal preacher (Eccles. ix. 10), and on that recom- mended by Christ (Luke xiv. 11). "Joseph was o. better man than the men whom he served. He was sprung from noble ancestors, and knew that he would one day be exalted above them; but at this time he cheerfully performed to them every service in his power" (Lawson). (2) Sympathised with them sincerely. Though bearing hie own misfortunes with unmunnuring resignation and manly fortitude, because sustained by God's grace and the possession of truly religious principles, the amiability of Joseph'e nature led him to commiserate his fellow-prisoners who had no such inward supports and consolations as were enjoyed by him. In particular on one occasion mentioned in the text he was so struck with their dejected countenances that he feelingly inquired the cause of their sadness. (3) Directed them wisely. Leaming that they were troubled on account of dreams which they had dreamt over- night, and of which they could not find the explanation, he piously exhorted them to look to God for the desired interpretations. II. TrIE DREAMS AND THEIR INTERPRETATIONS. 1. The dreams-(!) Agreed in tlie time when they occurred, happening on the same night; in the impressions they produced, filling the hearts of both dreamers with forebodings; in the person by whom they were explained, Joseph giving equally the key to both; and in the interval required for their fulfilment, only three days being allowed for the accomplishment of each. (2) Differed in tl1e imagery of which they were composed-that of the butler consisting of a tableaux in which himself and his royal master appeared beneath the shadow of a blooming vine, Pharaoh sitting on his throne, and himsel£ pressing the ripe clusters into Pharaoh's cup and setting it on Pharaoh's hand ; and that of the baker representing himself also engaged in the performlLnce of hiH officinl duties, bearing into Pharaoh's presence three wicker baskets of pastries and confections, out of the uppermost of which the birds came to ent ;-in the character of the events which they foreshadowed-the butler's dream prognosticating speedy restoration to his butlership, and the baker's dream rno!lt ominously pointing to early execution. 2. Their interpretations. These were-(1) Revealed by God. Joseph did not claim to be able of himself to interpret the significance of either of the dreams, but explicitly affirmed thnt to do so was exclusively the prerogative of Elohim. (2) Declared by Joseph. Thus Joseph was authenticated as a prophet of the Lord in that hellthen land. (3) Fulfilled by Pharaoh. Pharaoh wns no doubt unconscious that he wns accomplishing a Divine prediction. So Goel is able to accord to men the completest liberty of action, and yet realise his own sovereign purpose. Exactly as Joseph had interpreted, both as to time and as to results, the dreams came true. III. TJIE INTERPRETER AND BIS REWAl!D, ]. T!te interpreter's request. Joseph desired in return for his services to the butlor tlrnt II word should ho spoken for him to the king by that officer when restored to his occupation, in tho hopo that it might lead to his release from confinement. For this comluct Joseph has been blamed by some censorious critics; but (1) his request was natural. '!'hough required lo encluro the crosses laid on him by Divine providence with meekness and resignation, ho wa3 under no obligation to stay a moment longer in prison than he could justly help, but was rather bound to use all legitimate means to insure his deliverance. The11, (2) his request was moderate. He did not ask much at the butler's hand in return for his own great service, only that hi6 name should ho mentioned to Pharo.oh. Joseph was not exacting in his demands. Again, (3) his request was touching. As ho tells the butler, in the hope of moving him to pity, he was a stranger in a strange land, who had been forcibly abducted, though he does not say by whom. What a token of the kindly charity and truly forgivir.g spirit cherished by Joseph towards his brethren I And finally, (4) his request was just. He had done nothing to deserve imprisonment in that or ony other dungeon. 2. Tlie interpreter's reward. "Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him,' This must have been (1) a pni11ful 458 THE BOOK OF GENESIS. [CH. XL, 1-23.
experience to Joseph, probably as cruel and unkind a blow as any he had yet reoeived as certainly it wns (2) a monstrous iniquity on the part of the butler, indicating ~ callous, ungrateful, 11nd truly base disposition, though unfortunately it is (3) a fre- quent occurrence in human life. • . Learn-I. That God's saints are sometimes thrown lby Divine providence into companionship with the worst of men. 2. That the exceilent of the earth are often foun? fillin~ the _very_ humblest situations. 3. T_hat God has many different methods- of d1scovenng his mmd to men. 4. That God 1s able to fulfil his own predictions. 5. That wicked men sometimes meet their deserts in this life. 6. That God's people should sympathise with and succour their fellow-men. 7. That they who do good to others should hope for nothing again.