TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Genesis 40:16-23 (NIV*)

Finally, the king’s chief cup-bearer spoke up. “Today I have been reminded of my failure,” he told Pharaoh. “Some time ago, you were angry with the chief baker and me, and you imprisoned us in the palace of the captain of the guard. One night the chief baker and I each had a dream, and each dream had its own meaning. There was a young Hebrew man with us in the prison who was a slave of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he told us what each of our dreams meant. And everything happened just as he had predicted. I was restored to my position as cup-bearer, and the chief baker was executed and impaled on a pole.”

AN IMAGINARY JOURNAL ARTICLE

Very early this morning I was rushed out of bed by one of Pharaoh’s servants. He said that Pharaoh was in a state, and needed me to attend to him immediately. I barely had time to wash my face before I was dragged out of my sleeping area, into the hallway, and pushed into the room where Pharaoh was waiting. I have never seen him so agitated. I poured him his favorite wine, and brought the cup to him. As I knelt in front of him, I swear, I could feel his hands shaking as he took the cup from me. After a few moments he steadied, and ordered another servant to assemble all his counselors and magicians. They came very quickly into the main hall, and I listened as Pharaoh told them his dreams from the night before. Not one of them was able to interpret the dreams! That was when I remembered Joseph. I had tried to forget those awful few days I was in prison, and the horror of the baker’s execution. But I did promise Joseph to tell the Pharaoh about his situation. But Joseph couldn’t have understood what it would mean for me to do that. Cupbearers don’t just converse freely with the Pharaoh! I didn’t want to end up like the baker, my head on a pole. So I forgot. But now, two years later, it is time for me to remember…
— Pharaoh’s Cupbearer

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT…

• What risk does the cupbearer take in reminding Pharaoh about his imprisonment two years prior?
• Why do you think the cupbearer decides to talk to the Pharaoh about Joseph now?
• What consequences could he have faced from this action?
• In the same situation, might you have been tempted to keep quiet?

* Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.