Genesis 41:15 - The Secret of Dreams

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.

Joseph can understand a dream to interpret it because God shares his secrets with those that have respect for Him and are accounted righteous (Proverbs 3:32, Psalm 25:14).

Genesis 41:11 - Anytime, Anywhere Communication

And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.

God's communication is always present, even while in confinement. God gave the baker and butler each a dream with a meaning of its own while they were in prison (Genesis 40:5), and likewise, God heard Jonah's prayer from within the belly of a fish (Jonah g2:2).

Genesis 41:10 - The Chief Butler remembers Joseph.

Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker:

The ward in the captain of the guard's house was a prison, the same place where Joseph was imprisoned (Genesis 40:3).

Genesis 40:23 - The Sin of Forgetting

Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

This was a case of "out of sight, out of mind" in the face of good times. The butler had good intentions on helping Joseph but he forgot him as though he were dead (Psalm 31:12). When times are good we have a bad habit of forgetting those that helped us succeed (Amos 6:6, Hosea 13:6). This sin of forgetfulness happens when we become overly preoccupied with our own affairs which overshadows the interest of others.

Genesis 40:14 - It's a two-way street.

But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:

There is a marked resemblance between Joseph's request in consideration for his kindness and that of Rahab's. They both asked for help to be rescued and did not expect to be paid for their services. Their expectation was an act of kindness for a act of kindness in return (Joshua 2:12). I scratch your back; you scratch my back.

Genesis 40:8 - As a Instrument in God's Hands.

And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

Joseph knew he could interpret the dream but only as a medium by which God would give them the answer they desired (Genesis 41:16 NIV).

Genesis 39:21 - Peace of Mind in Troubling Times

But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

God granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden because God was please with the way Joseph lived his life (Proverbs 16:7).

Genesis 39:10 - Avoid falling under the spell of passion.

And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

she spake to Joseph day by day - Potiphar's wife's intense desire to have sex with Joseph was relentless. Not only did Joseph continually refuse her illicit sex offers, he also took care not to be with her. By avoiding her, she couldn't entice him with her smooth offers of how having sex with her would be harmless and something to be enjoyed (Proverbs 7:18). Don't believe the lie, sexual immorality is harmful and something not to be enjoyed.

Genesis 39:9 - For Righteousness Sake

There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? There is a marked resemblance between Joseph's reason for not sleeping with Potiphar's wife and that of King Abimelech's reason for not sleeping with Sarah, Abraham's wife (Genesis 20:6). In both cases, sin was avoided for the sake of righteousness, gained through divine awareness. Man's righteousness is not only the result of human motives, for we also suffer for the sake of doing what is right.

Genesis 39:6 - A Good-looking Man

And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

There is a marked resemblance between Joseph's appearance and that of King David, they were both well-known for their striking handsomeness (1 Samuel 16:12 NIV).

Genesis 39:3 - Taking the Righteous Path

And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

His master saw that the LORD was with him because God's blessings crown the head of the righteous for all to see ( Proverbs 10:6). The LORD made all that he did to prosper because the righteous succeed in everything they do (Psalm 1:3). Like Joseph, take the righteous path, shining your light for all to see in everything you do.

Genesis 38:14 - Playing the Harlot

And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.

she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath - Prostitutes often dress seductively and spend most of their time in the streets and in public places soliciting their body indiscriminately for money (Proverbs 7:12). Avoid them at all cost, being careful not to be ensnared by their seductive ways.

Genesis 38:13 - Timnath or Timnah?

And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

Timnath was not the Timnath of Sampson (Judges 14:1), which is on lower ground than Adullam. Most likely, it is the Timnah of Joshua 15:10, 57, about 10 mile west of Bethlehem.

Genesis 38:11 - Back Home: Used, Childless & Widowed

Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house

Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house as this was the custom for widowed women without children (Leviticus 22:13; Ruth 1:12-13). However, Reuben was lying; he had no intention of allowing Shelah to marry Tamar.

Genesis 38:9 - Levirate Matrimony & Onanism

And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.

The seed should not be his because the first born son would carry on the name of Er so that his dead brother's name would not be forgotten in Israel (Deuteronomy 25:6). Spilled it on the ground is considered a form of contraception from which we get the term "onanism." Although Onan did not masturbate, masturbation ends with the same result - a wasted ejaculation.

Genesis 37:31 - The Object of Resentment

And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;

This verse highlights the dangers of parental favoritism; the ostensive show of favoritism sometimes result in children filled with spite. Joseph's coat of many colors distinguished him as Jacob's favorite (Genesis 37:3). His brothers resented their father for making the coat so they used it out spite in convincing their father of Joseph's death.

Genesis 37:28 - Friend In Deed

Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Midianites merchantmen... drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit - A person who gives assistance to another in need is a friend in deed. Just as God used foreigners to rescue Joseph, a Cushite man rescued Jeremiah from starving to death in a pit. (Jeremiah 38:7-13 NIV).

Genesis 37:24 - In Desperate Need of God

And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.

Like Joseph, Jeremiah was also thrown into a pit and was in desperate need of God (Jeremiah 38:6). Spiritually, you can also find yourself suddenly thrown into a pit. When you find yourself in the pits, look to God to lift you out and get you back in step (Psalm 40:2).