Genesis 40:1-23

Egypt’s Pharaoh was angry with his chief cupbearer and his chief baker and he sent them to prison. It is unknown what they had done. They were looked after by Joseph, also a prisoner. Both the cupbearer and the baker had dreams with different meanings. The men called upon Joseph to interpret their dreams: the cupbearer’s dream of a vine with grapes pressed into liquid into Pharaoh’s cup meant that within three days Pharaoh would restore him to his position; but the baker’s dream of three cake baskets of bread on his head eaten by birds meant that in three days he would hang on a pole.

To me it is unclear and troubling why one man’s outcome is good and the other man’s outcome is poor, based not on evidence of behavior but on the interpretations of their dreams. It raises thoughts of random misfortune that I and others are vulnerable to as well as random good fortune.

What was God’s role in the interpretations? Before Joseph gave the cupbearer and baker the dream interpretations Joseph said, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.” Why would God have an unfair outcome for one man and not the other?

Dear God, help me understand the unexplained inconsistencies in life and still find trust and comfort in your care.

~ Rosalie