Genesis 40

1. Verse 1 lets us know that some time passed before the story begins again. What do you think life was like for Joseph?

Who eventually joins Joseph in the prison?

These two prisoners are not known by name but by position. What can you learn about them from the positions they held?

Why would the chief cupbearer and chief baker be such powerful positions?

What does it mean to you to offend someone or to be offended?

What does it tell us about Pharaoh that he put these two men in prison for offending him?

What is a political prisoner?

Why do you think the captain of the guard put these two under Joseph’s supervision?

Notice, verse 4 says that Joseph was to attend or to serve these two prisoners. What can we learn from this?

2. Again, considerable time has passed when both the cupbearer and the baker have dreams. Why do you think they had dreams the same night?

What does Joseph notice about them the next morning?

What can we deduce about Joseph’s relationship with these men?

When Joseph asks them what is troubling them, what is their answer?

Why would they be troubled that there was no one to interpret their dreams?

3. What is the difference between arrogance and boldness?

When Joseph learns about the dreams, how does he respond?

What can we learn about Joseph from his response?

How did Joseph learn this truth about God and dreams?

What was the cupbearer’s dream?

What was the baker’s dream?

What can we learn about the way God communicates to us through dreams? (Notice the details of each.)

Why do you think God would speak to these two men through dreams?

4. As Joseph listened to these dreams, do you think he thought of his dreams? Please explain.

What was the interpretation of the cupbearer’s dream?

After giving the interpretation, what does Joseph ask of the cupbearer?

Notice Joseph’s words, especially those in verse 15. What do they reveal about this young man?

What do you think the baker was thinking as he listened to the interpretation of the cupbearer’s dream?

What was the interpretation of the baker’s dream?

5. Joseph knows that the cupbearer is going to be released in three days. What do you think he was feeling during this time?

What happened on the third day?

What happened to the cupbearer? To the baker?

Verse 23 is very simple but very important. What does it tell us?

What do you think was going on in Joseph’s mind as he waits and waits?

For you, what is the hardest part of waiting?