??Where did we leave poor Joseph last week？Yes, in prison for a crime
??He did not commit. And Joseph was busy serving in that prison. The Lord was blessing Joseph there, just as he was in the home of Potiphar.
??One day Joseph met two new prisoners. They were the chief butler and chief baker of the king of Egypt. One morning Joseph noticed both the butler and the baker looking unusually gloomy. Then they explained to Joseph that each of them had dreamed very strange dreams the night before and the dreams were bothering them, because they could not understand what they meant. Joseph said, well, doesn't God know the meaning of your dreams？Tell me about your dreams. So the butler began to relate his dream to Joseph.
??In my dream I saw a vine and the vine had 3 branches that made blossoms, and then grapes. I dreamed I had Pharaoh's cup in my hand so I took the grapes, pressed the juice into Pharaoh's cup and gave the cup to Pharaoh to drink.
??Oh, said Joseph, Your dream means that in 3 days Pharaoh is going to call for you and give you your place as butler again! But, please, when you go back to the palace, remember me.
??Well, I'm sure the butler promised Joseph he would do that very thing, if Joseph were right about the dream. The baker was encouraged as he heard the good meaning of the butler's dream so he was eager to tell Joseph his dream also.
??I dreamed I had 3 white baskets stacked up on my head. In the top basket were all kinds of delicious pastries and breads for the king. But then there came some birds and they began to eat the bread out of that basket.
??Oh, I'm sure Joseph's face looked very sad as he answered the baker. Your dream means that in 3 days Pharaoh will also call for you, but he is going to hang you on a tree, and the birds are going to eat your flesh.
??You see, 3 days later it was Pharaoh's birthday and he made a feast for all his servants. During that time, he restored the butler to his job, and the baker he hanged on a tree.
??Now what was the butler supposed to do as soon as he got back to the palace to serve Pharaoh？That's right, he was supposed to speak of good word for good old Joseph! But can you believe he FORGOT all about Joseph？Joseph waited Day after day, month after month, and not even a thank-you note from the butler.
??Two years went by. Joseph was still there in prison. Was the Lord STILL with him？Indeed He was! The Bible tells us that after two full years, the king of Egypt had a dream, and such a strange dream that it really bothered him the next morning. He called for his magicians and wise men. but oh, my, they studied and discussed the matter back and forth and scratched their heads. And they still could not tell Pharaoh the meaning of his strange dream.
??Why couldn't they tell Pharaoh about that dream？Because God didn't tell THEM about the dream. You see, God knows not only all our dreams, but also our thoughts, our words, our deeds. He knows when we sin and do those things that do not please Him. The best thing we can know about God is His perfect Son Jesus, Who came to die for our sins and become our Savior from sin. We know Jesus rose from the dead and is in Heaven now, ready to save anyone who calls on Him. That's good news and God tells that good news to everyone. But there was something God was NOT telling. He was not telling what that strange dream meant.
??Suddenly the chief butler exclaimed, Oh, I do remember my faults this day!" I'm sure the king looked at the butler with great surprise. But then the butler went on to explain.
??Well, boys and girls, you may be sure the king of Egypt wasted no time sending someone to go get Joseph out of prison! Quickly Joseph cleaned up, shaved, changed his prison clothes and they hurried him straight to the king.
??I have dreamed a dream and no one can tell me what it means. I have heard that YOU can understand dreams to tell the meaning of them, Pharaoh said to Joseph.
??Now, Joseph could have answered proudly and brought all the attention to himself. But how wisely, how humbly he answered the king! No, I can't tell you the meaning of your dreams. he said. But then he added, But God will give you the answer. Joseph very wisely gave God the glory.
??So Pharaoh began to tell his dream. In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile River. Suddenly out of the river came 7 fine, fat cows. They walked over to a field and began to eat grass. Then 7 other cows came up after them. They were the ugliest, skinniest cows ever. The 7 skinny cows went and ate up the 7 fat cows, but then, they were still as skinny as ever. Then I woke from that dream, and fell asleep again and had another dream. In the 2nd dream there was a cornstalk with 7 full and good ears of corn on it. But then there appeared 7 thin, withered ears of corn that ate up the 7 full ears. Oh, my, how strange! What can all this mean？Joseph was very thoughtful, for God was showing him everything about those dreams. Then very clearly and wisely Joseph spoke. The king, God is showing you through these dreams what He is about to do. You see, the 7 fat cows and the 7 full ears of corn stand for 7 years of great plenty. However, after that 7 years of plenty will come 7 years of such terrible famine that you will forget all about the 7 good years.
??Joseph went on to explain to Pharaoh, because the dream came twice means that God has established that this will happen and it will happen soon. What you should do is find a man who is discreet and wise and set him over the project of gathering food during the 7 good years. And put it in storage, so that when the 7 years of famine come, there will be food for your people.
??Pharaoh and all his servants recognized the truth and wisdom of Joseph's counsel. And he said, I am now placing you in charge of my household and of all the people of Egypt. Only I myself will be higher than you in my government."Before Joseph could realize all that was happening, he was dressed in kingly robes, with a gold chain about his neck and the king's own ring on his finger. The king gave him a lovely young lady to marry, and Joseph set right to work on the project of organizing and gathering food during the 7 good years. God working out all his trouble like this!
??我们上个星期讲到哪儿了？对了，约瑟虽然没有犯罪，却被关在监牢里。约瑟在监牢里忙着坐监。但神向约瑟施恩，就象从前在波提乏的家里一样。
??一天，约瑟遇到两个新来的囚犯。他们是埃及王的酒政和膳长。一天早晨约瑟见他们看起来很忧愁的样子。他们告诉约瑟，他们每一个人昨天晚上都作了很奇怪的梦，让他们非常担心，因为他们不知道梦的意思。约瑟说：“解梦不是出于神吗？请你们将梦告诉我吧。”酒政便将他的梦告诉约瑟说，“我梦见在我面前有一棵葡萄树，树上呢有三根枝子，上头的葡萄都成熟了。我梦见法老的杯子在我手中，我就拿葡萄挤在法老的杯子里，递给他喝。”约瑟对他说，“你所做的梦是这样的：三天之内，法老肯定让你出监牢，叫你官复原职。但是你得好处的时候，求你一定记得我。”我相信酒政肯定会向约瑟保证，如果他的梦解得对的话， 他会记得约瑟。
??膳长见梦解得这么好，就也很想把他的梦告诉约瑟。他说，“我在梦中看见我的头上顶着三筐白饼，最上面的筐子里有为法老烤的各样好吃的，有鸟飞来吃我头上筐子里的东西。”我想约瑟在对膳长说话的时候一定很难过。约瑟说，“你的梦是这样的，三天之内，法老也肯定让你出监牢，但他会把你挂在木头上，有飞鸟来吃你身上的肉。”到了第三天，是法老的生日，他为所有的臣仆设摆筵席，把酒政和膳长从监牢里提出来，使酒政官复原职， 但把膳长挂起来，正如约瑟向他们所说的话。
??回到王宫以后，酒政应该作什么呢？对了，他应该在法老的面前为约瑟说说好话。但是他却不记念约瑟，竟忘了他。
??约瑟等了一天又一天，一个月又一个月，都没有消息，甚至连一封感谢信都没有。两年过去了，约瑟仍然在监牢里。神还与约瑟同在吗？当然！圣经告诉我们，过了两年，法老做梦，而且是很奇怪的梦。到了早晨，法老心里很不安，就差人召了埃及所有的术士和聪明人来。他们把法老的梦研究来研究去，抓破了脑袋，也没有办法告诉法老这梦是甚么意思。他们为甚么不懂梦的意思呢？因为神没有告诉他们！ 你知道吗？神不但知道我们所有的梦，他也知道我们每时每刻在想什么，说什么，做什么。
??当我们犯罪，或做不讨他喜悦的事的时候，他也知道。我们知道神赐给我们最好的就是他完美无瑕疵的儿子耶稣，他为我们的罪死，成为我们的救主。他又从死里复活，现在就在天上。他要拯救任何求告他名的人。这真是一个好消息，神把这个好消息告诉每一个人。但是有一些事情神却没有说。神在这里没有告诉人这么奇怪的梦是什么意思。
??突然，酒政对法老说，“哎呀，我今天想起我的罪来。”我想法老听了这话一定很奇怪。酒政就解释给法老听。法老马上派人去叫约瑟，他们便急忙带他出了监，他就剪了头、脸刮干净、换了衣裳，来到法老面前。法老对约瑟说，“我做了一个梦，没有人知道是什么意思，我听人说，你听了梦就能解。”约瑟本来可以很自豪地回答法老，使他自己成为注目的中心。但是约瑟非常谦虚地对法老说，“我可不会解梦。”然后他又说：“而神会给你答案的。”这样，约瑟很巧妙地把荣耀归给了神。法老对约瑟说，“我梦见我站在尼罗河边，有七只又肥壮又美好的母牛从河里上来，在芦荻中吃草。随后又有七只母牛上来，又软弱又丑陋又干瘦，我没有见过这样不好的。这七只瘦母牛吃了那以先的七只肥母牛，吃了以后却看不出是吃了，还是那样丑陋和干瘦，我就醒了。然后我又睡着了，又作了一个梦。我梦见一棵麦子，长了七个又饱满又佳美的穗子，随后又长了七个细弱的穗子，这些细弱的穗子吞吃了那七个饱满的穗子。多么奇怪的梦！ 这是什么意思呢？”
??神将梦的意思告诉约瑟。约瑟就对法老说：“王阿，神已将所要做的事指示给你。七只好母牛和七个好穗子是指七年丰收。随后又要来七个荒年，甚至在整个埃及都忘了先前的丰收。“法老两回做梦，是因神命定这件事，而且必很快成就。所以法老应当拣选一个有聪明有智慧的人，派他治理埃及。当七个丰年的时候，把粮食聚集起来，积蓄在仓里。当七个荒年来的时候，你就有食物给人吃。”法老和他一切臣仆，看到没有人像约瑟这样有聪明有智慧。法老说：“好，我派你掌管我的家，治理埃及全地。我的民都听从你，只有我一个人比你大。”约瑟还没有意识到怎么回事，他就给穿上了华丽的衣服，把金链子戴在他的脖子上，法老还摘下手上的戒指，戴在约瑟的手上。法老又赐给约瑟一个可爱的女子为妻子。在七个丰年的时候，约瑟负责收集埃及地的粮食。
??你看，神就是这样把约瑟从灾难中带领出来。 |