Opening Verse
“And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.”
—Genesis 40:5 (KJV)
Introduction
Dreams can be mysterious, powerful, and sometimes divine. In the Bible, God often used dreams to reveal His plans, warn of danger, or give hope. In Genesis 40, we see two prisoners, Pharaoh’s butler and baker, each experiencing a dream with deep significance. But these dreams were not random; they were part of God’s greater plan, not just for them but for Joseph, who interpreted them.
Devotional Story
A man sat in his prison cell, staring at the ceiling. It had been months since he lost everything—his job, his reputation, and his freedom. Each night, he prayed for a sign, something to tell him that God had not abandoned him.
One night, he had a dream. In the dream, he was walking through a vast desert with no water, only dust and rocks. Just as he thought he could go no further, he saw a well. Rushing toward it, he dropped to his knees and reached in, but the well was dry.
The next morning, he shared the dream with a fellow inmate, an older man who had been reading the Bible. “Your dream is not a curse,” the older man said. “You are in the desert, but you are near the well. God is showing you that He will soon provide.”
A week later, the prisoner was released. A mistake had been found in his case, and he was cleared. The dream had prepared him—though he had felt abandoned, God had been working behind the scenes.
What This Means
Like the butler and the baker in Genesis 40, sometimes God speaks through dreams to prepare us for what is ahead. Joseph, the interpreter, was also being prepared for his future promotion. When God reveals something to you, whether in a dream, a word, or a situation, trust that He is working all things for good. Even when you feel forgotten, you are not abandoned.
Think About This
- Have you ever had a dream that seemed to speak to your situation?
- How do you respond when God’s timing seems slower than you expect?
- Are you trusting God even in the “prison seasons” of life?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for speaking to us in ways we do not always understand. When I feel lost, remind me that You are guiding me. Help me to trust Your timing and to see Your hand at work in my life, even when I don’t see the full picture. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Closing Verse
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
—Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)