“But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.”
This verse is part of the narrative of Joseph’s time in prison in Egypt. To understand the context of this verse, let’s briefly review the preceding verses.
In Genesis 40, Joseph was imprisoned in Egypt after being falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife. While in prison, Joseph encountered two fellow prisoners: the chief butler and the chief baker of Pharaoh. Both of them had dreams and were troubled by the meanings of their dreams.
Joseph, who possessed the gift of interpreting dreams, noticed their distress and asked them about the reason for their troubled faces (Genesis 40:6-7). After hearing their dreams, Joseph interpreted them. He told the chief butler that he would be restored to his position within three days, and he requested the butler to remember him and mention his situation to Pharaoh when he was released (Genesis 40:12-15).
Now, in verse 22, we see the fulfillment of Joseph’s interpretation. Pharaoh’s birthday arrived, and he held a feast for all his servants. During the feast, he restored the chief butler to his position, just as Joseph had predicted. However, the chief baker was executed, exactly as Joseph had interpreted. The verse states, “But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.”
This verse highlights Joseph’s accurate interpretation of the dreams and emphasizes the reliability of his prophetic gift. It demonstrates that God’s hand was upon Joseph, enabling him to understand the meaning behind the dreams and foretell future events. Joseph’s interpretation served as a testimony to God’s presence and guidance in his life, even in the midst of his unjust imprisonment.
Overall, this verse showcases Joseph’s faithfulness to the Lord and his ability to discern God’s messages through dreams. It reminds us of the importance of trusting in God’s providence and His ability to reveal His plans through various means, including dreams and visions.
