In the narrative of Joseph, found in the Book of Genesis, the account of Pharaoh's butler, also known as the chief cupbearer, serves as a poignant example of false friendship and forgotten promises. This episode is a critical moment in Joseph's life, illustrating the frailty of human loyalty and the sovereignty of God's plan.

Biblical Context

Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and eventually found himself in Egypt. After a series of trials, he was imprisoned on false charges. While in prison, Joseph encountered two of Pharaoh's officials—the chief cupbearer and the chief baker—who had been detained for offending their master, the king of Egypt.

The Dream Interpretation

Both the cupbearer and the baker had troubling dreams on the same night, and Joseph, gifted by God with the ability to interpret dreams, offered his assistance. The cupbearer's dream involved a vine with three branches that budded, blossomed, and produced clusters of ripe grapes. Joseph interpreted the dream, saying, "Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer" (Genesis 40:13).

The Promise and Betrayal

In gratitude for the favorable interpretation, Joseph requested a simple favor from the cupbearer: "But when it goes well with you, please remember me and show me kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh, so that he might bring me out of this prison" (Genesis 40:14). Joseph's plea was heartfelt, as he longed for freedom from his unjust imprisonment.

However, once the cupbearer was restored to his position, he failed to honor his promise to Joseph. Genesis 40:23 records, "The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him." This act of forgetfulness and ingratitude highlights the cupbearer's role as a false friend, one who benefited from Joseph's kindness but did not reciprocate when the opportunity arose.

Theological Implications

The account of Pharaoh's butler serves as a reminder of the unreliability of human alliances and the tendency of individuals to prioritize their own comfort and status over loyalty and gratitude. It underscores the biblical theme that trust should ultimately be placed in God rather than in man. Despite the cupbearer's failure, God's providence was at work, and Joseph's eventual rise to power in Egypt was orchestrated according to divine timing.

Lessons for Believers

For believers, this account encourages a reliance on God's faithfulness rather than on the promises of others. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the nature of false friends—those who may appear supportive in times of need but fail to uphold their commitments when circumstances change. The narrative of Joseph and the cupbearer invites reflection on the importance of integrity, gratitude, and the fulfillment of promises, as well as the assurance that God remains steadfast even when others do not.Genesis 40:23
Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Nave's Topical Index

Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested ...
... False prophets shun, who in sheep's clothes appear, But inwardly ... mine eyes, Or by
the life of Pharaoh ye are ... One for himself, and for his friends another, And ...
/.../scriptural poems being several portions.htm

The Essay which Brings up the Rear in this Very Guilty Volume is ...
... body of Moses [169] : the names of Pharaoh's magicians [170 ... general design of Scripture,"
(says Bishop Butler,) "may be ... book, is to build upon a false foundation ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/vii the essay which brings.htm

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to ...
... off the mask and gloried in their hypocrisy"Butler shut his ... as to make it a cloak
for false and dangerous ... This was that that made Joseph depart from it, when ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a holy life the beauty.htm

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