Genesis chapter 39 begins with Joseph going to Egypt. He was sold to Potiphar, who was the Pharaoh’s captain of the guard and high-ranking officer. Joseph prospered in Potiphar’s home and he quickly became the overseer of the house. Potiphar did not know what wealth he had because he trusted Joseph with its care. The only thing Potiphar knew was that God prospered him because of Joseph. One day Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph. Joseph refused because he said it would be wrong. This made her very angry. One day he was in the house and alone with her. She tried to seduce him one more time. This time she had a hold on the hem of his garment. Joseph ran away from her. In the process of doing this he slipped out of his garment. When she seen that she had his garment she concocted a scheme to punish Joseph for not doing as she wanted him to do. She called the men of the household and told them that Joseph had tried to rape her. When her husband came home she told him the same story. Potiphar became very angry with Joseph and had him put in prison. God did not abandon Joseph in prison. Instead he prospered him.

Chapter 40 begins with Joseph in prison. There were two men in the prison with him. They were the Pharaoh’s butler and baker. Each of these men had a dream which they could not interpret. When Joseph heard this he said he would interpret for them. The butler had seen a vine in his dream. Three branches sprang forth from the vine. He picked grapes off the vine, which he then squeezed, into a cup. He gave the cup to Pharaoh. The dream meant that he would be restored to his position. The baker’s dream of the birds eating his bread meant that he would be killed in three days.

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