In many ways Joseph is a remarkable type of Christ: hated by his brothers, rejected and sold to the Egyptians, eventually exalted as Prime Minister over Egypt; a shadow of the sufferings and glories of the Lord Jesus—this we well know.

In the scene described here, Joseph was absolutely innocent of any crime yet had been languishing in prison for eleven long years. He had not been idle, however, and the warden of the prison put Joseph in charge over all the other prisoners.

As much as Joseph was innocent, it is probable that both the cupbearer and the chief baker were guilty of some infraction against Pharaoh. As the scene unfolds, it came about that each of these had a dream and came to Joseph for the interpretation (40:8). How encouraging are Joseph’s words to them: “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please” (40:8). Joseph’s certainty that he would be able to interpret their dreams reveals that his own hopes and dreams were very much alive. He still believed in what God had shown to him, despite his trials (37:5–10). Joseph’s interpretation came to pass exactly as he predicted. Before the cupbearer was restored to his position, Joseph had one request: “Remember me when it is well with you.” But the cupbearer forgot about him (v. 23)! Eventually this wrong was corrected and Joseph came to the cupbearer’s mind as he stood before Pharaoh.

The Lord Jesus, One much greater than Joseph, on the night in which He was betrayed said, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Cor. 11:24). How touching that the Lord requests this of us. On the dark night of Satan’s power, and in light of His coming sufferings, Christ desired that from that time forward we would observe this memorial. May we never be like the cupbearer and forget, “[He] suffered for us” (1 Pet. 2:21).