Genesis 40:9-15 "And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand. And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days: Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon."
Genesis 40:21-23 "And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand: But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him."
Joseph ministered to Pharoah’s butler and baker for a time while they were in prison. One day, Joseph saw that both these men had sad countenances, which had not been the case before. When Joseph commented on this, both men told him they had dreamed the night before but did not know what the dreams meant.
Joseph, having confidence in God to reveal the meaning of the dreams, inquired of the men what their dreams were. The chief butler related his dream first. Joseph immediately showed him the meaning of the dream. The butler would be restored to his place before the king. Go and read verses sixteen through twenty, and you will find that Joseph did the same for the chief baker (although the outcome for the baker would be death).
Joseph made a request to the chief butler. He told the butler to remember him when things were well with him. He requested the butler to show kindness and to mention his (Joseph’s) name. Joseph declared to the butler that his bondage was undeserved. Things certainly went well for the butler, but he forgot Joseph and how he had ministered to him and comforted him.
Dear ones, Jesus has ministered to us and comforted us more times than we can number in our lives. He has given us an understanding of things that would otherwise be a mystery to us. We know His story and how He did not deserve the things that He suffered. Yet, He ministered without complaint, and He has given us the opportunity to remember Him and declare His name.
Sadly, I am all too often like the butler: I forget Him and His mercy. For example, we go off on a long trip and pray for His protecting grace. When we arrive safely back home, we forget to thank Him for granting us the thing we asked Him for (a safe journey). We do not testify to others about His grace and mercy when they ask, “How was the trip?” I pray for grace to be diligent to not forget Him.