07. The Language of Dreams!

07. The Language of Dreams! “I saw a vine in my dream. There were three branches on it, and as it budded, its blossoms came out, and its clusters ripened into grapes.” (Genesis 40:9-10) And as a year passed and all these events were forgotten and things quieted down, a small problem began to arise between the chief baker and the chief cupbearer in the kitchen. They were the best in the palace at baking bread and making wine, respectively. The chief steward, who oversaw food and drink, was old and had to retire, so the king announced that he would appoint one of the two as the chief representative of food and drink at the upcoming royal birthday banquet. This led to fierce competition between the two, escalating into a battle of pride. The conflict grew so intense that they began to plot against each other to eliminate their rival and secure the top position. One day, while preparing the king’s table, the chief cupbearer left for a moment, and the chief baker, while doing something to the wine glass, heard the cupbearer returning and quickly went back to his place, accidentally knocking over a small wine jar, which shattered on the floor. Hearing the noise, the cupbearer rushed back and scolded the baker, who feigned innocence, arguing that it was just an accident. At that moment, the king, who had recently met Joseph and was recovering from depression, was on his way to visit the princess, who was distressed by Joseph’s imprisonment due to Potiphar’s wife’s false accusation. Hearing the commotion in the kitchen, the king was saddened to see his once close servants now at odds over a position. He ordered Potiphar to take him to the kitchen. Unaware of the king’s arrival, the two were hurling insults at each other when they heard,  “The king is here!”  They bowed deeply in shock. “Your Majesty! What brings you to this humble kitchen?”  they asked in unison, having always served the king closely. The king asked why they were fighting. The cupbearer explained, and the king, raising his voice, commanded,  “How can you not work together as before to prepare my meals? This is a grave offense. Both of you shall be imprisoned immediately!” Potiphar, understanding the king’s intent, imprisoned them in his household’s prison, where only the king’s prisoners were kept. Knowing they would eventually be reinstated, he assigned Joseph to attend to them, treating them with special care. Returning to the palace, Potiphar had the food and wine from the kitchen tested to ensure there was no issue, thus resolving the day’s incident without further trouble. The baker and the cupbearer regretted their actions but it was too late. Potiphar, understanding the king’s wish, placed them in the same cell, hoping they would reconcile. This was crucial for the stability of the kingdom. The cupbearer, being timid and anxious, constantly worried about the future, while the baker, carefree and relaxed, remained at ease even in prison. That evening, Joseph learned from the princess why they were imprisoned.Late at night, the two had different dreams. In the morning, they were troubled, not knowing if their dreams were good or bad omens. Seeing their worried faces, Joseph asked,  “Why do you look so troubled?” They replied,  “We had dreams last night, but we don’t know what they mean, and it’s making us anxious!” Joseph offered to interpret their dreams.  The cupbearer, always curious, spoke first,  “In my dream, there was a vine before me. On the vine were three branches. As it budded, its blossoms came out, and its clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” Joseph interpreted, “The three branches are three days. 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 as you used to do. But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even hereI have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.” The cupbearer, grateful, promised to remember Joseph. Seeing the favorable interpretation, the baker shared his dream,  “In my dream, I had three baskets of white bread on my head. In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.” Joseph interpreted,  “The three baskets are three days. Within three days, Pharaoh will lift off your head and impale your body on a pole, and the birds will eat away your flesh.” The baker, enraged, shouted,  “What? How dare you interpret my dream like that!”  He spat on the floor and turned away, but his face grew pale with fear. Two days later, the princess visited Joseph again. “Why are you here again so soon?” Joseph asked. “A year has passed since we promised to dance together. Tomorrow is my father’s birthday, and I couldn’t sleep thinking about dancing with you,”  she replied.Joseph, feeling sorry, reassured her,  “Don’t worry, Princess. One day, we will surely dance together.” Upon hearing Joseph’s words, the princess finally felt at ease and kissed Joseph on the cheek. Joseph’s face turned red from the princess’s sudden action, but in the dim prison, his blush was not visible. A moment of silence passed between them. Then Joseph asked the princess, “Is it true that tomorrow you will appoint the chief officer in charge of food and drink?” The princess, surprised by Joseph’s question, asked, “How did you know that, Joseph?” Joseph playfully replied, “I have quite a few informants within the palace.” As he said this, Joseph tilted his head back and pretended to be arrogant. “Oh my! Stop teasing and tell me how you really knew.” “Isn’t it true that the chief baker and the chief cupbearer are both here in this prison?” “Oh! That’s right! Tomorrow, both of them will be summoned to my father’s birthday banquet, and one of them will be appointed as the chief officer in charge of food and drink.” Joseph continued, “Undoubtedly, the chief cupbearer will be appointed as the chief officer in charge of food and drink tomorrow.” “Oh, come on! How do you know that, Joseph? Are you my father? Anyone could say that! There’s a 50% chance of being right! Joseph, you’re such a fraud! I can’t play with you anymore!” “Alright then! Let me tell you one more thing!” “What is it?” “Tomorrow, at the same event, the chief baker will be cast out by the king, executed, and his body will be hung on a pole to be eaten by birds. Just wait and see!” “Oh my! How gruesome! Joseph, how can you say such cruel things and even plot against others? This is really problematic!” When the princess said this, Joseph replied, “If there’s a problem, it can be solved!” “Oh my! Oh my! There you go again with your nonsense!” “If you keep saying it’s nonsense, even the needle I have will become useless, and I’ll have to prick your hand with it to wake you up!” “Oh, it’s already cold with the night breeze, I can’t listen to any more of your chilling stories. I’m going back now.” The princess laughed and said she would come back again, then returned to the palace early to prepare for the next day’s events. The next morning was the king’s birthday. The king invited all his officials and held a grand banquet. As promised, he summoned the chief cupbearer and the chief baker from the prison and had them stand before all the officials. He asked if they had repented, and both said they had deeply repented. The king, pleased with their response, said he would appoint the chief officer in charge of food and drink, but first, he ordered General Potiphar to investigate one matter. General Potiphar stepped forward at the king’s command. “Is it true that the wine and bread collected from the place where the two officers were held were meant for His Majesty?” When Potiphar asked, both officers confirmed it was true. Then Potiphar spoke again, “When the wine and bread were collected and checked by the food taster, the bread was very clean and tasty, but the wine had a slight fishy smell and was not even tasted. If His Majesty had consumed such drinks and something had happened to him, it would have been a disaster. What happened, chief cupbearer?” Before Potiphar could finish speaking, the chief cupbearer trembled like a leaf and said, “Your Majesty! I poured the wine from the same jar I always used to offer clean and delicious wine. The chief baker was also there, so I thought there would be no problem and stepped out for a moment. I deserve to die for leaving the drink unattended, but I did not put any substance in the wine. Please have mercy!” The chief cupbearer knelt and bowed before the king. Then Potiphar asked the chief baker, “Why did you break the wine jarthat was in someone else’s place?” Under Potiphar’s thorough interrogation, the chief baker could not make any excuses and knelt, crying out, “Your Majesty! I have committed a grave sin. However, I had no intention of harming Your Majesty. Knowing that the food taster always checks the food, I added a little spoiled fish broth to make it seem like the chief cupbearer had made a mistake with the wine, so only he would be removed, and I would become the chief officer in charge of food and drink. I had no intention of harming Your Majesty. Please have mercy!” Then the king spoke directly, “So, you had no intention of harming me?” “Yes, Your Majesty!” “You are all responsible for the very important task of handling my food and drink. Harming someone in such a role is the same as harming me. Moreover, if you put impurities in the wine I drink, it is already considered treason before it is even checked. How could you not know that?” At the king’s sudden outburst, the chief baker could only tremble in silence. “Guards! Take him out immediately and execute him. Hang his body on a long pole so that the birds can eat it!” At the king’s command, the atmosphere at the banquet suddenly turned cold. General Potiphar then spoke to change the mood, “Your Majesty! Today is the day you appoint the chief officer in charge of food and drink.” The king calmed down and gave his command, “As promised, I hereby appoint the chief cupbearer as the chief officer in charge of all matters related to food and drink from today!” All the officials responded in unison, “Your Majesty! We are deeply grateful for your grace.” “Come and fill my cup with wine.” The newly appointed chief officer in charge of food and drink, the chief cupbearer, went to the king and poured wine into his cup. Thus, Joseph’s interpretation of the dream came true, and the chief cupbearer rose to the highest position in charge of food and drink. Although he could have resolved Joseph’s situation by informing the king about Joseph, the chief cupbearer completely forgot about Joseph, who had interpreted his dream.