Divine Deliverance: Lessons from Joseph, Daniel, and Prophetic Dreams

Genesis 40

1 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.

2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.

3 And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.

5 And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.

6 And Joseph came in to them in the morning, and looked on them, and, behold, they were sad.

7 And he asked Pharaoh’s officers that were with him in the ward of his lord’s house, saying, Why look you so sadly to day?

8 And they said to him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said to them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;

10 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:

11 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.

12 And Joseph said to him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:

13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up your head, and restore you to your place: and you shall deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, after the former manner when you were his butler.

14 But think on me when it shall be well with you, and show kindness, I pray you, to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:

15 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.

16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:

17 And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket on my head.

18 And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:

19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up your head from off you, and shall hang you on a tree; and the birds shall eat your flesh from off you.

20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast to all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.

21 And he restored the chief butler to his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand:

22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.

23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Daniel 6

1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts to them, and the king should have no damage.

3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; for as much as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus to him, King Darius, live for ever.

7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which alters not.

9 Why king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

12 Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree; Have you not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which alters not.

13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regards not you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.

14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

15 Then these men assembled to the king, and said to the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establishes may be changed.

16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said to Daniel, Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you.

17 And a stone was brought, and laid on the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste to the den of lions.

20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice to Daniel: and the king spoke and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?

21 Then said Daniel to the king, O king, live for ever.

22 My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: for as much as before him innocence was found in me; and also before you, O king, have I done no hurt.

23 Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found on him, because he believed in his God.

24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and broke all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

25 Then king Darius wrote to all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied to you.

26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even to the end.

27 He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Bible Study: Divine Deliverance and Prophetic Dreams 📖

This study explores the remarkable ways God communicates through dreams and preserves those who remain steadfast in principle, specifically focusing on the experiences of Joseph and Daniel.

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1. The Ministry of Joseph: Dreams in the Prison Genesis 40

While unjustly imprisoned, Joseph demonstrated that even in gloom, a man whose heart is stayed upon God remains a faithful witness4T 448.1.

• The Butler and the Baker: Pharaoh’s chief officers were cast into prison and placed under Joseph's careST January 15, 1880, Art. A, par. 1. One morning, Joseph noticed their sadness and inquired about the cause, leading them to share that they had each had a troubling dream without an interpreterPP 219.1+1.

• Divine Interpretation: Joseph firmly asserted that interpretations belong to God before hearing their accounts Genesis 40:8PP 219.1.

• Fulfillment of Prophecy: Joseph revealed that in three days the butler would be reinstated to his position, while the baker would be executed Genesis 40:12-20PP 219.1. These events occurred exactly as foretold, serving as evidence that God-given dreams often occur within a specific, predicted timeEP 144.4+1.

• The Turning Point: Although the butler initially forgot Joseph, the memory of this perfect interpretation eventually led to Joseph's introduction to Pharaoh, who also had dreams that the wise men of Egypt could not explainPP 219.3+1.

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2. The Integrity of Daniel: Faith in the Lions’ Den Daniel 6

Daniel provides a noble example of what it means to confess Christ through unbending loyalty to the law of GodRH May 3, 1892, par. 11+1.

• A Plot of Envy: Because an excellent spirit was in him, Daniel was preferred above other leaders, which stirred up jealousy among the presidents and princes Daniel 6:34bSG 85.1. They devised a decree, signed by King Darius, forbidding any petition to be made to any God or man except the king for thirty daysPK 540.1+1.

• Unwavering Prayer: Knowing the writing was signed, Daniel did not seek to hide his loyalty; he went to his chamber and, with windows open toward Jerusalem, prayed aloud three times a day as he had always done Daniel 6:10Pr 145.2+1. He considered communion with God more important than his own lifeTA 141.3+1.

• Divine Protection: Daniel was cast into the den of lions, but the Son of God and holy angels were his companions3MR 95.3+1. Jesus, the mighty Commander of heaven, sent His angel to shut the lions' mouths so that no harm came to the praying man1T 295.2+1.

• A Lesson for the Last Days: Daniel’s experience is a pattern for the remnant church, who will face human edicts that violate divine law but must remain as true to principle as Daniel was in the lions’ denCCh 352.2+2.

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3. Guidance through Modern Visions and Dreams

The same God who spoke to Joseph and Daniel continues to provide light and direction to His people through the prophetic giftCCh 13.6+1.

• The Experience of Joseph Baker: Joseph Baker was a Millerite preacher who became a Sabbathkeeper in 1850 and was confirmed in his ministry through a vision given to Ellen White1EGWLM 785.4. While he was initially discouraged after the passing of the 1851 time setting, a conference in Vermont became a turning point where he decided to fully believe the visions as being from God1EGWLM 785.4.

• Moving with Caution: In a later vision, it was shown that Brethren Baker, Everts, and Pitt Butler were sometimes too cautious and moved too slowly in the work1EGWLM 391.2.

• The Encouragement at Waterbury: During a period of trial, the Whites traveled through extreme cold to encourage Brother Baker, who was shut up at home and felt he lacked the strength to attend a conference in WaterburyLS80 278.2. Their prayers and sacrifice deeply affected him, urging him back into active serviceLS80 278.2.

• Dreams of Warning and Remedy: Ellen White experienced prophetic dreams similar to those of the Bible, such as a dream revealing a remedy for cholera when her husband was at riskCET 125.1. She also received dreams that illustrated the state of the church, such as a dream of a "secret closet" filled with rubbish that needed to be cleared out to make room for more valuable thingsLS88 265.2.

• A Call to Study: We are urged to be earnest students of the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation, as they are especially relevant for the time in which we livePK 547.2+2. Those who study these books with prayer and fasting will find the harmony of God’s plan and a preparation for the coming of the Son of man1SG 132.1+1.

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Personal Reflection: "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" Daniel 12:32MCP 642.3. How can we, like Joseph and Daniel, maintain our integrity when our faith is brought to the test4LtMs, Ms 44, 1886, par. 8?