Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. – Genesis 40:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (July 31, 2018): Genesis 40

On April 4, 1945, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was condemned to death. His crime was his association with Abwehr resistance, an outgrowth of the Abwehr German intelligence network. To be honest, Bonhoeffer never seemed overly comfortable in his relationship with the resistance movement. While he opposed the actions of the Fuhrer, his devotion to Christ and passive resistance was out of step with the other members of the resistance movement that had found fertile ground in the German Intelligence network.

Of course, it was the Abwehr resistance that was responsible for the July 20 Plot, a failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler. After the failed attempt, there was an increased pressure to find out who was responsible. In September 1944, secret Abwehr documents were found and arrests were made, including that of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

But on April 4, 1945, the diaries of the leader of Abwehr intelligence Agency, Admiral Wilhelm Canaris were discovered, and as Hitler read more of the Abwehr Intelligence’s connection with the July 20 Plot, the Fuhrer flew into a rage.

On April 5, 1945, Admiral Wilhelm Cannaris and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, along with deputy General Hans Oster, military jurist General Karl Sack and Ludwig Gehre, were led out of their cells at Flossenburg Concentration Camp naked. Here the men would be humiliated and executed by hanging. Cannaris maintained his innocence to the end, maintaining that what he had done, he had done in defence of Germany. Just two weeks later, American troops would arrive at the gates Flossenburg Concentration Camp, liberating those imprisoned there.

“Some time later” in this passage indicates that Joseph had been imprisoned for a while when two new prisoners were thrown into the prison with him. Although we are not given details of their crime (they “offended their master”) it is likely from their positions that there had been an attempt on the Pharaoh’s life. The two men were both responsible for handling the food of the king – the cupbearer was responsible for what the king drank and the baker for what he ate. Again, recognizing the occupations of the two being charged with the crime, it is likely that the assassination attempt involved some kind of poison.  

Even as a prisoner, Joseph had risen in his responsibility and authority, and it is likely this responsibility that brought Joseph into contact with the new prisoners and gave him the opportunity to hear their stories.

The story tells us that one would be released from prison and that the other would be executed, but it does not indicate the guilt or innocence of either of these men. But because of Joseph’s obedience, even this situation could be used to further the plans of God.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Genesis 41