Wrong Crowd

Wrong Crowd

Genesis 41: ¹⁷ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Behold, in my dream I stood on the bank of the river. ¹⁸ Suddenly seven cows came up out of the river, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. ¹⁹ Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such ugliness as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt. ²⁰ And the gaunt and ugly cows ate up the first seven, the fat cows. ²¹ When they had eaten them up, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were just as ugly as at the beginning. So I awoke. ²² Also I saw in my dream, and suddenly seven heads came up on one stalk, full and good. ²³ Then behold, seven heads, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them. ²⁴ And the thin heads devoured the seven good heads. So I told this to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

 

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After Joseph was released from prison, Pharaoh told him about the dreams that troubled him. Pharaoh then said he told his magicians, but they could not interpret the dream.

 

My Observations:

• Pharaoh was disturbed by this dream GOD gave him.
• Pharaoh used magicians who had limited supernatural powers.
• Pharaoh was revered as a god, and was probably even more disturbed that he could not understand this dream.

 

Believing in what he saw, Pharaoh entrusted his strange dreams to his magicians who had performed tricks that could not be explained. The magicians may have gotten their supernatural powers from Satan, but these powers were limited. 

 

Pharaoh may have seen Joseph as similar to the magicians. He considered himself as a god and everyone else was his servant. He felt he had power over life and death of a person because the crowd also believed he was a god. But the one and only true GOD baffled him.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about Pharaoh’s discussion with Joseph?
• Have you experienced getting advice from a group of people who may or may not have consulted GOD?
• Will you seek GOD’s guidance today to get HIS supernatural direction for you today?

Oh, It’s Going to Happen!

Oh, It’s Going to Happen!

Genesis 40: ⁹ Then the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “Behold, in my dream a vine was before me, ¹⁰ and in the vine were three branches; it was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. ¹¹ Then Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”

 

¹² And Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days. ¹³ Now within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your place, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand according to the former manner, when you were his butler. ¹⁴ But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. ¹⁵ For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon.”

 

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Joseph was given a dream that he told to his brothers. He dreamt that his entire family would one day bow down to him. His brothers became enraged and plotted to kill him. The sold him into slavery, but THE LORD was with him. He was slandered and thrown in prison. Pharoah’s butler was also thrown in prison. He told Joseph about a dream. Joseph interpreted the dream.

 

My Observations:

• Not only did GOD give Joseph a prophetic dream, HE also gave him the gift of being able to spiritually interpret dreams.
• The butler was going to be restored by GOD and there was nothing the butler did differently to earn this restoration.
• Joseph knew this was going to happen, so he asked the butler to put in a good word for him.

 

When GOD says something will happen, it’s going to happen! GOD was working, even in prison. Joseph explained how he did not deserve to be in prison. He was innocent. Potiphar’s wife had lied on him, yet there he was. Little did Joseph know, he was given a gift that needed to be used on a specific person.

 

GOD wanted Joseph to speak to the butler. The entire situation was orchestrated by GOD. HE took Pharoah’s arrogance and mixed it in with an innocent butler and topped it off with an innocent prisoner named Joseph. GOD would later use this interpretation for Joseph’s benefit. Joseph knew this was going to happen so he asked for a good word from the butler.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about Joseph interpreting the dream?
• Have you ever been in a situation that you cannot get yourself out of?
• Can you praise GOD for seeing you and for HIS plan to break you out of the prison you may think you are in?

Where Help Comes From

Where Help Comes From

Genesis 40: ⁵ Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream, both of them, each man’s dream in one night and each man’s dream with its own interpretation. ⁶ And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. ⁷ So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in the custody of his lord’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”

 

⁸ And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.”

 

So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”

 

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After days, weeks or even months, the butler and the baker had dreams on the same night. Joseph saw they were sad, so he asked both of them “Why?” The both said they had dreams but no one to interpret them. Joseph told them that interpretations of dreams come from GOD.

 

My Observations:

• Both men had significant dreams versus something they could make sense of.
• GOD provided both men their dreams on the same night and HE disturbed them.
• Joseph saw something was wrong with both of them, which shows his character.

 

Seeing the sadness on their face and asking “What’s wrong?’ was probably rare in the Egyptian society. Joseph had walked with the LORD so long that he was concerned about people he barely knew. When they said they had disturbing dreams, Joseph knew that GOD could provide the interpretation.

 

Joseph showed he had a special relationship with GOD. He knew that he could ask GOD what the dreams mean and GOD would not hold back. That’s the kind of relationship I want with GOD, one that HE does not hold back anything I ask that is in alignment with HIS will. Joseph point the butcher and baker to the only solution, namely GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the sadness of the butcher and baker?
• Have you ever had significant dreams and needed GOD to tell you the meaning?
• Can you rest assured that GOD is the answer and has the answer to your problem?

Big Dreamers Look Forward

Big Dreamers Look Forward

Hebrews 11: ²² It was faith that made Joseph, when he was about to die, speak of the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, and leave instructions about what should be done with his body.

 

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Reasoning with GOD, I thought of the things “I” had done for HIM. “Remember the time when I…” was my argument that I thought of. I was going through a rough time and I wanted GOD to clear it up immediately. Not only did the problem persist, other problems piled on.

 

• I wanted out of the trial I was going through.
• I looked back on a few times when I thought I was being “good.”
• I expected GOD to get me out of the trial if HE would simply realize “I” have been trying.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, gives another example of faith. This time he mentions Joseph, who had the gift of interpreting dreams. He also was given huge dreams by GOD. He was hated, lied on and falsely imprisoned, yet he rose up to heights unimaginable. He did not look at his achievements as a fulfilled dream.

 

My Observations:

• GOD’s plans far exceed my life.
• I am only a part of GOD’s entire plan.
• Any accomplishment I do is only part of the dream ahead.

 

Dreaming brings on faith and faith brings on dreams. I mean, when I look forward to a better place, my dreams and thoughts brings on faith that GOD will provide that better place. I then hear from GOD through problems HE wants me to solve. HE provides the plan that sometimes seems overwhelming.

 

GOD wants me to look forward to HIS solution rather than looking backward at “my” accomplishments. HE was the one who enabled me to accomplish everything, so I cannot take credit. I gladly look forward to what HE will do and what HE will provide.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer focus on the time when Joseph was about to die as an example of faith?
• Have you ever had a big dream and got nervous that the dream was much bigger than you?
• Will you ask GOD for the faith it will take for HIS plan to be manifested through your efforts in HIS time and HIS way?

I can’t take credit for my abilities

Genesis 41: ¹⁵ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

¹⁶ “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

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Don’t ask me why I did this but I prayed that I would be successful in my career. I had stopped praying or it was seldom and now I was out in the real world. Amazing things happened over the years and I saw GOD working.

Then I started taking credit for my abilities. “I deserve that promotion!” I thought to myself. “Maybe I should quit and show them they can’t function without me!”

When I think I did something on my own I get arrogant.

When I think my abilities are from my hard work I become blind.

When I think I have talent that is superior I am highly mistaken.

I love the term Joseph used “I cannot do it, BUT GOD will…” Joseph recognized his limitations and acknowledged GOD’s power. He had no expectations of GOD rather he pointed his faith toward HIS power.

When I give GOD credit for giving me talent, I use them for HIS purposes.

When I give GOD credit for making me who I am then I will be thankful for where HE takes me.

When I give GOD credit for my abilities then I won’t squander them.

I cannot do anything without GOD.  HE is my power and my guide. No plan will prosper without HIS blessing.

Do you think you acquired your talent on your own?

Do you believe you have raw talent?

Can you recognize where your talents come from?

Won’t you give GOD credit for blessing you with abilities that you alone possess for HIS purpose?