Remembered Dreams

 

Remembered Dreams

Genesis 42: ⁶ Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth. ⁷ Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke roughly to them. Then he said to them, “Where do you come from?”

And they said, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.”

 

⁸ So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. ⁹ Then Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land!”

 

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Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy food. They were sent to Joseph who they had not seen in thirteen years or so. He was dressed as an Egyptian so they did not recognize him. They bowed down to him. When Joseph saw his brother and saw them bowing down to him, he remembered the dream GOD gave him.

 

My Observations:

• Joseph did not know how the dream would play out when GOD gave it to him.
• Joseph treated his brothers harshly, knowing the answer to the questions he asked.
• Joseph may have had many mixed feelings about seeing the brothers who sold him into slavery versus GOD being with him, teaching him grace.

 

Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. This gave Joseph an advantage that he never would have dreamt of. The brothers were forced to bow down to Joseph. They never would have done this on their own because of the hatred they harbored in their heart. BUT GOD knew this when HE gave Joseph the dream.

 

GOD gave Joseph a prophetic dream that came to fruition after HE created a famine that would make the brothers do anything to survive. This sometimes happens to you and me. Things, people and places are taken away from us, forcing us to rid ourselves of pride, fear and self-doubt. Joseph’s faith increased exponentially when seeing the dream come true/.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Joseph’s “rough” handling of his brothers during their reunion?
• Has GOD caused a famine around you that is so great, that you have to change?
• Is GOD guiding you to let go of something you are holding onto by placing you in an uncomfortable circumstance?

Quick Preparation

Quick Preparation

Genesis 41: ²⁵ Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: ²⁶ The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years; the dreams are one. ²⁷ And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine. ²⁸ This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. ²⁹ Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; ³⁰ but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land. ³¹ So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. ³² And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

 

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GOD gave Joseph a dream and the ability to interpret dreams. After Pharaoh told him the dreams, Joseph interpreted the meaning. He told Pharaoh something that would take fourteen years to prove out. Joseph also told Pharoah this is urgent.

 

My Observations:

• GOD gave Pharaoh a dream, even though Pharaoh may have considered himself a god.
• GOD used Pharaoh even though he abused people and killed them at the slightest mistake.
• GOD was going to do what HE said HE would, whether Pharaoh believed HIM or not.

 

After hearing about Joseph’s supernatural gifts from the butler, Pharaoh was intrigued. He could feel in his spirit that the dreams had to be something substantial. Joseph explained the urgency of the dreams. Since the dreams were repeated and were food related.

 

Two sets of seven are mentioned in the two dreams. One set showed plenty and the other showed extreme loss. GOD has revealed that seven is important throughout scripture. HE chose to rest on the seventh day during creation. Later GOD will reveal that there are seven spirits of GOD. In this case GOD showed Pharaoh what HE will do so Pharaoh could prepare. It wasn’t about Pharaoh, rather GOD was using this to raise up Joseph and HIS people.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream?
• Is GOD doing something bigger that your circumstance?
• Despite your situation, are you prepared for what GOD is about to do?

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?

Dream Versus Desire

Dream Versus Desire

Genesis 37: ⁵ Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. ⁶ So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: ⁷ There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”

 

⁸ And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

 

⁹ Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”

 

¹⁰ So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” ¹¹ And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

 

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“Now Joseph had a dream” is the beginning of a turn of events that would shape the world. Joseph told his brothers the dream and they hated him even more than before. He then had another dream and told it to his brothers.

 

My Observations:

• Israel may have told Joseph about the vision he was given by GOD when he saw angels ascending and descending a ladder.
• Joseph was not in control of the dreams, rather they came from GOD.
• Israel and Joseph’s brothers misinterpreted the dreams as Joseph’s desire versus GOD’s prophecy.

 

GOD spoke to Joseph in dreams versus a vocal conversation. HE gave Joseph a prophetic view of the tribes of Israel bowing to him. This dream sounded like Joseph wanted his brothers to respect him because they would one day bow to him. Israel even questioned the dream.

 

Israel said something strange during his response to Joseph. He said “Shall your mother and I.” Wait. Rachel was Joseph’s mother and she was dead. This shows Israel’s belief in the afterlife. Israel also considered that GOD may be involved in this dream, so he “kept the matter in mind.”

 

I believe Joseph was trying to tell people that GOD gave him a vision, but since GOD chose to not disclose HIS plan, Joseph could only say what he saw. His brothers would not believe, even if GOD gave Joseph a clear vision with specific directions, because of their hatred.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about how HE spoke to Joseph through dreams?
• Has GOD given you a dream that has not come to fruition?
• Are you encouraged by the fact that GOD has a specific plan for you and HE is working it all out in HIS time?