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.

 

============

 

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?

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.”

 

============

 

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?

It’s Your Time

It’s Your Time

Genesis 41: ¹⁴ Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. ¹⁵ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.”

 

¹⁶ So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”

 

============

 

Pharoah heard about Joseph from the butler who was imprisoned with Joseph two years prior. Pharoah was eager to hear the interpretation of his dream so they rushed Joseph out of the dungeon. He shaved for the first time in years and put on a new set of clothes. Joseph told Pharoah that GOD would give an answer of peace.

 

My Observations:

• Joseph probably had given up on the thought that he would be free.
• Joseph struggled with being in prison due to his innocence.
• GOD had a timing for Joseph to be freed and HE used an unconventional person who did not worship HIM to free Joseph.

 

Egyptian Pharaohs were so powerful that they were worshipped as gods. They bowed to no one, rather all were to bow to them. GOD used this arrogance for HIS purpose. HE used Pharaoh’s abuse of power to work through the butler to bring Joseph to Pharaoh.

 

I believe the butler supernaturally forgot Joseph and was reminded on Pharaoh’s birthday that Joseph could interpret dreams. This was the beginning of the rise of Joseph part two. Joseph gave credit to GOD regarding interpretations of dreams. Little did Joseph know that GOD was about to put him in charge to make a way for HIS covenant to be fulfilled.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about the actions of Pharaoh and Joseph?
• Can your time look different than you expect?
• Is GOD preparing you to act as HIS ambassador and are you crediting HIM for where you are and what you are doing?

Almost Time

Almost Time

Genesis 41: ⁹ Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: “I remember my faults this day. ¹⁰ When Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker, ¹¹ we each had a dream in one night, he and I. Each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. ¹² Now there was a young Hebrew man with us there, a servant of the captain of the guard. And we told him, and he interpreted our dreams for us; to each man he interpreted according to his own dream. ¹³ And it came to pass, just as he interpreted for us, so it happened. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him.”

 

============

 

Speaking cautiously, the chief butler spoke to Pharoah. Because of Pharoah’s dream, he remembered Joseph. This dream came exactly two years after the butler was released.

 

My Observations:

• The butler may have been so intimidated, that when he was released and the baker was hung, he did not want to make any waves.
• The baker may have supernaturally forgotten Joseph.
• GOD brought Joseph to remembrance at the right time.

 

Sometimes we forget things or overlook things that are extremely important. Joseph asked the baker to remember him, but the baker may have been so intimidated, that he could not remember anything byt trying to please Pharoah. Meanwhile Joseph sat in prison. Does this sound familiar? You and I can think GOD will rescue us immediately, but HIS timing may be different.

 

The baker finally remembered Joseph. He said to Pharoah “I remember my faults this day” possibly meaning he coud have told Pharoah years ago, but didn’t. GOD orchestrated a servant that was close enough to Pharoah to have this discussion. Pharoah would have never listened to the butler regarding leadership choices. BUT GOD paved the way for Joseph. It was almost Joseph’s time.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD go into detail about the butler’s conversation with Pharoah?
• Have you forgotten someone that needs mentioning?
• Do you believe that GOD is working out HIS plan for you in ways you cannot see right now?

Right Timing

Right Timing

Genesis 41: Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river. ² Suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. ³ Then behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and gaunt, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the river. ⁴ And the ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven fine looking and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke. ⁵ He slept and dreamed a second time; and suddenly seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, plump and good. ⁶ Then behold, seven thin heads, blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them. ⁷ And the seven thin heads devoured the seven plump and full heads. So Pharaoh awoke, and indeed, it was a dream. ⁸ Now it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh.

 

============

 

Joseph sat in prison another “two full years.” Pharoah had two dreams that he could not interpret. He told the dream to his magicians but they could not interpret the dreams.

 

My Observations:

• The part of Pharoah that was supposed to be listening to GOD was his “spirit” and that was troubled.
• Pharoah surrounded himself with men who were able to perform supernatural acts that were not of GOD.
• Pharoah told his dreams to his magicians and wise men and probably could discern that they were guessing or did not know.

 

Significant dreams from GOD led Pharoah to be troubled. These dreams possibly came on his birthday, exactly two years after he let the butler free and hanged the baker. Joseph, by now, had lost hope that he would get out of prison. He was hated by his brothers, framed by Potiphar’s wife and left to die in a prison he shouldn’t have been in. BUT GOD’s timing was not on his mind.

 

GOD gave Pharoah the dreams at the exact moment HE needed to. Joseph was part of HIS plan and so was Pharoah. Joseph had to wait for Pharoah to have the dream that would set in motion a series of events that would eventually free Joseph for GOD’s purposes. The right timing was here!

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD tells Moses about “two full years” and the details of Pharoah’s dream?
• Are you feeling trapped and are waiting for GOD to release you from your prison?
• Can you wait on GOD’s timing, knowing HE is orchestrating a plan that includes you and many others?

 

Forgotten but Remembered

Forgotten but Remembered

Genesis 40: ²⁰ Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. ²¹ Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. ²² But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. ²³ Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

 

============

 

GOD gave Joseph a dream that caused his brothers to be jealous and want to kill him. Instead they sold him to the Ishmaelites who then sold him to the Egyptians. There he was lied on by Potiphar’s wife and ended up in prison. He interpreted Pharoah’s chief butler and chief baker’s dreams. The butler was set free and the baker was hanged. The butler forgot to tell Pharoah about Joseph.

 

My Observations:

• Joseph did not ask for the dream GOD gave him, yet he seemed to lose his family, friends and was now in prison.
• Joseph asked for one favor from the butler and the butler could not even do that.
• Joseph knew the interpretation came from GOD, yet he remained in prison.

 

What do you do when you’ve done everything right and it still seems like everything is going wrong? Joseph followed GOD and was given dreams and the ability to interpret dreams. But what good was this gift if he remained in prison? It was a lot of good.

 

Joseph did not know that GOD’s plan was still in action. The glimmer of hope that Joseph had by placing faith in a human seemed lost. BUT GOD was still at work and needed Joseph in prison a little longer. GOD’s timing did not feel good but was right and included many factors.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about the butler forgetting to tell Pharoah about Joseph?
• Have you ever felt forgotten?
• Can you hold on and allow GOD’s timing to come to fruition for HIS great plan HE has for you?

Misinterpreting the Interpreter

Misinterpreting the Interpreter

Genesis 40: ¹⁶ When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was in my dream, and there were three white baskets on my head. ¹⁷ In the uppermost basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.”

 

¹⁸ So Joseph answered and said, “This is the interpretation of it: The three baskets are three days. ¹⁹ Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head from you and hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from you.”

 

============

 

Joseph had given the butler an interpretation of his dream that sounded favorable. The baker decided to tell Joseph his dream. Joseph gave him the interpretation that was not favorable.

 

My Observations:

• The baker may have thought that Joseph was there to only spread good news.
• The baker may have thought that he was going to get some good news since he had a dream on the same day and it included similar numbers.
• Birds symbolize predators and prey, but in this instance, it means predator birds will feast on the bakers body that was displayed as a warning to people.

 

Thinking that Joseph was only there for good news made the baker tell Joseph his dream. He misinterpreted Joseph’s role. Joseph was simply the messenger. The baker may have wanted Joseph to be the cause for his escape from Pharoah.

 

We do the same as the Baker. We only want to hear good news from the interpreters of GOD’s word. But there are difficult messages that may cause us to question GOD. In this slice of history, the baker was under a cold and heartless Pharoah. He, and others, were put to death  for even the slightest infraction. GOD gave Joseph the interpretation.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about the interpretation of the baker?
• Are there some difficult things about GOD’s sovereignty that can cause you to question HIS approach?
• If you have questions about GOD’s approach, are you willing to ask HIM for clarification so you can apply it to your life?