November 27, Genesis 41
Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do." - Genesis 41:25
How was it possible that a foreign slave came out of prison to stand in Pharaoh's court and discuss the king's dreams and their meaning? All we've read since Genesis 37 has set the stage for this dramatic exchange between Joseph and the mighty Egyptian ruler.
Two full years had passed since the chief butler forgot about Joseph. But when he heard that his master had dreamed a pair of dreams that his magicians could not interpret, he remembered his own dream and a fellow prisoner, Joseph, who had correctly interpreted both his and the chief baker's dreams. That two years must have seemed long to Joseph in prison. The total number of years Joseph had been away from his home and father now stood at 13.
Pharaoh's dream was not caused by eating too much popcorn too close to bedtime, or from reading a scary book before retiring for the evening. God was communicating a message to the pagan king on a channel he received, since Egyptians were very interested in dreams and their meanings. He did not know what the dreams meant, but they troubled him. When he heard about Joseph, he immediately called the dream-interpreting prisoner into his presence.
Joseph couldn't go to court looking like he did in the dungeon. So he shaved, put on clean clothes and went to see the king. The Lord gave Joseph an amazing opportunity to glorify his God before the polytheistic pagans in Pharaoh's court. When Pharaoh spoke of his reputation as an accurate interpreter, Joseph denied that he had such ability, but said God would tell Pharaoh the meaning of his dreams. Some of us (including a preacher and writer I know) need to be reminded that any ability we have to communicate God's word is a gift from God himself. Joseph was clear about that.
Joseph knew at once what the cows and the grain were about. He knew how the number seven fit into the announcement. He told the king the two dreams had one message: a devastating famine was coming in seven years. There would be food through the famine if they wisely managed the seven years of plentiful crops they would enjoy before the famine began. He gave Pharaoh a plan to save 20 percent of the abundant crops over the coming years, so there would be food stored up when the famine struck. Pharaoh's nation would survive the long famine.
Perhaps you've heard modest leaders say they don’t have to be smart; they just surround themselves with smart people. Pharaoh was smart enough to recognize the prize he had in Joseph. He didn't know much about Joseph's God, but he knew a good plan when he heard one. Pharaoh made Joseph the administrator of the plan he had described. He granted Joseph full authority to establish and build the facilities, and coordinate the storage and distribution.
Pharaoh gave Joseph an Egyptian name, Zapenath-paneah. It was an exalted title that probably translates as "Savior of the World.” In a very real sense, Joseph did save, not only Egypt, but people from neighboring nations who came to buy grain from Egypt. When the famine struck, Egypt was ready and the neighbors were not.
News of grain in Egypt would prompt Jacob back in Canaan to send his sons to buy some food. He had no idea what would happen as a result of that trip to get grain.
We're reminded by this story that God knows everything, in advance. He stands outside of time and sees our future as clearly as our present or past. God is almighty. He is sovereign over the events and rulers of this world. God uses human beings to accomplish his purpose, but all the power for doing his will comes from him. May God grant us faith, humility and courage like Joseph's to be faithful witnesses to the truth about our awesome God to an unbelieving world.
Copyright © 2021 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—November 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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