[Linux4christians] Sunday Genesis 41:1-36

Sat Jul 17 20:55:52 EDT 2010

    Sunday

      Genesis 41:1-36

Joseph's Rise to Power

41:1 At the end of two full years Pharaoh had a dream. As he was 
standing by the Nile, 41:2 seven fine-looking, fat cows were coming up 
out of the Nile, and they grazed in the reeds. 41:3 Then seven 
bad-looking, thin cows were coming up after them from the Nile, and they 
stood beside the other cows at the edge of the river. 41:4 The 
bad-looking, thin cows ate the seven fine-looking, fat cows. Then 
Pharaoh woke up.

41:5 Then he fell asleep again and had a second dream: There were seven 
heads of grain growing on one stalk, healthy and good. 41:6 Then seven 
heads of grain, thin and burned by the east wind, were sprouting up 
after them. 41:7 The thin heads swallowed up the seven healthy and full 
heads. Then Pharaoh woke up and realized it was a dream.

41:8 In the morning he was troubled, so he called for all the 
diviner-priests of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his 
dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. 41:9 Then the chief 
cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I recall my failures. 41:10 Pharaoh 
was enraged with his servants, and he put me in prison in the house of 
the captain of the guards -- me and the chief baker. 41:11 We each had a 
dream one night; each of us had a dream with its own meaning. 41:12 Now 
a young man, a Hebrew, a servant of the captain of the guards, was with 
us there. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted the meaning of each 
of our respective dreams for us. 41:13 It happened just as he had said 
to us -- Pharaoh restored me to my office, but he impaled the baker."

41:14 Then Pharaoh summoned Joseph. So they brought him quickly out of 
the dungeon; he shaved himself, changed his clothes, and came before 
Pharaoh. 41:15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and there is no 
one who can interpret it. But I have heard about you, that you can 
interpret dreams." 41:16 Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "It is not within my 
power, but God will speak concerning the welfare of Pharaoh."

41:17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream I was standing by the 
edge of the Nile. 41:18 Then seven fat and fine-looking cows were coming 
up out of the Nile, and they grazed in the reeds. 41:19 Then seven other 
cows came up after them; they were scrawny, very bad-looking, and lean. 
I had never seen such bad-looking cows as these in all the land of 
Egypt! 41:20 The lean, bad-looking cows ate up the seven fat cows. 41:21 
When they had eaten them, no one would have known that they had done so, 
for they were just as bad-looking as before. Then I woke up. 41:22 I 
also saw in my dream seven heads of grain growing on one stalk, full and 
good. 41:23 Then seven heads of grain, withered and thin and burned with 
the east wind, were sprouting up after them. 41:24 The thin heads of 
grain swallowed up the seven good heads of grain. So I told all this to 
the diviner-priests, but no one could tell me its meaning."

41:25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Both dreams of Pharaoh have the same 
meaning. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 41:26 The 
seven good cows represent seven years, and the seven good heads of grain 
represent seven years. Both dreams have the same meaning. 41:27 The 
seven lean, bad-looking cows that came up after them represent seven 
years, as do the seven empty heads of grain burned with the east wind. 
They represent seven years of famine. 41:28 This is just what I told 
Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 41:29 Seven years 
of great abundance are coming throughout the whole land of Egypt. 41:30 
But seven years of famine will occur after them, and all the abundance 
will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will devastate the 
land. 41:31 The previous abundance of the land will not be remembered 
because of the famine that follows, for the famine will be very severe. 
41:32 The dream was repeated to Pharaoh because the matter has been 
decreed by God, and God will make it happen soon.

41:33 "So now Pharaoh should look for a wise and discerning man and give 
him authority over all the land of Egypt. 41:34 Pharaoh should do this 
-- he should appoint officials throughout the land to collect one-fifth 
of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 
41:35 They should gather all the excess food during these good years 
that are coming. By Pharaoh's authority they should store up grain so 
the cities will have food, and they should preserve it. 41:36 This food 
should be held in storage for the land in preparation for the seven 
years of famine that will occur throughout the land of Egypt. In this 
way the land will survive the famine."

      Prayer

Lord, may Your perfect meaning be made known to me by Your indwelling 
Holy Spirit and may I be as bold as Joseph in sharing that with others.

      Commentary

Two years passed, Joseph was still in prison, the Cupbearer back in the 
palace.

The Pharaoh had dreams, visions given to him by God, but his "... 
diviner-priests", men whose "gift of interpretation" came to them from 
the evil one because he was the one usually giving the visions to 
Pharaoh (even if they would not have acknowledged that), were unable to 
interpret these dreams (because they came from God).

The Cupbearer finally remembered Joseph's request, perhaps as it would 
now make him a 'hero' to the Pharaoh, and told the story of Joseph's 
accuracy in interpreting dreams.

God's message, repeated to Pharaoh twice for emphasis, was that a 
terrible famine of seven years was to follow seven good years. The 
counsel of God was that they store one-fifth of the grain during each of 
the seven good years to carry them through the seven years of famine.

Joseph advised Pharaoh to appoint and empower someone he trusted to 
oversee this so it would happen as instructed.

    Interaction

        Consider this:

Neither the Cupbearer or the Pharaoh would have understood the 
difference between the sources of their dreams, they just pragmatically 
and superstitiously went to whomever seemed most-capable of providing 
answers.

        Discuss this:

Joseph would appear to have prepped Pharaoh a little with his choice of 
phrases as he describe the one Pharaoh should choose to lead the famine 
preparations "... a wise and discerning man" (Joseph was the only one 
with a clue as to the dreams) and "... give him authority" (Pharaoh was 
unlikely to have trusted many of those around him).

        Reflect upon this:

        Joseph, as a result of God's action, went from a
        falsely-imprisoned man to not only informing Pharaoh but
        advising him.

        Share this:

When has God blessed you with the opportunity to inform, and perhaps 
advise, someone in authority. Were you humble in so-doing? How did they 
receive your input?

      Faith in Action

Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where He has given you information of 
value to someone in a position of authority. Pray for clarity, wisdom 
(knowledge plus understanding), and courage.

        Action:

Today I will find a way to deliver the information, and perhaps also 
advise, that I have been given to the one for whom it is intended. This 
may be a teacher, parent, bureaucrat, politician, member of law 
enforcement, coach, neighbor, or friend. I will do so in an appropriate 
manner and remain humble throughout the process. I will consult with a 
Biblical "elder" before, during, and after the process for prayer, 
accountability, and wise counsel.

        Be Specific/
        _______________________________________________________/

    Monday's text will be:  Genesis 41:37-57

-- 

Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!  Pastor David
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Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
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