God has a dream - and you are in it...

The Dreams of the Almighty

(Genesis 41:1-36, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, August 9, 2015)

[41:1] After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, [2] and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. [3] And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. [4] And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. [5] And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. [6] And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. [7] And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. [8] So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
[9] Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. [10] When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, [11] we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. [12] A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. [13] And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”
[14] Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. [15] And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” [16] Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” [17] Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. [18] Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. [19] Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. [20] And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows, [21] but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. [22] I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good. [23] Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, [24] and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

God had Joseph in just the right place at just the right time.

[25] Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. [26] The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. [27] The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. [28] It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. [29] There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, [30] but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, [31] and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. [32] And the doubling of Pharaoh's dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. [33] Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. [34] Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. [35] And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. [36] That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”

He spoke God's Word for that time and place. “God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.”

Put the Word to Work: It is not enough to be in the right place at the right time. We must say and do what God has for us to do. Jesus did that in His time and place. He has ordained this special moment for you.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 132:13 – For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place:

Gospel Reading—Matthew 24:29-31 – The coming of the Son of Man

(1-24) God had Joseph in just the right place at just the right time.

In the prior chapter, Joseph had insisted that “interpretations belong to God.” It is a point that was lost upon the chief cupbearer, but one that Joseph was so secure in that he made it again before the mighty Pharaoh after a very important two-year delay.

Pharaoh first repeated the wrong theology that had come from the cupbearer, “I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” Joseph then set the record straight. “It is not in me; God will give a favorable answer.”

God has the right interpretation of everything. Of course He does. Because God is the author of all creation and providence. All of reality, including any troubling dream, is in the hands of the Almighty. Joseph did not come up with interpretations for Pharaoh. He announced the only right interpretation—the one that came from God.

The God who knew what Pharaoh's dream was all about had His man, Joseph, in just the right place at just the right time. Joseph did not know what his sufferings were all about. God did.

(25-36) He [Joseph] spoke God's Word for that time and place. “God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.”

Even if Joseph could have figured out dreams by himself, he could not have brought about the meaning that Pharaoh's dreams contained. That should be obvious. Producing seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine was far beyond the skill set of the man who could not even deliver himself out of prison.

What Joseph could do was report to Pharaoh the truth regarding the plan of the Almighty. “God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.” Joseph could impress upon Pharaoh the certainty of the Lord's message. “The doubling of Pharaoh's dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.”

Joseph, like a good preacher, not only brought the Word of God to Pharaoh, and helped Pharaoh to see the certainty of God's Word, he also applied the message that God had given. What should Pharaoh do about the dream? Joseph knew the answer. He faithfully delivered to Pharaoh a very sensible application in verses 33-36 that would involve the selection of the right leader: “Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.” That leader would superintend over a larger administration: “Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land.” This administration would then be charged with putting into practice God's sensible plan that would save many lives. Food would be stored during the years of plenty and distributed during the years of want, “so that the land may not perish through the famine.”

Put the Word to Work: It is not enough to be in the right place at the right time. We must say and do what God has for us to do. Jesus did that in His time and place. He has ordained this special moment for you.

When the Lord sent His Son into this dying world, He not only gave us a Savior. He granted to us the one perfect Interpreter of everything. Jesus communicated the correct meaning of the Old Testament to us through first century apostles and prophets (Hebrews 2:3-4 and Ephesians 2:20) After pressing upon us the truth of His Word, He told us about His dream of a new Zion. (1 Peter 2:1-12, Is 28) “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” (Hebrews 2:1) [Illustration: Successful CEO now working with ex-convicts.]