Morning Moments

JOESPH: Patient in Prison Genesis 41
I. The Pharaoh’s Dreams 41:1-7
II. The Pagan Deceivers 41:8
III. The Prisoner's Deliverance 41:9-13
IV. The Potential Destruction 41:14-36
A. Part I The Mystery - 41:14-24
B. Part II The Meaning - 41:25-36

Let's first look at the text where we are told several things about the dreams:

1. The two dreams are one dream. In other words they are two ways of communicating the same truth.
2. Both speak of a period of seven years.
3. There will be seven years of abundance.
4. Then seven years of famine will follow which will be extremely severe.
5. God will bring this to pass and Pharaoh should appoint a wise man to prepare.
6. They will prepare in the first seven for the next seven.

What's so hard about interpreting that dream? Nothing if you are looking back. That may sound silly, but it is true. Think of it this way: It is so easy for us to give "advice" to others when we have been where we think they are, but the problem for us is not having been but in being where they are.

Joseph knew about lean years himself. After all, he went from being his dad's number one son of twelve to a pit and a prison. Who better could God have used to know the agony of lean years.

Maybe you are facing some "lean" years now! Maybe you have just come through some. The fact is that you and I have either been through them or have yet to go through them. It is the training ground for everyone, every couple, every family, every business, every nation, and every government. HISTORY TEACHES US THAT! History is the record of the recycling of events from one time period to another.

HOWEVER, if we listen to God, and His message of warning to man, we can be prepared and not only persevere, but prosper as we proceed. God was not doing this for Pharaoh because He favored Egypt, but because He favored Israel and God has not favored any person or nation for itself, but so that person or nation might be a tool in the hand of God to prepare, protect, preserve, and prosper HIS PEOPLE.

BUT we can be sure of one thing: The Pharaoh never forgot this man who simply said, God gave me this; it was not from me. SELAH!

BLESSINGS!