Genesis 41:53-57

For the Genesis 41:53-57 PODCAST, Click Here!

53 Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do.” 56 The famine was over all the face of the earth, and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians. And the famine became severe in the land of Egypt. 57 So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands. ~ Genesis 41:53-57

Today, we conclude our study of Genesis 41 where we have seen Joseph ascend the second most powerful man in the world. Joseph arose to such a lofty position because God gave to him favor in the eyes of the Pharaoh. The favor of God means to be acceptable before God with the ability to receive His will for our lives. In the Bible God's favor is likened to a battle shield which surrounded those engaged in a battle. This shield was as long as a man was tall and they were built together to provide protection in all directions. One day I asked the Lord, "Lord, why do you bless me so?" His answer was to the point, He said two simple words, "My Son!"  As children of God, we experience His favor due to the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross. When God favors us it is that He is favoring the Lord Jesus who has shared with us His blessing and position.

In v.53-54 of today's passage we read, "53 Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread."

Seven years of plenty were given to Joseph to prepare for the famine that God told him was ahead. If the storehouses were mishandled, or if Joseph was negligent in his duties, then everyone below him would have suffered. Everyone's success was based upon Joseph's success. The Lord Jesus Christ lived a perfect life and He died a perfect death on our behalf so that we could realize His success in our walk with God.

The famine began right on schedule according to the dreams of Pharaoh and the interpretation of Joseph who had proven himself to be the prophet of God, seeing beyond what could have otherwise been expected. To guess a few years of bumper crops was possible, but to guess seven years of blessing would be followed by seven miserable years could only be revealed by God. And so we see the prophet, the priest, and the king represented in Joseph and thus picturing the Lord Jesus Christ.

The phrase "In all lands" in v.54 means that this was an immense and wide-ranging famine. Twice in Genesis, there were localized famines in Canaan with food remaining available in Egypt, but this time the famine encompassed the whole region. And, as it turned out only Egypt had food and only because they prepared in advance. There will come a day when you and I will stand before God and He will ask us why He should let us into His heaven. If we have prepared properly we will be admitted. The only ticket for admittance into heaven is the Lord Jesus. Simply trusting Him to be our Savior will seal our eternity forever.

In v.55 of today's passage we read, "So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, 'Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do.'"

The people of Egypt cried to Pharaoh because food was in short supply. Physical food is good for the body but spiritual food is good for the soul. One impacts the temporal while the other the eternal. The Lord implores us to store up His word in our soul as we store up food for our body. If bread which satisfies for a day is important, how much more God’s bread which He sent from heaven, the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Pharaoh pointed the people to Joseph. Just as there was only one man to look to for help, there is only one Source of life, and He is the Lord Jesus Christ. Soon, those who have trusted the Lord Jesus as Savior will be raptured up into heaven to be with Him for eternity. It will be at that moment the Great Tribulation will begin. Another famine will take place during that time, life on earth will be hard for all. For those who did not believe on the Lord Jesus as Savior will have to endure those wicked days which will someday cover the whole earth as is pictured in this story. To avoid the Tribulation, I urge you to receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior right now. Confess to God that you know that you are a sinner and you cannot pay the penalty for your sin. Invite the Lord Jesus into your life to be your Lord and Savior.

In v.56-57 of today's passage we read, "56 The famine was over all the face of the earth, and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians. And the famine became severe in the land of Egypt. 57 So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands."

The seven year famine that hit Egypt that year was rare due to the influence of the Nile River. With the famine in full gear all over the earth and with Joseph in charge of the food for all the people, his newly given name, Zaphnath-Paaneah, was fully realized. Through the wisdom that God gave to Joseph, he became known throughout Egypt and the whole world as "the savior of the world."

Yet again, Joseph was a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. All of this just underscores that the answer for man has always been the Lord Jesus Christ. Man’s redemption is tied up in this one Man who came doubly fruitful, saving all humble enough to believe His words, both Jew and Gentile. The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ is the hinge upon which all of history rotates. It opens the door of heaven and it also shuts the door of heaven. The door into heaven is open now through His shed blood but there is coming a day when the door will be shut. For all who resist the free gift of forgiven sin, they will be shut out like those who pounded on the door of Noah's ark. I implore you if you've not to come through the door of the Lord Jesus do so today while there is still time because when the door shuts, it will be too late.

Genesis 41:50-52

For the Genesis 41:50-52 PODCAST, Click Here!

50 And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.” 52 And the name of the second he called Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.” ~ Genesis 41:50-52

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 41 where Joseph has been summonsed by Pharaoh and he has successfully interpreted his dreams. As a result, Pharaoh exalted Joseph to the second most powerful position in the world, second only to himself. And yet, even though Joseph was exalted to such a high and exalted position, he never exacted revenge upon anyone who had earlier treated him badly. The naming of his first two sons reveals the deep work that God accomplished in Joseph in just 30 years of his life.

In v.50 of today's passage we read, "And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him."

Here again, like so many times before, we have a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ through the yielded life of Joseph. It was the Lord Jesus who came to save sinful man from the affliction of his sin. Joseph would not have been able to reflect the image of his Maker as he did if he had fed the flesh. No, Joseph resisted revenge, bitterness and the many other expressions of the flesh that could have defined him. As a result, God used Joseph to save many.

Since Joseph saw the wisdom of being defined by God, in another picture of the Lord Jesus, he obtained a gentile wife. Asenath was given to Joseph as wife. Having rendered sin and death null and void at the cross at Calvary, the Lord Jesus Christ was given by His Father a gentile bride of which you and I are a part. 

The Priests of On worshipped the sun god "Ra." By marrying an Israelite, Asenath escaped the pagan practices of the Egyptians. And, since Joseph was such a strong man of God, we have reason to believe he had a strong influence on leading her to learn more about the God of the Bible. Asenath provides a picture of you and me who once were dead hearted toward our Creator. But, this is where the Lord Jesus came seeking us and because He did, we were rescued from our pagan stance before God.

In v.51 of today's passage we read, "Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: 'For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.'" 

The firstborn child of Joseph was named Manasseh which means "God has made me forget." Joseph, instead of holding on to his grudges, he chose to forget about the ill-treatment and the pain it caused. Joseph decided to even name his firstborn son "Forget About It." Forgiving and forgetting is a great policy when someone has hurt us. Adopting the victim's mentality never serves anyone well at all. And, we live in a world that plays to the adoption of the victim's mentality and it only takes us to the way of the self which only destroys us.

In Hebrew, and thus in the Bible, to forget something doesn’t mean that something was forgotten due to the fading of one's memory. In the Bible to forget brings with it the idea of the choice of forgetting in the way of taking something away. And so Joseph, who was named from the words "to take away," was able himself to take away the bad memory of the awful moments that he had to endure at the hands of those he cared about a lot. In like manner, when God said he will forget our sins, He didn’t develop amnesia, it meant that He actively made a choice to take away the memory of our sin. When He remembers someone, it doesn’t mean He ever forgot them, but that He was drawing them nearer to Himself to help them to know Him.

As soon as he started to rip out the pages of his life and shred them, God said, "Wait a minute, I’ve got a lot of good purposes for those bad stories." This is when we come to the place that we are truly being defined by God, when we are able to be fruitful through our suffering. God doesn’t comfort us to make us comfortable. No, He comforts us to make us comfort-able, able to comfort those with the comfort we have received from Him through our suffering. We must be careful not to rip out those painful stories and forget them. We must be diligent to allow God to heal them and then use them for His glory in the lives of others. 

In v.52 of today's passage we read, "And the name of the second he called Ephraim: 'For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.'"

Joseph’s second son was named "Ephraim" which means "double fruitful" or "twice fruitful." God brought out of Joseph's afflictions a really good story. Joseph, in advance, could not have known that God would bring about so much spiritual fruit through his sufferings. However, we do know that the suffering Joseph experienced and the good that brought about in the process was completely consistent with the teachings within the Bible.

In John 12:24 we read, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." 

Dying must occur in order for the fruit to be born, and unless this death occurs, the grain of wheat would remain only a single seed, bearing no fruit at all. The Lord Jesus used this analogy to symbolize His life and the suffering that He was about to endure at Calvary in order to bear the fruit that God had ordained for Him. Then in the verses immediately following, He revealed that the same principle of spiritual fruit bearing that was at work in His life, would also be at work in the lives of all those who follow Him. 

Watchman Nee once said, "God’s means of delivering us from sin is not by making us stronger and stronger, but by making us weaker and weaker. That is surely rather a peculiar way of victory, you say; but it is the divine way. God sets us free from the dominion of sin, not by strengthening our old man but by crucifying him; not by helping him to do anything, but by removing him from the scene of action."

Genesis 41:46-49

For the Genesis 41:46-49 PODCAST, Click Here!

46 Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. 47 Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly. 48 So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them. 49 Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable. ~ Genesis 41:46-49

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 41. God very often uses agricultural themes to teach us eternal lessons. The context of many chapters in the Bible is that there is either abundance or famine. In today's passage we see that there is the abundance of grain. In Proverbs 18:16 we read, "A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men." This verse was definitely applicable to Joseph who knew that his wisdom was a gift from the Lord. Joseph understood that any man who wants to lead the orchestra he must turn his back on the crowd.

In v.46 of today's passage we read, "Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt."

The age of Joseph was highlighted by Moses at the beginning of his rule for several reasons. First, it gives us a reference for how long Joseph was in slavery. He was sold off to Egypt when he was 17 years old. And so now we know that he remained as  a slave for 13 years. Second, it provides the details concerning His life and how long he would be in this position until his death at the age of 110 years. He held his position of authority in Egypt for 80 years. Third, this gives us the dating of the world from creation. Today's passage was set in the year 2289 BC. Since Joseph was born in the year 2259 BC, today's events took place about 1700 years before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Last, Joseph's age was given to show the parallel between him in his exalted position and that of the beginning of the ministry of the Lord Jesus. 

In his high position, Joseph had access to stand before the king. His position was earned through His wise choices. He also had the right to go into and out from, the presence of the Pharaoh. Yet again, we see Joseph being used of God to point all aware to the coming Promised Messiah. Those who have ever believed in Him were prepared in advanced by the wonderful word of God. It is aways God's word that alerts us to His person and His activity in our lives.

In v.47 of today's passage we read, "Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly."

During this seven year period, Joseph collected food from throughout the land of Egypt. The food for you and me is analogous to the word of God. It is the veracity of God's word that causes our faith in Him to grow. His veracity is best seen through His faithfulness to the promises that He has given. This explains why Joseph was such a consistent and faithful believer. This verse in the Hebrew literally reads, "The earth brought forth by abundant handfuls." This is a unique way of saying that God was faithful to the promise that He had made to Joseph, and, since Joseph had come to see the veracity of God, he laid his life on the line before the Pharaoh. Joseph had tremendous faith. Someone once said, "Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. It is the belief that God will do what is right."

In v.48 of today's passage we read, "So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them."

"All the food" here was the one-fifth which Joseph had earlier counseled Pharaoh to collect. That one fifth was gathered up over seven years and stored in store houses which had been constructed for this very purpose. It was incredibly wise of Joseph to put the food in each major city which all had these store houses. This helped in the distribution of the food to the people because it was closest to the people. Eventually, the amount stored was so immense that it was beyond description.

In v.49 of today's passage we read, "Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable."

There is that phrase again, "as the sand of the sea." This phrase is used 20 times in the Bible and it is always expressive of an uncountable number. Just as it would be impossible to go and count all the grains of sand on the sea, so was the abundance of the harvest stored up by Joseph. There came a point where it was evidently enough for any contingency that was anticipated to arise. We have to remind ourselves though that it was God who said this would happen, and that it was God who brought the flooding waters down into the Nile delta. And it would be God who would stop the floods. By using the weather in the upper Nile to control the river, and the lower Nile to control the heat and wind, there would be an immense famine coming. And all of this was for the purpose of leading those of faith in the God of the Bible to the Lord Jesus through one select group of people whom God had chosen.

In God’s redemptive plan, Joseph endured some very hard moments, being rejected by his brothers and falsely accused and forgotten while in prison. But, it was while Joseph was in prison that Joseph's walk with the Lord was forged deeper than it would have been otherwise. The Lord did not expect Joseph to overcome those hard times in his own strength. As Joseph bowed his will before God, God granted him the insight he would need to be the leader of the people. 

Today, when we cooperate with God in His work, He gives us insight and stamina sufficient for the situation. When following God presents us with hard times, we can be assured that those hard moments will render a fuller weigh of glory enabling us to overcome the pressures caused by the trails. It pays to patiently rest in the all-sufficiency of the God of the Bible. This is largely why He has given to you and me such stories as Joseph's. Once day you will tell your story of how God enabled you to overcome and it will become a part of the survival guide of someone else.

Genesis 41:42-45

For the Genesis 41:42-45 PODCAST, Click Here!

42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-Paaneah. And he gave him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. So Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. ~ Genesis 41:42-45

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 41 where the last of the four patriarch's written about in Genesis demonstrates how the kingdom of God expresses itself in the life of a yielded man. Joseph responded to suffering with faith in the God of the Bible, meekness, and humility, and. As a result, God molded and shaped him to be the leader that the people needed. Joseph continued to picture the Lord Jesus as he not only ended up saving his betrayers’ lives, he also forgave them and provided abundantly for their needs. Such is the potential when a man chooses to reject the empty revenge of the flesh and embraces the life that is being defined by God.

In v.42 of today's passage we read, "Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck."

While the signet ring and the gold chain given to Joseph by Pharaoh highlighted the office of a king, the fine linen garments given to him were priestly garments. They were of the very finest linen. As a result, Joseph was given power by God to help the people get through the famine. But, more importantly, Joseph pointed them to faith in the God of the Bible. In like manner, as King and Priest all rule and authority belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ and all powers and authorities are subject to Him so that He could make it possible to bring anyone willing of heart to enter into a personal relationship with God.

In v.43 of today's passage we read, "And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, 'Bow the knee!'"

Earlier Joseph was made to go down to Egypt at the hands of the Ishmaelite traders, not as an exalted prince, but as a humiliated slave. In today's passage we see that Joseph’s trials served him well. Joseph did not choose to be fixated upon his trials. No, he through his trials chose to be fixated upon the God of the Bible. As a result Joseph was defined by God which enabled him to be exalted to second in all of Egypt. Joseph's chariot, yet again, points us to the Lord Jesus as He many years later rode into Jerusalem and the people cried out, "Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' Hosanna in the highest!" 

In v.44-45 of today's passage we read, "Pharaoh also said to Joseph, 'I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-Paaneah. And he gave him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. So Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt."

This passage marks a significant turning point in the life of Joseph. Until now, Joseph had faced numerous trials and tribulations, including being sold into slavery by his own brothers, wrongly accused and imprisoned, and he endured years of hardship. At this point, there was a profound shift as Joseph was elevated to the second most powerful position in the land of Egypt. Joseph had been separated from his family for 13 years at this point and similar to the Lord Jesus, he was thirty years old when he entered into public service.

The name given to Joseph by Pharaoh has been translated "The Savior of the World." In the uniting of his kingly and priestly roles, Joseph was given a wife from the priestly class. Joseph was given a Gentile bride. Even as the Lord Jesus is being given His Gentile bride. Asenath means "She who is of Neith." Neith refers to wisdom. Asenath was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On which means "light." Potiphera means "He whom the Ra, the sun god gave."

Following these events, Joseph was given authority over all the land of Egypt, signifying a dramatic rise to power and prominence. This consolidation of power provided Joseph with the opportunity to exercise significant influence and to enact meaningful change within the kingdom. The overarching theme here is the providence and sovereignty of God. Throughout Joseph's trials and tribulations, God was working behind the scenes, orchestrating events to ultimately bring about His divine plan. Joseph's journey from a position of lowly slavery to a position of power and influence demonstrates God's faithfulness and ability to use even the most challenging circumstances for His glory and the fulfillment of His purposes in our lives.

In this final verse of our study today is revealed another picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. Although Joseph was used of God to bring temporary salvation to the world at that time, his work paled in comparison to that of the Lord Jesus Christ who came to redeem us from the clutches of the evil one. In 1 John 4:14 we read, "And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world." Without Joseph's correct interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams, the people of Egypt would have been swept away in famine. In acknowledgment that God sent Joseph to save them, Pharaoh gave unto Joseph the title "the savior of the world." Once again, as a result of Joseph being defined by God, he pictured for us the most important person to have ever and will ever enter into our lives, the Lord Jesus Himself. The Lord Jesus was sent by God to save the world when there was otherwise no hope at all. He was promoted to the highest position of all, to rule heaven and earth and to provide salvation to all willing enough to believe on Him.

Genesis 41:37-41

For the Genesis 41:37-41 PODCAST, Click Here!

37 So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” ~ Genesis 41:37-41

Today, we return to our study of Genesis 41 where Joseph is about to be placed in the second most important position in the world. Not bad for someone who was the runt of the litter. Joseph was somewhat like King David. He was the second youngest of a big family and David was the youngest. Both were raised as shepherds. While Joseph’s brothers rejected him and sold him off as a slave, David’s brother Eliab mocked him when he inquired about fighting the great champion Goliath. Both rose to be great rulers who would lead and shepherd their people. These two were great men of God because they looked to God through their trials and they were defined by Him.

Pharaoh was wise to receive the advice that Joseph offered him. Surrounded by his counselors, wise men, magicians, and leaders, Pharaoh surprisingly placed his finger on the reason they were encountering such success: the Spirit of God. It was then that Pharaoh recognized Joseph as “a man in whom is the Spirit of God.” This is the very first time that this term, "the Spirit of God," is used in Genesis since the creation of the world as is recorded in Genesis 1.

Here, Joseph, yet again, perfectly pictured the Lord Jesus. In fact, the same term “Spirit of God” is used in Matthew 3:16 of the Holy Spirit descending upon the Lord Jesus at His baptism by John the Baptist. It was then that God the Father spoke of how well pleased He was of the Lord Jesus. The Trinity is clearly seen harmoniously tied together at the baptism of the Lord Jesus.

Amazingly, Pharaoh credited Joseph’s ability to God. In his address, Pharaoh uses the words "discerning and wise" to describe Joseph. This is the first time in the Bible that the word "discerning" is used and the second time the word "wise" is used. In 1 Corinthians 1:19-21 we read, "For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.' 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe."

The message of good news was in fact preached and Pharaoh accepted it. The wise, the scribe, and the disputers of the age of Egypt were made foolish to demonstrate the superiority of the discernment and knowledge which comes from God. And now, Pharaoh’s words of Joseph’s exaltation came, each pointing directly to the future Christ. Just as Potiphar had promoted Joseph over his whole household, so now Pharaoh promoted him over the whole land

At the end of a long and arduous road, we find Joseph being given complete rule over Pharaoh’s house. This happened because Joseph resisted feeding the flesh. The flesh desires and wants things that go against the Lord Jesus and His will for our lives. Joseph, as a result was never the victim. This happened because he kept his eyes on the victor, the Lord Jesus Christ. When we read God’s Word desiring to see the Lord Jesus and we behold Him in the Word, something special happens. LIFE is supernaturally imparted to us. You see, God is in the business of supplying life to every area of our lives. 

The more Joseph was defined by God, the more he reflected Him. The title "Pharaoh" meant "Great House," picturing all of God’s creation, including heaven itself. Joseph ruled over the "great house" of Pharaoh similar to the Lord Jesus who rules over the Great House of God, including heaven and earth. It is the Lord Jesus who sits as the final authority over everything.

In Philippians 2:9-11 we read, "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Pharaoh left no one who was not subject to Joseph’s authority. Joseph's rule was complete and without limitation in person or in practice. An interesting phrase is used here by Pharaoh. In v.40 we read, "All my people shall be ruled according to your word." The literal translation reads, "At your mouth do all my people kiss." In that culture, it was customary to kiss something that was given by a superior, or possessed by that person. In context, Pharaoh's edict specifically referred to his written proclamation which would then have been kissed by all who received it. Their kiss symbolized their adherence to the edict. 

In Psalm 2:12 we read, "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him." This Psalm is one of a number of messianic Psalms that looks forward to the coming of the Messiah. How someone concludes this is speaking of none other than the Lord Jesus Christ I cannot understand. Psalm 2 contains no less than three distinct voices: the voice of God, the voice of the rulers of the earth, and the voice of God’s anointed king. When Samuel anointed Saul as the first king of Israel he kissed Saul. It was a symbol of homage and allegiance. Like Samuel, we must bow the knee to the Lord Jesus. In so doing, we must end our rebellion against Him and His Word and be defined by Him.

Genesis 41:33-36

For the Genesis 41:33-36 PODCAST, Click Here!

"33 Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. 35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. 36 Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine." ~ Genesis 41:33-36

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 41 where Joseph is now standing before the Pharaoh of Egypt to whom he is giving advice. Joseph faced three different types of trials that God used to develop and eventually exalt him to the second most powerful position in Egypt. Those trials were his abandonment by his brothers, the allurement of Potiphar's wife, and his advancement in the land of Egypt. And, he passed all three tests. 

Deep and contended joy only comes through seeing God with our hearts and that only happens through the trials of life. From the place of desperation we find ourselves looking in total dependence upon God who through the trials reveals Himself to us. It is from that place that we are granted the security and confidence needed to endure through the trials. In 1 Peter 5:6 we read, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." This verse illustrates the life of Joseph about as well as any verse could. Joseph started his time in Egypt as a slave and now he is about to be exalted to the second most powerful position in the world.

In v.33 of today's passage we read, "Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt."

Without a hint from the Bible as to whether he was asked for advice or not, after Joseph gave God's interpretation of the Pharoah's dreams, he went from interpreter to counselor to Pharaoh. Joseph was the revealer of disaster and now he was the imparter of hope. This is what a leader does, he sees the impending danger but he has enough vision to navigate the disaster by imparting hope to those who follow. That day before all in attendance, Joseph showed himself to be a man whom God had endowed with His wisdom. Joseph gave Pharaoh a roadmap not to control the crisis, but to navigate through it. He was able to do this because he believed in the Lord of the Word and the Word of the Lord. 

In v.34 of today's passage we read, "Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years."

Here, the wisdom that God granted Joseph comes into full view. Under the governor of the land, Joseph recommended officers to be appointed. These would be subordinates who would handle given areas and tasks within those areas in order to secure one fifth of the crops needed. True leaders never get bogged down in the minutia of the day. The idea that Joseph put forth was that they should benefit by the coming seven years of abundance. So, one fifth of this superabundance would be enough to cover each of the seven years of famine that was yet to come. 

In v.35 of today's passage we read, "And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities."

Yet again, we see the wisdom granted by God to Joseph who suggested specific preparations for the coming famine. He did this because he believed in the veracity of God's word given to him in the interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams. Rather than a central location Joseph suggested they should store up the grain in each individual city. This put the people’s mind at rest so that once the famine came, they wouldn’t have to go very far to get the needed food. 

In v.36 of today's passage we read, "Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine."

Similar to Joseph, we must be diligent to look to God for His will to come to fruition in our lives.  Living within the will of God is quite dangerous in a world which is daily rejecting God. But, living according to God's will actually gives the only way for us to really know the Lord for ourselves. Instead of focusing on the lurking dangers, a life of faith in God leads us to focus on Him and the incredible miracles which await. But, we must be careful to remember that It is not the miracles that feed our faith, it is the word of God which feeds our faith. That which captures our attention the most is most often that which defines us the most. This was true for Joseph. After all, no man in the Bible pictured for us the Lord Jesus Christ more than Joseph.

For many the circumstances are too difficult. Most are focused upon doing whatever it takes to avoid the famines in life. God desires to navigate us through these trials that we might arrive at Him in a far more intimate way. Oh that we each find ourselves more like Joseph who put God first in his life. The God of the Bible is absolutely sovereign and everything is truly under His control. And, within that is incredible freedom to live out our lives in creative and expressive and exciting ways. Ultimately, the purpose of all of this is not that we arrive upon being the masters of our lives but that we live as servants to the Master.

The late Mike Yaconelli once said, "I want a lifetime of holy moments. Every day I want to be in dangerous proximity to Jesus. I long for a life that explodes with meaning and is filled with adventure, wonder, risk, and danger. I long for a faith that is gloriously treacherous. I want to be with Jesus, not knowing whether to cry or laugh." This is the ambition of a man who has faith that is informed by both the written and the living Word of God.

Genesis 41:25-32

For the Genesis 41:25-32 PODCAST, Click Here!

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. ~ Genesis 41:25-32

Today, we return to our study of Genesis 41 where Joseph has been released from prison and has been called before the Pharoah. After consulting his “magicians” and “wise men” for the interpretation to no avail, the Pharaoh summoned Joseph. After acknowledging that it was not of himself to interpret his dreams Joseph let the Pharaoh know that God would give him an interpretation.

In v.25-30 of today’s passage we read, “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.'”

Joseph’s interpretation came from God fairly quickly and once it came, there was nothing that could have been done to avert it. When the magicians and wise men of Pharaoh gave any interpretation, the purpose was to find a way to avert disaster. Their predictions were often something like, “There will be a famine unless you do such and such.” Joseph’s interpretation was different. He said that God was in control, and nothing could change the outcome. The double dream meant that God’s mind would not be changed. It will happen soon.

Not only was Joseph willing to be the bearer of bad news, but he was also willing to tell the king that he couldn't do anything to avoid the situation. That required courage. Joseph addressed the most powerful man in Egypt and he spoke the truth to him. In doing so, Joseph put God above Pharaoh. After Pharaoh brought Joseph up out of the prison, Joseph spoke the truth to Pharaoh by proclaiming the sovereignty of the God of Creation.

The word translated “one” in v.25 can mean “one comprising many.” A cluster of grapes is one, but it is made of many grapes. There were in fact two dreams, but they comprise one message. When asked what is the greatest commandment, the Lord Jesus said, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.'” The very same word translated one in today’s passage is used to describe the Lord. He is One, but one here can mean one with a plurality, just like Pharaoh’s dreams. Understanding that two dreams can be one dream is helpful for us to understand that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit can also be one God.

Joseph informed the Pharaoh that a famine was on the way and God would be the cause. God would be the One who would be behind the changes in the atmosphere which would occur. And actually, there were several purposes that will be seen. There is the purpose of making Joseph ruler. There is the purpose of bringing Israel down to Egypt. There is the purpose of fulfilling Joseph’s dreams. There is the purpose of freeing Israel from future bondage. There is the purpose of bringing about the Passover. There is the purpose of showing that there is one God and that He controls both the weather and the future. There is the purpose of picturing Christ in all of these things. And in all of these, there is the ultimate purpose, one ultimate final purpose and that is that of bringing glory to God. 

God caused the famine so that God would be glorified. If you can see this idea in everything found in the Bible, then you will be able to see it in everything in your own life as well. This is one reason why we are given the Bible. It shows us the state of humans and of humanity. God created so that we could share in His glory and thus bring more glory to Him. This isn’t a conceited self-seeking glorification, but the sharing of Himself which should naturally lead us to glorify Him.

The name of God that Moses used here was Elohim. Out of 2600 times that Elohim is used in the Bible, less than 400 are used in the way Joseph does here. Joseph referenced “the God” meaning there is no other God and Elohim is the only God. 

The seven good cows represented seven years. Likewise the seven good heads represented another seven years. So, following the first seven years, there will be seven more years of famine. This is the first time that the true significance of the first seven years is noted. They aren’t just seven years, but seven years of plenty. And this won’t be an isolated boom, but it will be throughout all the land of Egypt. All of Pharaoh’s domain will be blessed as the Nile delta floods and the winds are favorable.

Following on the heels of the seven good years, there will be seven terrible years; years of famine which will be so bad that all the abundance of the preceding seven years will be utterly forgotten. Everything which had flourished will be reduced to less than a memory of a memory.

In v.31 of today’s passage we read, “So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe.”

Nothing which was gained would remain. The famine would be so bad that the term Joseph used in Hebrew doesn’t have a direct equivalent in English. Literally, he said, “it will be very heavy.” The concept of heaviness was given to show that the strain of the weight of those years and the crushing burden they would bring would be too much to bear. 

In v.32 of today’s passage we read, “And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.”

Two more times did Joseph reference "the Elohim" or "the God." Elohim is mentioned 9 times in this chapter. Every time He is mentioned in relation to the direct interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams by Joseph. It was Elohim who had given Pharaoh a double dream to underscore the certainty of it coming to pass. Nothing prevents the will of God in the end, not even the puny will of man. We do well to bow our will to Him daily. To resist God's will has never turned out well for man. This double dream was also given as a means of His grace. Sadly, Pharoah was too committed to the self life to believe in the God of the Bible and to be defined by Him.

Genesis 41:14-24

For the Genesis 41:14-24 PODCAST, Click Here!

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.” 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.” ~ Genesis 41:14-24

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 41 where Joseph has been remembered by the butler who had been released from the very same prison just two years before. Although it took the butler two years to go before Pharaoh on the behalf of Joseph, his timing was perfect with the will of God. Sadly, as we saw in our last study, the Pharaoh wasted valuable time in consulting the "magicians" and the "wise men" of Egypt to interpret his dream to no avail.

Pharaoh consulted every but God. Nothing exists without a cause. Nothing changes without a cause. There wouldn’t be a debate about God if He did not exist. We can choose to ignore God but we do it to our own peril. Since God has proved His existence through His creation, our conscience and the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, it certainly is worth paying attention to what He has to say. And what He has to say is found in only one place, the Bible. We do well to look to the God of the Bible for daily aid in how to live our lives.

In v.14-15 of today's passage we read, "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.'"

Upon hearing about Joseph’s abilities to interpret dreams by the butler, Pharaoh consulted him. Joseph was called and brought out of his dungeon. Once out, he was shaved, had his clothes changed, and he was brought before the Pharaoh whose name means “Great House.” 

In v.16 of today's passage we read, "So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, 'It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.'"

When Joseph said, "It is not in me,” he was saying that the interpretation of his dreams would have to come from God and not from him. In essence, he would speak and it would be God who spoke through him. The word peace appears 237 times in the Old Testament. Peace means completeness, soundness, and welfare. It comes from the root word which means making amends or making whole or complete. This most valuable concept is often used in terms of making restitution.

It was the Lord Jesus who said in John 3:17-18, "17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son."

The Lord Jesus came to grant us peace as a result of finding our confidence in Him and His finished work on the cross to overcome the effects of our sin. In 2 Corinthians 5:19, we read, "God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold the world guilty of its sins. And he gave us this message of peace." There is no evidence in the scriptures that God sends man to hell. Man has chosen hell by rejecting the only ransom that will get him into heaven. Condemnation is the unforgiven person's state right now. The wrath of God is the absence of His love, and the wrath of God abides on those who have not believed and received the Lord Jesus' free gift. If we do not choose to leave condemnation, we remain in it. 

Repenting from being our own savior and believing in the Lord Jesus as our Savior is the answer. This means that what the Lord Jesus did on that cross satisfied the righteous demands of God. “Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Believing means embracing something as true, it means to trust in Him. Believing is receiving. Our receiving isn’t based on another person’s faith; it’s based on our faith, and our believing is evidenced by our receiving. Receiving is the application of intimacy with God. And, when we receive the very presence of God we are equipped to see Him, to recognize Him, with our hearts. This intimacy is made possible through the abiding Holy Spirit.

In v.17-24 of today's passage we read, "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.'"

Pharaoh’s recounting of the dream is essentially the same as what he said to his wise men and magicians, but there are a couple small differences. One was he told Joseph that the cows were so ugly that he had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. A second was after the bad cows ate up the good ones, no one would have known that they had eaten them and that they were just as ugly as at the beginning.

Although this was an unrealistic dream it symbolized real things. The cows and the stalks symbolize years of abundance and years of famine. Pharaoh used an extra term here to describe the thin heads on the stalks, he called them withered, meaning they were barren or their fruit was dry. By telling the story a little bit differently the second time, it shows that what we’re reading isn’t just a fable, but an actual account.

In the end, the message is where do we go for truth. The Lord Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Unlike all of the other "leaders" of "religions," the Lord Jesus Christ did not say, "I will show you the way." No, He said, "I am the way." To follow Him is to be defined by Him. To be defined by Him is to obey Him. 

Genesis 41:9-13

For the Genesis 41:9-13 PODCAST, Click Here!

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.” ~ Genesis 41:9-13

Today, we return to our study of Genesis 41 where we find Joseph still in prison but he is about to get his promotion to freedom. In Galatians 5:1 we read, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  It is only the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ that truly frees us from sin to live life the way we were intended, being defined by the God of the Bible. And, this freedom results in the ability to love God, ourselves and others. We show that we are steeped the most in slavery when we desperately try to prove ourselves to others, trying to make our lives look a certain way so that they will accept us. We do this also with God. Well, Christ has remedied this problem for us. And, if we are diligent to allow Him to define us, this is evidence that we have been truly set free.

In v.9 of today’s passage we read, “Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: ‘I remember my faults this day.’”

Only after seeing that the magicians and the wise men couldn’t resolve the matter of the king’s dreams did the butler speak. He obviously felt this would put him in a better light with Pharaoh and so he began with the statement, “I remember my faults this day.” The butler confessed his sin first. In order to have a hearing before the King, we must begin with the confession that we have sinned and that we need His help. Our being made  “right with God” is not based on our imperfect confession of our sins, but on the riches of God’s grace and the perfect sacrifice of His Son on the cross. 

The concept of confession means “to say the same thing as” or “to agree with.” To confess our sins to God, therefore, is to say the same things about our sins as He does: that it is sin. When we have sinned and we realize we have sinned, true confession is agreeing with God that it was rebellion against Him. Once we have confessed the wrongness of our sin and received the payment the Lord Jesus made for said sin, it is then that we have entered into a personal relationship with God. 

In v.10-11 of today’s passage we read, “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.”

The butler also known as the cupbearer finally remembered the circumstances that introduced both he and the baker to Joseph and it was at that point that he began to tactfully share the details of those circumstances. God is always at work especially when the circumstances appear to be at their worst. God was always working behind the scenes, getting Joseph ready to meet a disgraced cupbearer in prison. At other times, He, more subtly, confused the experienced dream interpreters so that they suddenly found themselves mute when faced with a pretty simple task of interpreting the king's dream. At other times God’s work is really obvious, as when Joseph was given the  interpretation of the king's dream and was as a result promoted to the position of Prime Minister of Egypt. Interestingly, the butler was clueless as to how much he was involved in a story which would eventually not only free Joseph but also up to as many as two million Hebrews from slavery in Egypt many years later.

In v. 12-13 of today’s passage we read, “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.”

The butler took it on assumption that the Pharaoh would have known what a Hebrew was since it had been about 200 years earlier that the very first Hebrew crossed over from the land of divination to the pathway that led him to the true God. Having come originally from the area of Babylon, Abraham would have been learned in arithmetic and astronomy. To introduce to Pharaoh Joseph as a Hebrew then added credibility to the discernment of such important matters, even the interpretation of dreams.

The butler gave a few details of what had happened when Joseph interpreted his dreams and those of the baker. Then he highlighted the fact that Joseph’s interpretation of his dream brought about his deliverance. The butler then concluded that perhaps Joseph could interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. God used an unnamed cupbearer to the Pharaoh as a part of His plan to save the entire world of fallen man! This means He can do the same with us as well. In fact, this is the point of our walk with the Lord, that others might see the work of the Lord in and through our lives and desire a personal relationship with God for themselves. But, God must always do His work in us before He chooses to speak through us. I close with a great quote from A.W. Tozer who once said, “It is doubtful that God can use anyone greatly until He has hurt him deeply.”  For sure, we see this truth born out in the life of Joseph and may it be born out in our lives as well.

Genesis 41:1-8

For the Genesis 41:1-8 PODCAST, Click Here!

1 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. ~ Genesis 41:1-8

Today, we transition into our study of Genesis 41. In the book of Genesis, God revealed a lot of truth through dreams. Through many of them, He revealed pictures of the Lord Jesus Christ for this is God’s ultimate goal in our lives, to reveal His Son in, to and through our yielded lives. In the approximately 2500 years of time which Genesis records, only 6 people had dreams; Abimelech the king of Gerar during Isaac’s time; Jacob when he dreamed of the ladder reaching to heaven; Joseph in his two dreams about the sheaves and the stars; the cupbearer and the baker who were in prison with Joseph; and Pharaoh’s two dreams in today’s chapter. Interestingly, there are 12 God-directed dreams in the Bible which are specifically noted as dreams.

In v.1 of today’s passage we read, “Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river.”

In the previous chapter the butler forgot to tell Pharaoh about Joseph, but God never forgot about Joseph. At this point in the narrative God had to leave Joseph in that prison to accomplish other work in and through Joseph. Getting to the place that we no longer complain and we rest in the providential plan of God in our lives is hard and arduous but it is necessary for us to walk with the Lord. And so, now two years will go by until Joseph will be released from the prison. Again, the God of eternity is not bound by time like we are. He is not myopic, He knows all things and we can rest assured that we can trust Him with everything.

In v. 2 of today’s passage we read, “Suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow.”

In this next dream, Pharaoh stood by the Nile river. Suddenly seven cows come up out of the river. The heifer cow was regarded by ancient Egyptians as divine. The fact that they rose out of the Nile shows that the cause of their fatness was derived from the Nile which they also considered divine. After arising from the Nile, Pharaoh saw them feeding on the marsh grass which was abundant along the Nile.

In v.3 of today’s passage we read, “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.”

The next set of seven cows came out of the river as evil looking and thin. They stood by the cows on the bank of the Nile. Instead of eating like the first seven cows, they just stood there. These cows were miserable bags of bones with their skin hanging loosely off them.

In v.4 of today’s passage we read, “And the ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven fine looking and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke.”

In what is contrary to nature on several levels, the thin cows ate the healthy ones. It is contrary that a skinny animal would be able to eat another fat one of the same kind. It is contrary that the weaker should overcome the stronger. And it is contrary that a herbivore would eat another of its own kind as if it were a carnivore. Nothing in the dream seems to fit with reason, and so for the dream there must be a reason. Due to the disturbing nature of the dream, Pharaoh was awakened.

In v.5 of today’s passage we read, “He slept and dreamed a second time; and suddenly seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, plump and good.”

As surely as Joseph had two dreams, and as was seen in the two dreams revealed to Joseph in prison, Pharaoh now has a second dream. This one, following the biblical pattern of the number two, will contrast the first and yet confirm the message. In this dream, healthy wheat grain that bears seven ears on one stalk appeared.

In v.6 of today’s passage we read, “Then behold, seven thin heads, blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them.”

Then, there where the Nile River had run dry, appeared seven thin stalks sprang up from the ground. The southeast wind which usually comes to Egypt in March and April is the one of the longest duration and of the greatest harm to the land.

In v.7 of today’s passage we read, “And the seven thin heads devoured the seven plump and full heads. So Pharaoh awoke, and indeed, it was a dream.”

Just like the previous dream which is contrary to sound reason occurs. Stalks of grain don’t normally go around eating other stalks of grain. And even if they did, which they don’t, skinny ones couldn’t eat fat ones. Again, this caused Pharaoh to be awakened.

In v.8 of today’s passage we read, “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.”

Troubled by his double dream, Pharaoh sent the next morning for all the scribes and wise men of Egypt, to have it interpreted. But not one of them could interpret it, although the clue to the interpretation was to be found in the religious symbols of Egypt. For the cow was the symbol of Isis, the goddess of the all-sustaining earth, and in the hieroglyphics it represented the earth, agriculture, and food; and the Nile, by its overflowing, was the source of the fertility of the land. But however simple the explanation of the fat and lean cows ascending out of the Nile appeared to be, not one of Pharaoh's interpreters could interpret it.

Mankind's problem is that we have been separated from God by our sin. This problem is solved when we repent from trusting ourselves and then turn to God for His help. Once we have received the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, He ushers us into a right relationship with God. This is when our disposition on life changes and we begin to be taught by Him on how to live our lives. This doesn't mean that all of our problems will be over, it does mean that we will have a point of reference with regard to the inner issues that still plagues us, such as anger, jealousy, resentment, worry, and feelings of worthlessness. 

In Galatians 2:20 the Apostle reminds us that we are free to enjoy the life of Christ lived in and through us. It reads, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." The Christian life is the realization of the life of Christ come to bear on the believer in Christ. This is the answer and this is why we do not get life right or arrive at the right interpretation of life because apart from having a personal relationship with our Creator, we are nothing and we will not get life right.