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Joseph Interprets
1Two years later the king of Egypt dreamed he was standing beside the Nile River. 2Suddenly, seven fat, healthy cows came up from the river and started eating grass along the bank. 3Then seven ugly, skinny cows came up out of the river and 4ate the fat, healthy cows. When this happened, the king woke up.
5The king went back to sleep and had another dream. This time seven full heads of grain were growing on a single stalk. 6Later, seven other heads of grain appeared, but they were thin and scorched by a wind from the desert. 7The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven full heads. Again the king woke up, and it had only been a dream.
8 The next morning the king was upset. So he called in his magicians and wise men and told them what he had dreamed. None of them could tell him what the dreams meant.
9The king's personal servant said:
Now I remember what I was supposed to do. 10When you were angry with me and your chief cook, you threw us both in jail in the house of the captain of the guard. 11One night we both had dreams, and each dream had a different meaning. 12A young Hebrew, who was a servant of the captain of the guard, was there with us at the time. When we told him our dreams, he explained what each of them meant, 13and everything happened just as he said it would. I got my job back, and the cook was put to death.
14The king sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of jail. He shaved, changed his clothes, and went to the king.
15The king said to him, “I had a dream, yet no one can explain what it means. I am told that you can interpret dreams.”
16“Your Majesty,” Joseph answered, “I can't do it myself, but God can give a good meaning to your dreams.”
Reflect
Our earthly knowledge just does not cut it. Human reason and wisdom alone cannot reveal the secrets of God’s purpose for our lives. It requires process, patience and perseverance to understand God’s ways with us.
I am astounded at Joseph’s tenacity. Buoyed by God-given insight, Joseph was able to persevere through being left to die in a pit, being sold into virtual slavery and ending up in an Egyptian prison. How would God get him out of this next seemingly hopeless predicament?
When we are in a desperate tight spot, we can have miraculous recall. That is what happened to King Pharaoh’s servant when he was unable to help with the king’s strange dreams. All of a sudden he remembered his encounter in the prison cell with a man named Joseph. He told the king: “A young Hebrew, who was a servant of the captain of the guard, was there with us at the time. When we told him our dreams, he explained what each of them meant, and everything happened just as he said it would” (v 12).
The king sent for Joseph. But again Joseph directed all attention to God when he responded to the king’s request to interpret the king’s dreams. “Your Majesty,” Joseph answered, “I can’t do it myself, but God can give a good meaning to your dreams” (Genesis 41:16).
Like Joseph, we need to develop patience and perseverance and continue to trust God with the mystifying conditions of our lives. While we are waiting for a miraculous breakthrough, we never know how God will use our extraordinary series of circumstances to guide us into our glorious future.
Respond
Thank you, God, that you are the one who holds the secrets to the future for my life. Teach me how to be patient and to persevere when life seems hopeless. Help me to trust you with all aspects of my life.
Thank you that you never give up on me. Amen.
Heidi McLaughlin
For over two decades Heidi has helped people find fulfillment in life through embracing God’s truth. She does this through writing and teaching the Bible, mentoring and speaking at Conferences and Retreats all across North America. Heidi has been twice widowed and has a family of 5 children and 12 grandchildren. When she is not writing or speaking she loves to golf, laugh or share a cup of coffee with her family and friends. Publications: Sand To Pearls: Making Bold Choices to Enrich your Life; Beauty Unleashed: Transforming a Woman’s Soul; Restless for More: Finding Fulfillment in Unexpected Places; Looking Back and Enjoying The View; Your Home, An Entry Into a Woman’s Heart Anthologies: Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider; A Taste of Hot Apple Cider, Apple Cider and Cinnamon, Chicken Soup for the Soul: "O Canada"; Sunshine Kisses for Grandmas, , The Joy of Less
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