Genesis 41 Visions and Provisions
A few weeks ago I told you a short story about receiving a message from God for a friend of mine. I want to bring you back to the story as a way of helping us understand how God works.
My friend was in a tough spot. He had conflicted relationship with his supervisor. Both thought the other was not fulfilling their job descriptions. Most of us have felt that way a time or two I am sure. My friends boss is what we might call sporadic dreamer. He has a new direction each week, and not that many people follow the direction because they know it will change. My friend on the other hand is a cynical pragmatist. He is skeptical of anything new and he can tell you why it might not work. They were great counter balances, but not a great team.
Normally if there is a conflict the Boss stays and the Young assistant is out. But in this case the young assistant was on the job first and favored by the overseeing Organizational authorities (The Gary Sloan of the Area). So he calls me and says what should I do I am conflicted If I stand up to the Senior pastor I may be placed as the senior. Or I have to step down and it looks like I was wrong. He said will you pray for me. I said I will, and more than speaking for you I will listen to God on your behalf.
So I am in the Library in Portland, and I remember oh yea I need to spend some time listening for my friend. I say to God Your servant is listen. God starts doing some interesting stuff. Words in my mouth, my mind and I don’t like the message. So I take a break use the rest room. Come back and the message get repeated and I write it down.
Then like I told you a few weeks ago I took the message to others with discernment so they could help me work through if this seemed like it was from God. The message was. Your ministry is done there, you need to swallow you pride, and leave.
8 "We both had dreams," they answered, "but there is no one to interpret them."
Then Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams."
15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."
16 "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."
I want to help us draw some helpful conclusions from Joseph’s experience.
1. God giving us a dream or direction may require others help. We may need to share it with others to get it figured out.
2. It may not be wise to throw every dream and whisper of God before all your friends. We saw this earlier in Joseph story. He shouldn’t have thrown his dream out before his brothers. Probably should have just pulled Dad aside.
3. If God is the giver of the message and the interpretation you need to share it with Godly men and women. Those who will seek God’s voice, those who know what God’s voice sounds like.
32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.
Confirmation! David and his Kingdom (2 Sam. 7:26)
Why would God need to give people a message twice?
• To draw our attention to his message
• It is harder to mis hear the message.
• We won’t have an excuse not to act.
• To give his people confidence in acting.
41:29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.
38 So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God.
Each morning this week I was reading over and praying over this passage, and I noticed a few things about the Blessing and abundance of God.
1. The abundance of God is given for a reason
2. We need the Spirit of God to show us how to use the abundance
A famine is coming to the Land, but before the famine God will bring an abundance that could shelter the devastating starvation. However, we need someone with the spirit of God upon them to manage the abundance to meet the need later.
This is so cool to me, because everyone says there is enough bread in the world to feed everyone, but people starve everyday. What we need is people filled with the Spirit of God to manage the abundance for others and not just themselves.
Lets get real what does this mean for us.
1. The abundance of God is given for a reason
2. We need the Spirit of God to show us how to use the abundance
What does this mean for us?
• What I have is for a reason
• God blesses me for a reason
• My need maybe born out of mismanagement
• I my need to ask others for help (surrounding nations)
