Genesis 41:1 & 5 – "Two years later Pharaoh had a dream... He fell asleep and dreamed a second time."
Genesis 41:8-16 – When morning came, he was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. 9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I remember my faults. 10 Pharaoh had been angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guard. 11 He and I had dreams on the same night; each dream had its own meaning. 12 Now a young Hebrew, a slave of the captain of the guards, was with us there. We told him our dreams, he interpreted our dreams for us, and each had its own interpretation. 13 It turned out just the way he interpreted them to us… 14 Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph.15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said about you that you can hear a dream and interpret it.” 16 “I am not able to,” Joseph answered Pharaoh. “It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”
Genesis 41:38-42 - Then Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find anyone like this, a man who has God’s spirit in him?” 39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as intelligent and wise as you are. 40 You will be over my house, and all my people will obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “See, I am placing you over all the land of Egypt.”
Genesis 37:5–9 – 5 Then Joseph had a dream. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 There we were, binding sheaves of grain in the field. Suddenly my sheaf stood up, and your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 “Are you really going to reign over us?” his brothers asked him. “Are you really going to rule us?” So they hated him even more because of his dream and what he had said. 9 Then he had another dream and told it to his brothers. “Look,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun, moon, and 11 stars were bowing down to me.”
Genesis 37:10 – He told his father and brothers, but his father rebuked him. “What kind of dream is this that you have had?” he said. “Are your mother and brothers and I going to come and bow down to the ground before you?”
EMOTIONAL REACTIONS CAN LEAD TO MISINTERPRETATIONS—AND REGRETTABLE ACTIONS.
| Genesis 37 Symbol | Traditional Meaning | Egyptian Fulfillment (Gen 41) |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Jacob (father) | Pharaoh (earthly authority / image of Ra, the sun god) |
| Moon | Rachel (mother) | Magicians & Wisemen / gods like Thoth & Khonsu (moon = wisdom, magic) |
| 11 Stars | Joseph’s brothers | Regional rulers / nations |
Genesis 45:8 - It was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household , and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
JOSEPH'S DREAM WASN’T JUST ABOUT HIM GAINING POWER & AUTHORITY—IT WAS ABOUT GIVING GOD GLORY.
• God’s plan, not Joseph’s. (Gen 41:39 - God has made all this known to you.)
• God’s interpretations, not Joseph’s. (Gen 41:16 “I am not able to your dream, "It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.")
• God’s provision, not Joseph’s. (Gen 41:28 - God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.)
OUR STEWARDSHIP IN SEASONS OF FAVOR DETERMINES OUR PREPAREDNESS IN SEASONS OF FAMINE.
Philippians 4:12–13 - I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Philippians 2:10-11 - At the name of Jesus every knee will bow— of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth —11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Genesis 50:20: "You planned evil against me; God planned it for good."
Romans 8:28: "All things work together for the good of those who love God."
GOD CAN USE YOUR FAITH, YOUR FAILURES, AND EVEN YOUR SINS TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WILL.
