Dream A Little Dream

We always need to be ready for the opportunities God puts before us.

Joseph has been in prison in a foreign land. Despite that, he doesn’t despair, instead, his relationship with God has grown.

The cupbearer and the baker have had dreams that they don’t understand. Joseph interprets them and they come true. Read last week’s post for this.

A couple of years have past and though the cupbearer was asked to mention him to Pharaoh,, Joseph is still in prison. But when Pharaoh has a dream that no one can interpret, he remembers Joseph and mentions him to Pharoah.

So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon…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.”

“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

Pharaoh tells his dream to Joseph and he explained the dream to him. There would be 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine. This was God’s plan and it would happen soon. Pharaoh should find a wise man to be put in charge of the land to manage the abundance so the country would be prepared when the famine occurred.

Pharaoh determined that there wasn’t a wiser man than Joseph and that he should be put in charge of this important matter. Joseph was 30 years old at the time.

Joseph organized storehouses for the grain and saved the abundance to use later. When the famine came 7 years later, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold the grain to the Egyptians. All of the countries came to Egypt to buy grain because it was severe in the whole world.

What can we take from this lesson? It’s important to always be prepared. Joseph was patient and lived out his convictions. Most of us are in such a hurry for God to reveal his answers to us that we charge ahead without waiting for God’s discernment and wisdom.

TRUST GOD’S TIMING

We must trust in God’s timing like Joseph did. He put God’s plan into motion and we can see that God’s timing was perfect even though it takes years to come to completion.

Because of Joseph’s faith in God, Pharaoh sees God’s presence around Joseph.

Even though we see Joseph’s name in this text, the scripture is really about God. God works through Joseph to provide a way for His people. Is it okay to ask God questions? Why? If we ask, God is faithful to provide what’s in his will.

God blesses Joseph with the skill of revealing the meaning of dreams.

GOD NEVER SAYS, I DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING

Never does God wonder what’s coming next. God has a plan.

What can you do while you’re in the waiting? Ask God what you can do now to prepare what he has for you next. (Oh, wow, what am I supposed to be learning in this time of waiting?)

Don’t let a perfectly good desert go to waste. Use it as a time to learn. You don’t want to have to go through that desert again. Learn the lesson or you’ll have to repeat it. If it repeats, you’ll know what to do the next time.

Joseph spent some time in prison, waiting, because God’s timing hadn’t come yet. The hand of God was on Joseph even when he was oppressed. He was prepared when Pharaoh needed someone who knew God.

Never lose faith. Sometimes hardships are God’s gateway to an answer. Opportunities arise when we keep working in the wait. It takes time for God to develop in us the skills we may need.

GOD PLAYS THE LONG GAME

Be here now. Help someone learn or learn yourself.

Live lives of faithfulness. Demonstrate courage. Trust God.

God uses even the small things we do, even when we don’t understand.

REFLECT: Where do you need to put your thoughts?

• PRAYER
• JOURNAL
• READ
• STUDY THE SCRIPTURES

Use your time wisely!

In Faith,

Pam