If you needed a reminder that God knows exactly where you are today, this is it. One day, Joseph was forgotten by the people he had helped, locked away with no obvious future and the next, he was standing before the most powerful man in Egypt, interpreting dreams that would shape the destiny of a nation. Today we read more of the story and we see this truth: God prepares His people before He moves.
“Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine. 28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 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. 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 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. 33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials.” (Genesis 41 v 25-37)
Pharaoh has had two disturbing dreams, and Joseph has been taken from his prison cell and is suddenly interpreting them. Your next day can be a transformational one! God knows where you are, even in a dungeon and still has plans for your life.
Joseph sees some things of the heart of God that we still need to hold on to today:
• God doesn’t want to blindside us from what He does. He wants to prepare us for what lies ahead. It is grace.
• God is merciful. The repetition of the message in the dreams was God’s way of saying He did not want anyone to suffer; He wants the message to be heard. He still is.
• God works with plans, His. He doesn’t just tell Joseph to work it out himself.
o Appoint commissioners.
o Collect a fifth of the harvest.
o Store it in the cities.
o Hold it in reserve.
The key lesson is still important thousands of years later, perhaps more so – use the good years to prepare for the hard ones.
Missions Paul 