6 days of creation

• 1^st – Two Dreams… vs. 1-13
  • 1^st – Two FULL years had passed… vs. 1
    • Joseph had interpreted the dreams for the butler and the baker – but been forgotten…
    • I am sure by this point Joseph may have though even the Lord had forgotten him!
    • Waiting on the Lord can often seem like an eternity for us…
    • His timing is NEVER in tune with our timing – we HATE waiting!
    • God never seems to be in a rush – He fulfills ALL of His promises – but ONLY in His time!
    • II Peter 3:8 – “You must not forget, dear friends, that a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.” [NLT]
  • 2^nd – Pharaoh – the King of Egypt – had two dreams… 2-8
    • There were seven cows – fat and very healthy – who were feeding in rich pasture lands…
      • Then seven ugly scrawny cows – CAME UP out of the river – consumed the healthy cows!
      • Pharaoh immediately woke up – a rather disturbing dream – cows eating cows!
    • There were seven heads of grain – on one stalk – healthy / plump
      • Then seven withered and diseased heads of grain CAME UP – consumed the healthy grain!
      • Pharaoh again woke up – the dreams caused him to be troubled (niphal) in his spirit…
      • He knew the dreams meant something – but he did not know what!
    • The Pharaoh looked to the wisdom of the world – to find answers…
      • He spoke (piel) to the BEST the world had – wisemen (educated) / magicians (religious)
      • But all of the wise men and magicians in Egypt failed to interpret his dreams!
      • I Corinthians 3:18-19 – “Stop fooling yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you will have to become a fool so you can become wise by God’s standards.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God…” [NLT]
      • The world does not have the answers to the problems and challenges of life…
      • Instead of answer they have TITLES – PHD – Reverend…
      • But the wisdom of this world – is foolishness to God – they are like clouds without rain…
      • They promise great things – look good – but in the end leave you empty!
      • Jude 1:12 – “They are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain…” [NLT]
  • 3^rd – Remembering Joseph … vs. 9-13
    • The chief butler – seeing the frustration of Pharaoh – remembered Joseph…
      • He spoke intensely to Pharaoh (piel) – saying this has caused me to remember (hiphil) …
      • He recalled how Joseph had correctly interpreted his and the bakers dreams accurately!
    • Why did the butler REMEMBER Joseph now – two years later…
      • It is possible because the similarities – confusing dream – jogged his memory…
      • It is just as possible he did not CARE about Joseph – just a slave in prison…
      • But when the opportunity came to be the HERO to Pharaoh – Joseph suddenly mattered!
      • The truth is – we tend to ONLY think about ourselves…
      • When we wake up in the morning – our first thought is about us – food / bath…
      • We tend to think the world revolves around our lives – it is easy to forget about others!
      • Philippians 2:4 – “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” [NLT]

• 2^nd – Before the King … vs. 14-32
  • 1^st – Pharaoh sent for Joseph… vs. 14-16
    • They brought (hiphil) him out of the dungeon – shaved (piel) and changed (piel) him…
      • Pharaoh asked if he could interpret the dreams – no one else had been able…
      • Pharaoh was still looking to men – he thought the answer was Joseph!
    • Joseph corrected him – it is not me – but God…
      • Pharaoh had NO PEACE – his dreams had troubled his spirit…
      • [אֱלֹהִים יַעֲנֶה אֶת־שְׁלוֹם] – But God will give you peace!
      • Joseph did not even try and take the credit – he pointed Pharaoh back to the Lord!
  • 2^nd – Retelling the dreams… vs. 17-24
    • As Pharaoh recounted his two dreams to Joseph – he added a few details…
      • The poor and VERY ugly cows – he had never seen anything like them in ALL of Egypt…
      • When the ugly cows ate the healthy ones – you could NOT have known (niphal) it…
      • The ugly cows looked just as skinny afterwards – like the fat cows just never existed!
    • The retelling of the second dream of the ears of corn – no differences…
      • Pharaoh told the magicians both dreams – but no one could reveal the meaning to him!
      • Proverbs 15:22 – “Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many counselors bring success.”
      • While it is true that there is wisdom in getting advice from others!
      • We need to be very careful who we go to for our advice – we need to get Godly counsel…
      • You do not want someone who gives you their opinion – no guarantee they are right…
      • You want someone who is going to point you to the Lord – He is ALWAYS right!
  • 3^rd – The dreams are one… vs. 25-32
    • The dreams had one interpretation – God was showing Pharaoh what He was about to do…
    • The seven fat cows and fat heads of grain – represented seven years of plenty…
    • The seven scrawny cows and withered heads of grain – represented seven years of famine…
    • The seven years of famine would immediately follow – the seven years of plenty…
    • The famine would be so SEVERE (piel) – the years of plenty would be forgotten (niphal)!
    • Egypt is a desert – the only source of water is the Nile river that flows through the country…
    • The wealth and prosperity of the nation revolves around the health of the mighty river…
    • If the river suffers from drought – the whole economy of Egypt collapses…
    • The cows coming up from the river in the dream – suggests the Nile was the cause…
    • It likely dried up causing severe famine and crop failure throughout the land!
    • In 1970 the Aswan High Dam was completed – P50 billion – over 3k wide at the top!
    • Since then the annual flooding / and occasional droughts of the Nile have stopped!
  • The dream was repeated twice for emphasis…
    • Established by God – and God will shortly (piel) bring it to pass!
    • God does not stutter – He is not interested in wasting time or space in the Bible…
    • If God repeats Himself – it means what is being said is VERY important – pay attention!
    • If we are reading our Bible attending a study – and something strikes us over and over…
    • There is a reason – pay attention – its likely cause the Lord is trying to tell us something!
    • Philippians 3:1 – “To write the SAME things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.”

• 3^rd – Wise counsel … vs. 33-45
  • 1^st – Joseph did not stop with the interpretation – he also suggested a solution… vs. 33
    • I like that Joseph did not just stop at the interpretation of the dream!
    • Too often I think people point out the problems of life – without giving any solution…
    • I could say to you – you are a dirty rotten sinner – who deserves to go to hell – all true…
    • But to leave you with the problem – without giving a solution – is just mean…
    • Along with the problem – we need to make sure we give the solution – Jesus!
  • 2^nd – Look out (jussive – with permission) for a man…
    • His suggestion was to find a wise and discerning (niphal) man who could be in charge…
    • Collect (piel) 20% of all the crops from the whole land during the seven years of plenty…
    • Then the people would have food during the 7 seven years of famine!
    • Joseph was wise enough to plan for the future – use the seven years of plenty to prepare!
    • Too often in life we live for the moment – carelessly forgetting about tomorrow…
    • We are not to worry about tomorrow – Matthew 6:34 – but it is good to be wise and plan!
  • 3^rd – A man in whom is the Spirit of God… vs. 37-45
    • As much as God has shown this all to you – there is no one as discerning and wise…
      • Pharaoh had never met Joseph before – he was a Hebrew slave – just come from prison!
      • Yet the evidence he had the Spirit of God / and His wisdom – was overwhelming!
      • The past of Joseph was irrelevant – what was important was who was in him!
      • Philippians 3:13-14 – “One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
      • The world will try and define us by our past – whom we were – what we have done…
      • But that in not so in Jesus – we are now defined by Jesus Christ!
      • It is not about where we have come from – but whom we have inside of us!
      • II Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
    • I have set you over the whole land of Egypt!
      • Pharaoh made Joseph second in command to the whole of the nation – Vice President…
      • He put his signet ring on his hand – representing the authority and POWER of Pharaoh!
      • He put fine clothes one him – and a gold chain on his neck – representing WEALTH!
      • He put him in his chariot – and everyone had to bow their knee to him – RESPECT!
      • He gave him a new name – Zaphnath–Paaneah (savior of the world – Jerome) – POSITION!
      • He gave him a wife – Asenath – from a powerful family – PRESTIGE!
    • Everything Joseph ever could have wanted – he received – in Gods perfect time!
      • Because he had been sold into slavery by his brothers – he learned how to serve / lead…
      • Because he had been falsely accused (wife of Potiphar) – he learned not to compromise…
      • Because he had been forgotten by the butler for two years – he learned to patience…
      • Joseph did not realize at the time – but God had been preparing him all along!
      • When we are going through the challenges of life – there can seem to be no end in site…
      • But God uses those challenges to prepare us for the work He wants to do in our lives…
      • Because before God can do a work through us – he must first do a work in us!
      • Zechariah 4:10 – “For who has despised the day of small things…”

• 4^th – The 7 years of plenty – the 7 years of famine… vs. 46-57
  • 1^st – Joseph was 30 years old when he stood before Pharaoh… vs. 46
    • Joseph was 17 when he was sold into slavery – Genesis 37:2
    • It had been 13 years of heartbreak and disappointment…
    • But Joseph had never given up – he continued to trust in the Lord!
    • Galatians 6:9 – “Don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.” [NLT]
    • The key to being used by God is to be patient – wait on the Lord – do NOT get discouraged!
    • I desired to be a missionary for 15 years – before the Lord sent me out…
    • The time in between was not wasted – it was incredible preparation!
  • 2^nd – During the years of plenty Joseph gathered up grain… vs. 47-52
    • He gathered in every city – grain from the fields that surrounded them…
    • He gathered so much grain – it was like the sand on the seashore – beyond counting!
    • The Lord also blessed him with two sons during the years of plenty…
    • His firstborn son he called – Manasseh – causing to forget…
    • The Lord had caused (piel) Joseph to forget all the suffering and the hard years!
    • His second son he called – Ephraim – doubly fruitful…
    • God caused (hiphil) Joseph to be fruitful in the land where he was first a slave and prisoner!
  • 3^rd – The 7 years of famine began… 53-57
    • The famine was over the WHOLE earth – but in Egypt there was bread…
    • When the people ran out of food – they came to Pharaoh – he sent them to Joseph…
    • Joseph opened up the storehouses – and sold bread to all the people of Egypt…
    • Then other countries – hearing Egypt still had food – came to Joseph to buy bread!

•  5^th – A bad reputation… vs. 1-5
  • 1^st – The famine was over the whole world – including the land of Canaan… vs. 1
    • Jacob and his family had nothing to eat – they were in danger of starvation…
    • His boys – all eleven – were just looking at one another – doing nothing!
    • Hard times are certain – John 16:33 – the solutions do not come by just looking to one another!
    • God does not call us to sit by faith – we are to walk by faith – II Corinthians 5:7
    • And we all have faith – Romans 12:3 – BUT we do NOT always put our faith in Jesus…
    • Far too often we put our faith in our own abilities – or the abilities of others…
    • When when we or they fail – then we BLAME God for not taking care of us!
  • 2^nd – Jacob had heard there was food to eat in Egypt… vs. 2-5
    • He sent his 10 sons – who went along with many others from Canaan – to buy food…
      • BUT – he kept Benjamin – the youngest (son of Rachel) – at home with him…
      • He was concerned lest some calamity befall him!
    • Jacob had his suspicions about his older sons…
      • They told a clever story – Joseph coat smeared in goat blood – killed by wild animal…
      • But Jacob had his doubts – he questioned what had truly happened!
      • When we tell lies – and do not get caught – we might think we get away with it…
      • But even if we are not caught – that we lie – becomes part of our character…
      • When we do not tell the truth – are character – becomes untrustworthy!
      • Sow a thought reap an act – sow an act reap a habit – sow a habit reap a reputation…
      • Sow a reputation reap a character – sow a character reap a destiny!
• 6^th – A test of character… vs. 6-28
  • 1^st – Remembering the dream… vs. 6-9
    • Joseph was the governor of all the land of Egypt – second only to Pharaoh…
    • If you wanted food – if not did not want to starve – you had to go through Joseph…
    • His brother came to him and bowed down before him…
    • Looking at them bowing before him – and he remembered his dreams – Genesis 37:7
  • 2^nd – You are all spies… vs. 9-13
    • Joseph spoke roughly to his brothers – acting like a stranger towards them…
      • Joseph recognized them – but they did not recognize Joseph…
      • He was dressed in the royal garb of Pharaoh – looked and talked like an Egyptian!
    • He accused them of being spies – a very real threat…
      • Egypt was the only land to have any food – every nation wanted what they had…
      • Invasion was a real threat – before a nation invaded – they would send spies!
    • I doubt these 10 shepherds from Canaan looked much like spies…
      • The problem was Joseph did not trust his brothers – for very good reason…
      • He wanted to test their hearts (and perhaps having a little fun with them)!
      • When we have a reputation – bad character – people will not trust us…
      • We will find people questioning our words and motives – for good reason…
      • We might want to be offended – but we are simply reaping what we sowed!
    • The brother defense was the truth
      • They told Joseph they had only come to buy bread – true
      • They told Joseph they were all the sons of one man – true
      • They told Joseph the youngest brother was still with their father – true
      • Though they only told the truth – a bad reputation made them untrustworthy!
      • The best defense to false accusations – is to tell the truth…
      • Better to have a reputation for telling the truth – then we will not need a defense…
      • Those who do not know Jesus – do not tend to value their word…
      • They will often attempt to reinforce their word – to assure you they are not lying…
      • They will tell you what you want to hear – or even flat out lie to your face…
      • But we know Jesus – we need to be men of our Word – let our Yes be Yes / No be No!
      • Matthew 5:37 – “Yes, I will, or No, I won’t. Anything beyond this is from the evil one.” [NLT]
  • 3^rd – The test… s. 15-20
    • At first Joseph threw them ALL into prison – telling them they would NOT get out (imperative) 
    • Until one of them went to get their youngest brother – PROOVE they were men of their word!
    • After three days in prison – Joseph allowed all but ONE of them to go home…
    • He gave them food – but if they wanted to return – they had to bring the youngest!
    • By bringing the youngest back – their word would be PROVEN (niphal) to be true…
    • If they were not lying about their brother – then they were also honest about the rest!
    • Once you have lost someone trust – it is very hard to earn it back…
    • Trust is not given – it is earned / and if we are dishonest – easily broken…
    • The only cure for a bad reputation – is to patently prove you are true to your word!
  • 4^th – A guilty conscience… vs. 21
    • 13 years had passed since the brothers had betrayed Joseph – sold him to Egypt…
    • After 13 years they were still guilty over what they had done – Genesis 37:24-25
    • When they saw the anguish when Joseph pleased with them – but they would not hear…
    • They thought they got away with what they had done – but they were haunted in their hearts!
    • Guilt does not go away – it will continue to eat at you until you confess…
    • Sin separates us from God – keep us from having fellowship with the Lord…
    • Guilt is God way of trying to bring you back into fellowship with him…
    • It that nagging reminder that we have sinned – and need to turn and repent…
    • What is scary is when we sin – and no longer feel any guilt – seared conscience!
    • Genesis 6:3 – “The LORD said, My Spirit shall not strive with man forever…”
  • 5^th – I told you so… vs. 22
    • Reuben had stood up for Joseph – kind of – when the brothers wanted to kill him…
      • He convinced them to throw Joseph into a pit instead – Genesis 37:22
      • He then planned to go back later and get him out – bring him safely home…
      • But the brothers sold him into slavery before Reuben could get to him…
      • Yet Reuben knew what happened to Joseph – and still he took part in the cover up!
    • Reuben had stood for Joseph in words – but not in his actions…
      • Not standing up for what is right – makes us just as guilty as doing something wrong…
      • We can talk about Jesus all day long – talk about doing the right things…
      • But it is our actions that prove what is truly in our heart!
  • 6^th – Grace… vs. 23-28
    • Joseph saw the guilt of his brothers – and it broke his heart – he went out and wept…
      • It would have been one thing if they were hardened about what they had done…
      • But they still – 13 years later – had a guilty conscience…
      • So he took Simeon (likely the meanest of them all) and bound him before them…
      • Let the rest go – sacks filled with grain for their families – and their MONEY!
      • While on their way back to Canaan – one of the boys opened his sack and saw the money…
      • When he told his brothers – they were all TERRIFIED – what has God done to us!
      • How could they convince Joseph they were not SPIES – if they did not PAY for their food!
    • Joseph would have been justified being bitter – but instead showed GREAT grace…
      • He had the power to throw them in prison – the power to let them starve…
      • He would have been justified in doing so – they left him for dead…
      • But because of their humility – Joseph instead gave them Grace!
      • Not only giving them food – he gave it to them for FREE (returned their money)!
      • James 4:6 – “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
• 7^th – Looking at the circumstances… vs. 29-38
  • 1^st – All things are against me… vs. 29-36
    • When they returned home – they told Jacob all that had happened to them in Egypt…
      • How the Lord of the land spoke harshly to them – accused them of being spies…
      • And when they opened their sacks – saw each man had money – they were all AFRAID…
      • Jacob became VERY upset – you have ROBBED me of my children…
      • Joseph is DEAD – Simeon was in PRISON – and now they wanted Benjamin!
    • All these things are against me!
      • JACOB was overwhelmed because he had his eyes on the circumstances…
      • Note that the name JACOB is used here – not ISRAEL – governed by God…
      • Little did JACOB know that everything was actually or him – nothing to worry about
      • His son – who he thought dead – was second in command of Egypt…
      • He lashed out at his family – because JACOB got his eyes off the Lord!
      • The solution to a dark room is not to focus on how dark the room is…
      • The moment we turn on the light – the darkness is no longer a problem!
      • In the same way if we focus on our problems – we find we are still in darkness…
      • It is easy to be afraid when we look at the overwhelming circumstances facing us…
      • Because when we focus on the problem – we are not looking at the solution!
  • 2^nd – Reuben offered to take the responsibility for Benjamin… vs. 37-38
    • He offered that if Benjamin did not come back – Jacob could kill his two sons…
      • A foolish thing to say – and if I do not bring back your son – kill your grandkids!
      • But Jacob was quick to answer – my son WILL NOT go with you…
      • He had already lost Joseph – and he would not risk losing Benjamin too!
      • Genesis 49:3-4 – “Reuben my firstborn, unstable as water, you will not excel.”
    • Rather than pointing his father back to the Lord – Reuben tried to be the answer!
      • If people come to us looking for answers and help – it is easy to be the answer…
      • If someone needs food / money / or wise counsel – we can try to be Jesus…
      • And men would much rather look to someone they can touch and see…
      • Therefore they are much more inclined to trust in a man than God…
      • The problem is we are limited – and cannot always help those who look to us…
      • Maybe we can help them once – but when they come back – again and again…
      • We have limited abilities and resources – only God has limitless!
    • It is only when we point others to Jesus – we really give them PEACE…
      • He has no limitations – all the abilities – all the resources – all the power!
      • He is the only answer that we need to give to those who are in need!
      • We are not the solution to any problem – we only point others to the solution – Jesus!