Good morning,
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr gave his “I have a dream” speech on 28 August 1963. His dream was to see the unity of the black and white communities.
Joseph dreamed dreams in his day. God allowed him to interpret the dreams of others. His dreams caused his brothers to hate him and his father to rebuke him. Little did they know that those dreams would be fulfilled in their lifetime.
We will look at six dreams. Two are Joseph’s, two are prison, and two are Pharaoh’s. We will see how Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams saved both the nations of Egypt and Israel from a disastrous famine.
I HAVE A DREAM
And Joseph dreamed a dream… (Genesis 37:5)
Introduction 2 dreams: Joseph, Prison, Pharaoh
Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream (Genesis 41:15-36)
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
Pharaoh’s first dream (Genesis 41:17-21)
17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:18 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fat-fleshed and well favored; and they fed in a meadow:19 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favored and lean-fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:20 And the lean and the ill favored kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:21 And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill-favored, as at the beginning. So I awoke.
Pharaoh’s second dream (Genesis 41:22-24)
22 And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:23 And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them: 24 And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.
Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams (Genesis 41:25-36)
25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.27 And the seven thin and ill favored kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.
Dream fulfilled (Genesis 42:6, 43:26, 44:14)
And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. (Genesis 42:6)
And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth. (Genesis 43:26)
And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground. (Genesis 44:14)
What did we learn?
All dreams fulfilled
God is in control
Israel Egypt saved from drought
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com