Abundance or Famine

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

ABUNDANCE OR FAMINE

Gen 41:25-32

25 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.

NIV

After Joseph heard the two dreams God gave Pharaoh, he told Pharaoh he could not interpret them, but that God could and would reveal what they meant. Joseph revealed that both dreams meant the same thing because God had firmly decided what was about to happen. This truth should be the basis of everyone's life. God can establish times of great abundance and times of famine within our lives. This is what Paul meant when he said that he had learned to be content, whether well fed or hungry, whether in plenty or in want. We wonder whether we expect God to always make us live in abundance, to always bless us with good health, wealth, and wisdom. God has promised that if we seek him and his righteousness first and foremost, he will add the things pagans or unbelievers chase after. Is that the reason we believe we are meant to have the good things in life and not experience any type of famine? Can we say Joseph wasn't seeking God first? No, but he went from being the favorite son to a slave, then lifted up, then pushed down and put in prison, and now he will be lifted up again. Joseph had learned to be content and always live upright before the LORD, whether in plenty or in want, in abundance or famine. That is how we should face the life God has given to us. First, we know that all revelation comes from the Lord; if we seek him, he will show us what he is about to do, and what he has already done. We know the end of the story; he has revealed that through his prophets and his word. But when it comes to our individual lives, what we are supposed to do, and what he will do in our lives, what will happen is not for us to know. We are only to ask that his will be done in our lives, as it is in heaven, and then live believing that whatever he does, whether we live in plenty or want, we belong to him, to live and do as he pleases. 

I Cannot Do It

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

I CANNOT DO IT

Gen 41:14-24

14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh. 15 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." 16 "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. 19 After them, seven other cows came up — scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. 20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 21 But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up. 22 "In my dreams I also saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23 After them, seven other heads sprouted — withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none could explain it to me."

NIV

With Joseph standing before Pharaoh, we can ponder two truths. First, before he stood before Pharaoh, he needed to shave, clean up, and change his clothes. We would, if we were going to be presented before the king of England or the president of the United States, most likely make sure we were presentable, making sure we were clean and dressed in good clothes. How do we think we should prepare ourselves before we present ourselves before the Lord God Almighty? It does not matter how clean we are on the outside, but it does matter how clean our inside is, or the condition of our hearts. Surely, we cannot stand before God because of our own cleanliness, but we have been washed in the blood of the Lamb, so we are whiter than new-driven snow. This brings us to the second truth, which works with the first truth.  When Pharaoh told Joseph that he had heard that he could interpret dreams, Joseph made a profound reply, "I cannot do it, but God will." This should be the basis of our lives. How many times do we think we can do this or that? How many times do we look to our own abilities, education, knowledge, skills, or strength? We should remember that Jesus said that apart from him we can do nothing. When we face areas of life that require something of us, should we not say, "I cannot do it, but God will," because we know he will give us the strength, the knowledge, and, better yet, the wisdom and ability to do it? Joseph knew God would reveal the truth so He would be glorified and His will accomplished in the lives of His people.  When we stand in prayer before our Lord, we know, without a shadow of doubt, that he can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. So we will always say, "I cannot do it, but God will." 

Reminded of Shortcomings

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

REMINDED OF SHORTCOMINGS

Gen 41:1-13

41:1 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, 2 when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. 4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. 5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted — thin and scorched by the east wind. 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream. 8 In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. 9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 12 Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. 13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged."

NIV

This is the story of two dreams, and how Joseph ended up standing before Pharaoh. Once again, we know those dreams were inspired, or could we say spoken into the mind of Pharaoh, by the LORD. In some sense God chased after Pharaoh to get Joseph to the place he was meant to be. But the story we need to consider is that the cupbearer was reminded of his shortcomings. Was it because he heard Pharaoh's dreams and learned that none of the magicians or wise men at Pharaoh's court could interpret them? Is that why he remembered Joseph? Could the LORD have been working in the cupbearer's heart, and he became aware of his shortcomings? If it was not the LORD, why would the cupbearer even say that to Pharaoh? All he could have said was that he met a Hebrew while imprisoned who interpreted his dream. He did not need to tell Pharaoh he had a shortcoming. Here is where we step into this story. We must believe that we all have at least one shortcoming. We know the Holy Spirit dwells with us and speaks into our hearts and minds, revealing all truth. How much do we abide in all truth? We often fall short, for we have not yet attained perfection until we reach those pearly gates. However, when do we ever say, "I am reminded of my shortcomings?" Certainly, we tell the LORD about them, but the cupbearer was not confessing his shortcomings to God, but to his king, the man who held the power of life and death. Does that suggest it might be good to admit our shortcomings to another believer? If we did, would that undermine our appearance of righteousness? We know that we do not want to be like the Pharisees, looking good outside while having dead bones on the inside; yet have we admitted or said, "I am reminded of my shortcomings" 

From God's Hand

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

FROM GOD'S HAND

Gen 40:9-23

9 So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, "In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, 10 and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup and put the cup in his hand." 12 "This is what it means," Joseph said to him. "The three branches are three days. 13 Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh's cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. 14 But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. 15 For I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon." 16 When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, "I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets of bread.   17 In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head." 18 "This is what it means," Joseph said. "The three baskets are three days. 19 Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat away your flesh." 20 Now the third day was Pharaoh's birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials: 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh's hand, 22 but he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation. 23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

NIV

Two different dreams with different outcomes: one restored, the other hanged. Those dreams came from the LORD to inspire Joseph to give the correct interpretation, which would eventually lead to his position and allow him to save his father's household. However, that was only the beginning of God's much larger plan. But our story is about the cupbearer and his restoration to serve Pharaoh. Joseph had asked him to remember him when he was restored to his position, but he did not. In his own good fortune, he thought only of himself. We will see that after two years, he remembers his shortcomings, which is from God's hand. But that is the truth we need to focus on: the cupbearer forgetting all about Joseph because he was lifted up. First, we must remember that Joseph's interpretations were not his natural abilities, but were inspired by the mind of God. The baker's misfortune also came from God's hand, and the cupbearer's restoration came not from Pharaoh's hand, but from God's. We are reminded that Jesus told us, "Apart from me, you can do nothing." When we are either lifted up, blessed abundantly by the Lord, and restored to our position as one of His own, we should not forget, but always remember, that our lives are in God's hands. The cupbearer forgot, but we cannot ever forget to give all the credit for everything in our lives to God Almighty. God might use someone to bring good things into our lives, perform a miracle, inspire us to make the right choice, or lead us to follow the precise path He has laid out for us. Whatever comes into our lives, it is always by His hand. That could also mean that if we experience hardship, illness, infirmity, or misfortune, it is also by God's hand. Joseph belonged to God; having been rejected by his brothers, thrown into a cistern, sold into slavery, hauled off to a foreign place, and evidently ended up in prison, all of it was due to the plan of God. He did not get discouraged or turn away from God; he served where he was and did the best he could. That is our story. No matter where God leads us, whether He blesses us with good fortune or gives us something else, we will never forget that everything is always from God's hand. 

God's Interpretation

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

GOD'S INTERPRETATION

 

Gen 40:1-8

40:1 Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. 2 Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them. After they had been in custody for some time, 5 each of the two men — the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison — had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 6 When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. 7 So he asked Pharaoh's officials who were in custody with him in his master's house, "Why are your faces so sad today?" 8 "We both had dreams," they answered, "but there is no one to interpret them." Then Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams."

NIV

Before we get into the dreams and their meanings, we should consider a few truths in this part of Joseph's story. We are not told what the cupbearer and baker did to offend Pharaoh, but it shows how those who do not know the LORD react to being offended, compared with how a believer thinks about offenses. They offended the king of Egypt, and he threw them in jail, without ever considering forgiveness.  First, why do believers think they have been offended? Could the reason be that we think more highly of ourselves than we should? In Essence, we are saying, "How dare you do or say something that I do not like; I take offense at that." Then, once we take that position, we could turn toward anger. It's not about our unforgiveness or forgiveness because they are in the wrong and need to change. Let's think soberly about ourselves and make every effort to live in peace and harmony with each other out of love. Second, the other truth is what Joseph said about interpretations belonging to God. Although he was referring to the dreams of the cupbearer and baker, we have to come to grips with the fact that all interpretations come from God. As we read and ponder His Word, we need to listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. He always leads or guides us into all truth. He does not speak on his own, but he speaks into our spirit only what he hears, and he takes from the Lord what is His and makes it known to us. So many think or believe they have the right interpretation of the Word of God, and maybe they are hearing from the Spirit, or maybe they are just reciting traditional beliefs. Some are speaking words of deception, claiming they know the truth. The fact is that all interpretation belongs to God. We only need to be quiet enough to hear the Spirit's voice as he reveals God's truth. We see that truth in Joseph's life, but we should also see it in our lives. As we listen to God's interpretation. 

Resisting Temptation

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

RESISTING TEMPTATION

Gen 39:6-23

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!" 8 But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. 11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. 13 When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, 14 she called her household servants. "Look," she said to them, "this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. 15 When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house." 16 She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. 17 Then she told him this story: "That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. 18 But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house." 19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, "This is how your slave treated me," he burned with anger. 20 Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

NIV

This is one of those memorable stories of the temptation of the flesh. It was not Joseph who was tempted, but Potiphar's wife who was tempted and pursued Joseph. Of course, her desire for Joseph would turn into a hateful act of lies, deceit, and revenge because he refused her advances. Although we know that Joseph was not a perfect man, he had the strength to resist her because he did not want to offend the LORD. However, this was part of how he became second in command in Egypt, as he ended up in jail, where he found favor with the warden. But our story is about spiritual warfare. But this story is about spiritual warfare that deals with the flesh. Temptations can come from the world or the society we live among, and we must contend with all its wares. Temptations can come from the evil one or one of his demons, creating illusions to draw us away from serving the Lord. In Potiphar's wife's case, her temptation came from her own flesh. Her desire for a handsome young man drove her to pursue him and tempt Joseph. This is where we must fight the good fight against the devil's schemes, the world's wares, and our own fleshly desires. We are more than aware of our imperfections. We know that when we are weak, we are strong. Understanding our weaknesses gives us the strength to resist the devil's schemes, the world's tug, and those fleshly desires. Those desires of the flesh may or may not be immoral in nature, as Potiphar's wife's was, but we can be tempted in the flesh to become jealous, envious, prideful, boastful, rude, impatient, unforgiving, or judgmental. Joseph did not want to sin against the LORD, and his refusal to submit to her desires cost him his position in Potiphar's house and led to his imprisonment. Let us make every effort to resist those temptations that can so easily entangle us, whether from the world, the devil, or ourselves. We know if we resist the devil, he will flee from us, but we cannot flee from the world or ourselves, so we need the strength of the Lord. Apart from him, we can do nothing, including resisting temptations. 

The Lord is With Us

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

THE LORD IS WITH US

Gen 39:1-6

39:1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. 2 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 6 So he left in Joseph's care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

 

One major truth at the beginning of Joseph's life in Egypt is that the LORD was with him and he prospered. One interesting fact is that Potiphar saw that the LORD was with Joseph. Potiphar was an Egyptian who would have been polytheistic, worshipping over a thousand different gods and goddesses, so noticing that the LORD was with Joseph was not that Potiphar knew the LORD whom the Israelites served, but that Joseph reflected the LORD's power. He was a visual representation of the LORD because the LORD was with him and prospered him, giving success in everything he did. Although Joseph was a purchased slave in human affairs, because the LORD was with him, Potiphar put him in charge of his household and entrusted everything he owned to his care. This major truth is that Joseph reflected the LORD's power in his life, and Potiphar could see it. This should give us something to both ponder and embrace in our lives. We know the Lord is with us, for he has sent us the Holy Spirit to empower us with his gifts and influence us with his fruit. The Lord has also given us all His armor, in which every part represents Jesus, so we can take our stand against all the forces of evil. This should create in us not just an image, but a character that others would see as the Lord is with us and has given us success in whatever he has led us to do. This means a believer would not be a failure in life. That does not mean we cannot experience failures, but it also does not mean the Lord is not with us. We will see that Joseph experienced a failure, so to speak; he ended up in jail, but the LORD was always with him. As born-again, spirit-filled followers of Jesus, we know, without a shadow of doubt, that the Lord is with us, so we live as representatives of the Living God. Others should see that the Lord is with us.