A Purpose

DEVOTION

GENESIS

A PURPOSE

Gen 41:15-32

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." 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

Once again Joseph, when given the opportunity gives God the credit for giving the interpretation of dreams. Once again we are seeing it is right to give credit where credit is deserved. That we are not to take all the credit for everything we know, do and have. But our lesson for today in within the seven years of plenty and the seven years of famine. As Joseph explains these two dreams and that the meaning of both are one in the same, he makes sure Pharaoh knows this is want the Lord God is going to do. These dreams were certainly prophetic in nature, but also were designed with his objectives for Joseph’s position in Egypt. These would also fulfill the dreams he gave to Joseph when he was still in his father’s household. Does God give us dreams? Does he show us dreams to give us insight into what he is about to do in our lives? If he did this in the past, why would it seem unlikely that he would do this in our time? Do we need a Joseph to tell us the meaning of our dreams? Do all our dreams from God have a message of what he is about to do in our lives? That is doubtful, but could some of our dreams be from him? How could we know which are and which are not? The Spirit reveals all truth. He will tell us. Maybe we do not pay as much attention to our dreams as we should? Maybe we just dismiss them as dreams. But let us focus on these two different types of seven years. How could this apply to us today? Our walk with the Lord is sometimes described as a roller coaster, with its ups and downs. There are times when we have spiritual highs and then crash, a spiritual low. But then a high returns but then followed by another low. There are times when we feel on top of the world, everything seems to be going our way, then crash, the bottom falls out. We have good times and bad times. These happen in our physical condition, our emotional state as well as our spiritual journey. These ups and downs also may happen in our monetary or material situation in life. What God did in Egypt was his purpose for the lives of his chosen people, Israel. Because we, having circumcised our heart, are now the true Israel and are his chosen people. He has chosen Israel to show himself to the world. What God does in our lives has the same purpose, to show himself to the rest of the world. It is he who gives us those times of plenty and he gives us those times of famine. Both are for his purpose. He will always provide. Some might say we use this lesson to store up as much as we can for the lean years ahead. That might not be a bad idea, except we are also told over and over again that we should not store up wealth for ourselves.

Matt 6:19-21

19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

NIV

This purpose in Egypt was not about storing up, but about providing a plan in the lives of Israel. God always has a plan for our lives. But the greatest plan, his purpose for our lives is to bring him glory. We are to be a shining light on a hill, a beacon of light in a dark world. We are to be the salt of the earth, giving taste to a tasteless society. Whatever God brings to us, plenty or famine is for his purpose and we are to be content in whatever state we are in.

Phil 4:10-13

10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

NIV

This life is not about how much we can accumulate. The bumper sticker which says: “He who dies with the most toys wins” should read he who dies with the most toys still dies. Our life is about what we do with it in regards to the will of God. We should look at life in respect to his purpose, especially if we call ourselves Christian. The good work God started in our life, he will complete. Let us live for him whether we are in the years of plenty or famine. They both have a purpose.