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.