I had a very strange dream the other night. Of course it had some elements that reflected events of the previous day, but it also had an overall theme that I believe was meaningful. And fortunately or unfortunately, I woke up before the “end” . . . before the big event that was about to happen in my dream.
I felt like I knew what my dream was about, but I shared it with a close friend that morning to get her input. She immediately said what she thought it meant . . . which agreed with my assessment. And it falls in line with some other messages I’ve been receiving through sermons and prophesies and friends speaking into my life. So I’m going to continue following the wisdom I’m receiving . . . including what I learned from this dream.
However, there are times I have dreams and I feel like there’s some meaning to it, but for the life of me I can’t figure out what it is. And then there are those dreams that just seem to be a conglomeration of the previous day’s events.
In today’s section in our story, Pharaoh has a weird dream. In fact, he has two of them, back to back. He believes they’re important, but he can’t figure out what they mean . . . and neither can any of the smart people he surrounds himself with.
Here’s what happens:
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Genesis 41:1-8 / Amplified Bible (AMP)
41 After two full years, Pharaoh dreamed that he stood by the river [Nile]. 2 And behold, there came up out of the river [Nile] seven well-favored cows, sleek and handsome and fat; and they grazed in the reed grass [in a marshy pasture]. 3 And behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river [Nile], ill favored and gaunt and ugly, and stood by the fat cows on the bank of the river [Nile]. 4 And the ill-favored, gaunt, and ugly cows ate up the seven well-favored and fat cows. Then Pharaoh awoke.
5 But he slept and dreamed the second time; and behold, seven ears of grain came out on one stalk, plump and good. 6 And behold, after them seven ears [of grain] sprouted, thin and blighted by the east wind. 7 And the seven thin ears [of grain] devoured the seven plump and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.
8 So when morning came his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians and all the wise men of Egypt. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but not one could interpret them to [him].
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The main thing that sticks out to me in this section is the first phrase . . . “After two full years . . . .”
This means Joseph has spent TWO MORE YEARS in prison for something he didn’t do. And the cupbearer, whose dream Joseph interpreted two years earlier, has been back at work for Pharaoh that entire time and hasn’t once thought about Joseph, or taken the time to mention him to Pharaoh.
Waiting for God to fulfill the dreams He’s given us can take a lot longer than we anticipated. I’m sure Joseph would never have guessed he would be in prison this long. I’m sure he thought two years ago that the cupbearer would immediately tell Pharaoh about him and he would be a free man.
But God had a bigger plan. Much bigger than Joseph could have guessed!
Today’s truths:
– We don’t know exactly WHEN God’s going to do what He’s shown/told us He will do. We just know that He WILL do it!
– God sometimes uses dreams to warn us of something and to give us time to prepare for it.
– You can’t accurately interpret a God-given dream with human intellect.
– You don’t need to worry about how many other people “audition” for the part God has chosen for you . . . God will save it for you!
Application Questions:
– What promise/dream/vision am I still waiting for God to fulfill? How long have I been waiting?
– What dreams have I had lately? How am I using them to prepare for the future?
– What resources do I use to interpret my dreams?
– When has God saved a “part” just for me?