I HAVE A DREAM

 

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.

 

Lesson one:  God’s timing is perfect it would take two more years for everything to fall into place.  Joseph had to wait.  But he was faithful.  When you are in that time of waiting here are some things you need to do.

 

5 Things to Do While You Wait on God

 

REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN THE PAST

 

As my life has unfolded, I see that God’s hand has been in every single step, and that His plans were so much better than I even expected. Now, while I wait, I’m learning to deepen my trust in Him, and to remind myself of His faithfulness.

 

DEEPEN YOUR PRAYER LIFE

Why worry when you can pray? We’ve all heard that one before. But how true is that? Why over-analyze my future, when I have the opportunity to impact my future by calling on the supernatural, most-high God?  God is so big, I want to learn to connect with Him , to communicate with Him, and to spend time with Him while I wait—

 

DEAL WITH YOUR BAGGAGE

I think the period of waiting can be a huge time of healing and growth.   He was working out my sin, refining my heart and fanning the flame of His Spirit inside of my life.

 

 

DREAM BIG

 

 I don’t always dream big or expect great things.  But I want to see this time of waiting as a time to ask God to take me where He wants me to go—“ I want to trust Him to do everything that I can’t do. I want to dream big.

 

SPEND TIME IN WORSHIP

 

it’s about realizing that over every moment in our lives, He is already victorious.  No matter where I am, I want a life that’s marked not by waiting, but by worshiping. He deserves that and so much more.  Joseph I believe did this.  He was also faithful where he was.  Be faithful like Joseph and your time will come.

 

Pharaoh had his two dreams.  He woke up and was troubled.  Remember last time we were together we learned that the Egyptians had a dream book with red being important dreams, black being bad dreams.  They had who groups who were dedicated to the interpretations of dreams.  So he calls all these wise men and magicians.  He told them his dreams but no one could interpret them.  This is God’s moment.  Remember God moves behind the scenes.  One last thought.  When something is of God only men of God can interpret it.  That is why discernment and judging prophecy, tongues and interpretation is so important.  We need the word, prayer, the Holy Spirit and those who possess the gift to interpret it.  This was of God and so the devil’s crowd would never be able to interpret it.  Joseph was the only man of God around.

 

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 impaled.”

 

Lesson Two:  When it is God’s timing even those who may have ignored, forgotten or even cursed you can become a channel in which God works.  The cupbearer remembers Joseph, his abilities and the outcome of his gifts.  God was putting all things together.  Remember God can make a way where there is no way.  God is the mover and shaker of all things.  Everyone will submit sooner or later to His sovereignty.  You will get to where God wants you to be in His timing.  All you are required is to love God, seek His will, be a channel of blessing and stay faithful.  Micah had something great to say about this.  He said in Micah 6:8,   He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?  Great advice.

 

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.”

 

Lesson Three:  Joseph was sent for.  He brought out of the dungeon, shaved and changed his clothes.  Now why would joseph have to shave?  The Egyptians were clean shaven, wore wigs and believe in hygiene.  Joseph could not go before the king as he was.  A little lesson here, know now how to work in the world you live in.  What is fashion, culture, ideas, philosophy and values.  It does not mean you join them but understand them.  Paul said, I become all things to win all men.  Now when Joseph was brought before the king, the king acknowledged his gifts and talents but notice what Joseph did.  First, he said, He did not take credit for what God had given Him.  He did not take credit for the gifts, talents and abilities he had.  He knew they were from God.  This is humility.  Next, he directed the king to the one true God.  Not the gods of Egypt which had failed.  Joseph was here because of his faith, trust and love for God.  I love John’s reaction when they asked him about Jesus.  He said, Jesus must increase and I must decrease.  This attitude was his steeping stone and ours to big dreams and blessings.  He said, God will give you the answer you desire.

 

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Behold, in my dream I stood on the bank of the river. 18 Suddenly seven cows came up out of the river, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. 19 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such ugliness as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt. 20 And the gaunt and ugly cows ate up the first seven, the fat cows. 21 When they had eaten them up, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were just as ugly as at the beginning. So I awoke. 22 Also I saw in my dream, and suddenly seven [a]heads came up on one stalk, full and good. 23 Then behold, seven heads, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them. 24 And the thin heads devoured the seven good heads. So I told this to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

 

Lesson Four:  The King then tells Joseph the dreams.  He then explains that the wisemen and magicians could not explain the dreams.  I can see these Egyptian occult leaders hanging on every word.  They have been excluded from seeing the truth because these were dreams given by God.  The world will never grasp what God is doing.  If the devil would have grasp what God was doing he would never have put Christ to death.  Remember that which is flesh is flesh, that which is spirit is spirit.  When something is of God the world, the flesh and the devil will never get it.  The Bible is closed to people until they are born again.  It is myths, legends and words.  The Bible condemns sins; therefore, sinners do not enjoy reading it. Deeds of darkness do not enjoy exposure to light. “Everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:20).  Some Minds Are Cluttered with Other Things.  Some Are Prejudiced against It. If we wear sunglasses, the world looks dark. When we put shades over our mind’s eye, the Gospel light becomes dim. Many come to the Bible with their minds already made up as to what it says.  But once you become a Christian the Bible is life, food, water and sustenance for the soul. 

 

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good [b]heads are seven years; the dreams are one. 27 And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine. 28 This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. 29 Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; 30 but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land. 31 So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. 32 And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

 

Lesson Five:  Joseph tells Pharaoh that God gave him the dream.  Both dreams are the same.  A time of plenty is coming and then a time of famine.  The famine will be so severe that all the good times will be forgotten.  The dreams were repeated because these things were established by God and it will come to pass.  Joseph points the King to the sovereignty of the one true God.  All the gods of Egypt are false, demonic and idols.  One sovereign God.  The true God.  The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has spoken.  God spoke to the king because he was the one man who could prevent it.  He spoke to Him in a manner he could receive it.  God will speak to us and our loved one in a manner we can receive.  There were steps to you salvation. God confronted you numerous times.  He used people, circumstances, situations, methods and means to speak to you.  Paul stated the day you hear about Christ, that is a day of salvation.  In my case God all my life spoke to me but it took 17 years to finally accept Him.  He is patient and will speak to your loved ones.  He will speak to you as well about His will.  Four times Joseph directs Pharaoh to God here.  This is God’s doing.  He and He alone will make this come to pass.  The Lord has ordered everything in this world.  The seasons, the time, the whole universe is His and His alone.  God’s will is going to be done.  We are complete when we do His will.  No greater things we can do is the will of God for our lives.  We will never be fulfilled, complete or have true life until we do His will.  So today ask God, what is your will for me today?  Then do it.   I am going to close this message and next week we will look at Joseph’s advice and what happens to Him next.