Day 40 – Genesis 41:1-4
When Pharaoh Dreamed
Scripture Reading – Genesis 41:1-4
And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.
Genesis 41:1 KJV
And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.
Genesis 41:2 KJV
And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.
Genesis 41:3 KJV
And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.
Genesis 41:4 KJV
Scripture Review
Two full years pass, and Pharaoh dreams beside the river. Seven well favoured, fat kine come from the Nile and feed in a meadow. Then seven ill favoured and lean kine rise behind them and devour the healthy cattle. Pharaoh awakes. The ruler of Egypt cannot command the picture out of his mind, and no one in the palace yet understands why.
The need that will open Joseph’s prison begins in another man’s sleep. Joseph does not arrange it, and the butler does not remember him beforehand. God creates the moment Joseph could never schedule. That helps me when I feel trapped behind a door with no handle on my side. The Lord is not limited to changing my room; He can create a need in a place I cannot reach and make faithfulness prepared in secret necessary in public.
Pharaoh meant only to understand a troubling dream, while the lean cattle in the dream pictured a coming crisis beyond any ruler’s control.
God meant to warn Egypt before the famine and begin the appointed chain of events that would bring Joseph from prison to Pharaoh.
What this asks of me
I do not have to manipulate a door open. I can prepare my heart and serve faithfully while God arranges circumstances I cannot see. When a new need appears, I should not assume it is random. It may become an opportunity to point people toward the wisdom of God rather than toward myself.
Consider
- Am I trying to manufacture an opportunity that only God can arrange?
- Will I be ready to serve if the need appears suddenly after a long wait?