THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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Many years ago when I was talking to my Junior Church class I asked them "Do you believe in God?"
Quck as a flash one boy said, "Yes, how else does my mother know when I have been stealing sugar?"
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Genesis 41:1-43
1 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed:
9 Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:
25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.
29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:
30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;
31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.
32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;
43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
KJV
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This chapter brings God's plan for Joseph into fullness. He will be placed in charge of ALL Egypt.
Pharoah began having dreams. He couldn't understand the dreams, and asked for magicians to come and interpret. But no one was able to interpret. Where do the dreams come from? Does God indeed speak to the lost? I believe verse 25 answers that latter question!
I'm of the firm opinion that our Lord is the "Ruler of All Nations." They are all under His Divine control. Though God does not always specifically control the actions a nation takes, He does control the historical direction a nation takes. Nations, like individual people, are responsible for their own actions. But God is moving all nations in a direction historically which will accomplish His Divine will.
At this time historically, Egypt was the only world power strong enough to save the world from the oncoming disaster of drought. God knew Pharoah would not understand His Divine direction, but He knew that Joseph would. Pharoah himself was incapable of leading the nation in the right direction, but God had placed Joseph there for that purpose.
See how swiftly worldly people will come to those who believe in God, when something is troubling them. People (human beings) are created with a sense of spiritual awareness.
Pharoah recognized Joseph as a man filled with God's spirit. Indeed a great
PREMIUM seemed to be put on such men by Pharoah.
Rulers recognize the value of godly men and women; and great respect is paid them.
God has a Divine direction for every nation and a purpose for every person.
It is our duty as Christians to maintain a very close relationship with God so that we can reveal His Divine direction to our leaders.
Love ya,
Bruce