Understanding God's Plan

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Good morning again, it is so good to be here. Listen, I know I say this alot, but it is truly an honor that I get to be here every week and share the Scripture with you. My prayer is always that I will be able to present the Scripture in a way that excites you and hopefully pushes you to study further at home. For those of you that don’t use the note sheets, let me just say, you’re missing out because there is typically some sort of homework or reflection questions for you to go deeper through the week. My thought is that you might not change your heart in these next 45 minutes, but your heart may very well change over the next 5-6 days.

Right now we are in the middle of a series called Joseph. In this series we are studying how God is working in the life of Joseph, the son of Israel. You can go ahead and grab your Bible’s and turn over to Genesis 41, that’s where we will be today. I’m kind of excited about today because today we are going to be able to finally start to see what God has been doing all this time. So, you’ll have to pay attention as we start to understand God’s plan here.

Before we dive into today’s passage, let me remind you of another moment in Scripture where God’s guidance wasn’t immediately understood—Israel’s journey to the Promised Land. They were lost and they were fighting God to get there. It’s crazy because they grumbled and questioned God’s plan, but eventually, they recognized the signs of His guidance through the cloud by day and fire by night. Just like they learned to trust in God’s presence leading them through the wilderness, we can learn to see God at work in our lives, walking with us through our personal trials and wildernesses and leading us to our promised futures.

This same lesson—the importance of trusting God's plan even when we don't understand it—is what we see so clearly in Joseph’s life. And that brings us back to the key theme of our series.

Just in case you haven’t been here or you don’t remember, let me tell you the end of the story here. this is what Joseph says later on… "As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose." —Joseph . In other words. What man means for evil…God means for good!

So…let me tell you where we are going today. In today’s passage we will see some strange dreams, then we see that Joseph interprets those dreams, revealing God's plan for Egypt during a time of coming famine. Today’s passage shows how God prepares not only His people, but the world for future events, despite their current circumstances. Maybe you’ve seen that play out in your life already, and maybe you’re hoping to see something happen still.

Let me just tell you, If any chapter in Genesis reveals the sovereignty of God, it’s this one.

Now just as a quick reminder, last week we saw how Joseph was used by God to interpret the dreams of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker of Pharoah himself. Those interpretations were upheld as God worked in Joseph’s life preparing him for what is to com.

However, now two years have passed, and Joseph is still working in the prison, waiting for something to happen.

After two long years, Joseph is still waiting—until one night, Pharaoh has dreams that no one can explain. Let’s take a look at what happens next.

Dreams Given by God

Alright, so let’s open up and start reading here this morning.

Genesis 41:1–8 ESV

After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.

We just read that two whole years have passed. Tell me the last time you waited patiently for two years…Joseph has had plenty of time to wrestle with his faith and despair over being in prison for a crime that not only he did not commit, but but was a total fabrication.

Pharaoh’s dreams were vivid and troubling, but despite having the best magicians and wise men in Egypt, no one could interpret them. This is a powerful reminder that human wisdom alone cannot grasp the plans of God. The men whose job it was to interpret, were dumbfounded and had nothing to say. This is a pretty good reminder that Worldly wisdom falls short of understanding God’s plans.

Here’s what that means for you and I…we can’t look to the world for answers in how to deal with life’s problems. Just as Pharaoh’s wise men couldn’t explain God’s revelation, worldly wisdom often falls short in our own lives. This is why, as Christians, we must seek answers from Scripture, not culture. This is why I provide Biblical Counseling to anyone that is interested, because as a Christian you should be seeking answers in Scripture, not away from Scripture. When you are facing issues of confusion or hurt, or uncertainty, look beyond human solutions, and seek Godly wisdom.

This also brings us to the realization that there are times that we must wait for God. That waiting can be a lifetime, or it can be 5 minutes. Let me tell this. When I was something like 20 or 21 years old I had a pretty rough conversation with God. See, I was serving as the volunteer youth pastor at the church I attended. I was also working a full-time job as an electrician working to help build Walgreens and Pep Boys in Puerto Rico.

It was a great job, and I loved it…Except after a while I began to feel unfulfilled in what I was doing. I felt that the Lord was leading me to work at a church full-time. I didn’t know what that would be but I began sending out resumes all over the US and Puerto Rico in order to apply as a full-time youth pastor. I didn’t hear anything back from anyone…It wasn’t until early 2014 that I was finally allowed to quit my job in real estate in order to work full-time for the church. It was around 2000 when I surrendered to the Lord to work full-time for the church, and it wasn’t until 2014 that happened.

That was alot of waiting friends…Maybe you’ve been in a situation similar. You know God is leading you to something, but you are stuck in a waiting period. Joseph knew that God had planned something for his life as a teenager, and now he’s 30 years old…He waited two years for the cup bearer, but he’s been waiting much longer for God to fulfill the dreams that Joseph had as a teen.

However, something you really have to remember in those times…God’s timing is always perfect. Actually, let me say it this way, God is never late. We might night understand God’s timing, but he is never late and so we can rest in the waiting period and seek to learn and grow to prepare for what God will do in his time.

But Joseph’s story doesn’t end in waiting—because in God’s perfect timing, everything begins to shift.

God’s Plan in Motion

Let’s take a look at how God’s plan moves forward this morning. We are going to keep reading in Genesis, let’s pick up on vs. 9

Genesis 41:9–24 ESV

Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.” Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows, but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good. Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

Whew…there’s a whole lot going on here isn’t there.

Can you just imagine that cupbearer? “Oh no!, Ummm, hey Pharaoh, I just remembered something pretty important.” I mean, I guess better late than never, right…Except, maybe the cupbearer isn’t actually late after all? Remember, God is never late, so maybe it was God who brought this to the cupbearers mind at this time.

Had the cupbearer spoken up two years earlier, it likely wouldn’t have mattered. But now, in God’s perfect timing, Pharaoh is desperate for an interpreter—and that’s when Joseph is finally remembered.

God’s timing brings Joseph from prison to Pharaoh. This is the evidence of God never being late...Even though Joseph would have wanted the cupbearer to attempt to get him out of jail earlier, think about it. Why would Pharaoh release a man who raped the captain of the guards wife? Yeah, two years earlier, this information would have fallen on deaf ears. Now however, Pharaoh had a need for a dream interpreter to help him understand what these dreams mean.

God’s timing prepares Joseph for the task ahead. Listen, Joseph still needed to grow to be ready for what God is doing here.

The same is true for you and I . We aren’t ready today to do what God is calling us to eventually. I know that back in 2000 when I surrendered to the Lord to work full-time in ministry, I wasn’t ready to actually do that. I know that because I had the opportunity to work full-time in a growing church in Puerto Rico in 2003, but I actually told them that I wasn’t ready for that yet. It was too early, and as much as I wanted it…I wasn’t ready for that responsibility.

God’s timing moves Pharaoh to rely on Joseph. Yeah, talk about crazy here. Pharaoh calls up Joseph and then he tells Joseph all about his dreams. Joseph had to get dressed for this new opportunity. Listen, the Egyptians weren’t really into beards the way the Hebrews were. So, Joseph had to shave his beard, his head, and change his clothes to be accepted into Pharaoh’s court.

God’s timing changes Joseph’s clothes. Listen, this is important, even though it seems like a mundane event. So far Joseph has lost his clothes, and his place three time in the last thirteen years. However, something is different this time. This time he has lost his clothes, and himself…but he will gain the clothes of a ruler.

That’s not all…we also see Joseph’s humility yet again. Remember when Joseph interpreted the dreams of the cupbearer and baker…he gave God the glory before he ever interpreted. Now, we see Joseph following that same model before Pharaoh even tells him the dreams.

Now comes the moment everything has been leading to—Joseph reveals the meaning of Pharaoh’s dreams…

God’s Truth Made Known

Genesis 41:25–36 ESV

Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”

Ok, there’s alot more to this story, and we aren’t even going to get to Joseph being clothed as a ruler this morning, you’ll have to come back next week for that. This morning though, we see that

Joseph desired to honor God. We know that becuase if it was to honor himself, he would have given an interpretation and then he would’ve taken the credit for himself. However, he listened to Pharaoh describe his two dreams and then gave him the interpretation that came from God. God had given Pharaoh two dreams, and now God has given Joseph the interpretation of these dreams.

Joseph accurately interprets Pharaoh’s dreams. There is only one explanation for Joseph’s ability to rightly tell Pharaoh what his dreams meant. Joseph prefaced his interpretation with three important insights: first, Pharaoh actually had only one dream, even though it was given twice using different symbols. Second, the dream’s source was the one true God. Third, it revealed what God was about to do…not what God might do…these events are certain to happen.

Joseph relied on God’s sovereignty and wisdom. What Joseph tells Pharaoh here not only saves Egypt, but this is what will elevate Joseph to the place that God has been growing him into…a position of authority.

The same is true for you church. Just like God has been guiding Joseph through his life, God is guiding you and providing for you even when things look impossible. The question is, will you trust and rest in the Lord like Joseph, or will you squirm and fight like the Israelites in the wilderness?

Closing:

What I want you to hear this morning church, is that even when things don’t necessarily make sense to you, God is still working. Listen, Joseph may well have had moments when he felt like he was forgotten by God…God never forgot Joseph, and God hasn’t forgotten you. Even when you don’t see, or feel that God is active in your life, you will do well to remember that God’s promises are unfailing. That means there is never a promise that God will not keep. God’s steadfast love and grace will carry you when you rely on him.

That means you have a choice…trust yourself and struggle…or trust God and rest.

Let me take a minute just to point out a few things about God’s sovereignty. Some of you are in a position at work where you don’t get along with someone and you are wondering why that person has to be in your life. Let me just tell you…that person is in your life because God has placed them in your life. You have a choice to make in that relationship. Will you avoid them and push them away…or will you embrace the fact that God has placed this person in your sphere of influence?

Maybe it’s not a person at all…but a job that you are struggling with. Maybe it’s a financial situation. Whatever it is, know that God is sovereign and if you are willing to begin worshiping God and not worshiping yourself, then you may begin to see what God is doing in your life. However, if you are going to continue to fight and struggle and whine about your situation then maybe God is going to keep you in the Israelites wilderness a little bit longer.

Listen, I know that’s not an easy thing to acknowledge. I’ve had people in my life that pushed me to my limit. However, what I’ve learned over the years is that God’s limit is much easier than my limit. When I trust and rely on the Lord then these difficult moments and difficult people, or circumstances don’t have to control me anymore.

This morning choose to worship the Lord in the midst of your circumstances. This morning remember that God is sovereign in your life even when you don’t see or feel it.

Joseph teaches us about faithfulness and about readiness to act when opportunities arise. Will you choose faithfulness despite your circumstances? Will you be prepared to act when God creates an opportunity.

Maybe you’re here this morning, and you want to trust the Lord, but you don’t know what that means… Let me just take a brief moment to tell you.

Trusting the Lord means surrendering your life—your plans, your struggles, your future—into His hands, knowing that He is faithful. It means choosing to believe that even when you don’t see His hand, He is still working. It means acknowledging that Jesus Christ is Lord, that He has made a way for you through His death and resurrection, and that you can walk in His grace and purpose today.

So, what will you choose? Will you keep fighting your circumstances in your own strength, or will you lay them at the feet of the One who holds all things together?

This morning, if you’ve been carrying burdens that feel too heavy, I invite you to bring them before the Lord. Maybe you need to surrender control, trust Him in the waiting, or even take a step of faith you’ve been avoiding. Maybe today is the day you stop wrestling and start resting in the sovereignty of God.

I want to give you a moment to respond—to pray, to reflect, to surrender whatever it is that has been holding you back from trusting the Lord fully. And if you need someone to pray with you, I’ll be here. But don’t leave this place today without settling this in your heart. God has not forgotten you. He is working, even now. Will you trust Him?

Let’s Pray