Glory to God

In the 1967 Star Trek episode “The City on the Edge of Forever,” Captain Kirk and Commander Spock are traveling through time and end up in 1930s America. There, Kirk saves a beautiful young lady from sure death when he pushes her out of the path of an oncoming car. Soon, however, the two do-gooders learn that may not have been such a good move. The young lady organizes a powerful pacifist movement that delays the country’s entrance into the war, giving Hitler time to develop the atomic bomb first. He achieves world domination. When they discover the outcome of their kind act, Kirk and Spock know that they have to go back and undo their “good deed.”

When we wonder why bad things happen to good people, and they die long before their time, we can trust in the providence of God. There is a reason, though we may never understand it.

—Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Providence

divine guidance or care

Providence: divine guidance or care

Provident: making provision for the future

Context

Within our text on today we see a young man by the name of Joseph scorned. He began his life being highly favored over over his brothers by his father, which created an attitude that was toxic in their relationship. His brothers disliked him so much that the majority wanted him killed but God only allowed for him to be sold into slavery. He eventually is sold to an officer to the Pharaoh by the name of Potiphar. He seems to be doing well for a while until the wife of Potiphar tries to seduce him and upon Joseph’s refusal to do so, she lies on him to her husband. He is thrown in jail! He later meets two men in prison and they both have dreams. Joseph was given the ability by God to be able to interpret dreams. Each man’s dream has a different outcome. One man’s dream is interpreted that he will soon die and the other that he will soon be a free man. Everything comes true and all that Joseph ask is that he not be forgotten. The man who is freed of course forgets about Joseph until, two years later, the Pharaoh has a dream...

Genesis 41:1–16 CSB

1 At the end of two years Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile, 2 when seven healthy-looking, well-fed cows came up from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside those cows along the bank of the Nile. 4 The sickly, thin cows ate the healthy, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. 5 He fell asleep and dreamed a second time: Seven heads of grain, plump and good, came up on one stalk. 6 After them, seven heads of grain, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up. 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, full ones. Then Pharaoh woke up, and it was only a dream. 8 When morning came, he was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. 9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I remember my faults. 10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guards. 11 He and I had dreams on the same night; each dream had its own meaning. 12 Now a young Hebrew, a slave of the captain of the guards, was with us there. We told him our dreams, he interpreted our dreams for us, and each had its own interpretation. 13 It turned out just the way he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.” 14 Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and they quickly brought him from the dungeon. He shaved, changed his clothes, and went to Pharaoh. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said about you that you can hear a dream and interpret it.” 16 “I am not able to,” Joseph answered Pharaoh. “It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

Two years is a long time for an innocent man to suffer.

God’s timing is superior to that of man.

The drought and dream were the means for God to be faithful to His man

God will cause the creations/devices/ideas of man to fail so that He can be inserted into the picture

This can only happen through you

You will have opportunity to display your Christian character to others like Joseph did with the cupbearer

Don’t waste what could turn into your freedom later.

Why did Joseph feel the need to include God in his explanation?

Questions

Does God still find ways to speak to us today like He did through these dreams? How?

Why is the number 7 mentioned in this dream? Why is it important for the believers to see this number?

In verse 8 the Pharoah summoned the magicians and wise men to interpret his dream. What is the author trying to get you to understand by mentioning this?

Why did Joseph feel the need to include God in his explanation? V16

Read verses 17-32 Was this explanation and ability to interpret for Joseph, Pharaoh, or all people?

Read 37-45. How do we see the promises made to Abraham in come into play here?

How can we find ways to give God glory today?

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