Sermon Tone Analysis

Joseph: Pharaoh’s Dreams

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by life’s circumstances?

Our passage has something to say for you today.

Culture of busyness - FOMO - Keeping up w/ the Jones

Recap Last week: (Importance of Dreams)

This story started with Joseph Having 2 dreams

Joseph interprets 2 dreams (Baker and cupbearer)

the last thing Joseph says to the cupbearer is remember me

Here in - Joseph is challenged to interperete 2 dreams the pharaoh has had.

Genesis 41:1-Dreams - Importance of dreams to this story

Dreams - Importance of dreams to this story

Dreams - Importance of dreams to this story

Dreams are seen as the revelation of God

There is no written revelation up to this point.

- TWO Whole years

Joseph has been forgotten

forgotten by the cupbearer?

yes

forgotten by God?

5-6 years in potipher’s house

5-6 years in prison + 2 more years

verse 46 - Joseph was 30 years old when he went into the service of Pharaoh.

13-14 years

Have you ever felt forgotten?

Genesis 41:1-

I want to take a second so that we can think about what Joseph must be thinking.

This story started with joseph having two similar dreams, He interperetes 2 similar dreams for 2 different prisoners, and now he’s challenged with the task of interpereting 2 similar dreams for the pharaoh.

have you ever been overwhelmed.

If there were ever pressure on anyone the pressure was on joseph at this very moment.

Pharaoh the most powerful man in he world

All the wise men and magicians have failed him

He’s being called on to do what they could not

I would imagine no one has ever felt more overwhelmed than joseph at this very moment

He’s in a new place with a new haircut in new clothes challenged to do something you’re not even sure you can do.

The wise men probably hate him

The Pharaoh is already not happy

The guy you were counting on to plead your case, but forgot about you is standing in the corner.

Look at how Joseph responds

Genesis

I can’t do it!!!

I can’t do it!!!

There’s nothing wrong with admitting you can’t do it

parenting

work

marriage

family

friends

social pressure

Everyday we wake up to situations and circumstances that overwhelm us!

Although we may think it, what keeps us from admitting, “I can’t do it”

What are you facing that you feel you can’t do?

Go ahead and admit, I can’t do it...

but don’t stop there.

Joseph keeps talking, but GOD

Joseph tells pharaoh, what you are looking for (someone to interperete this dream… that’s not in me!

I’m not the one you’re looking for… But God!!!

Don’t stop at “I can’t” let your overwhelming situation turn your eyes to God

We tend to work harder, grin and bear it, grind it out, push through...

Our culture wears stress and business like a badge of honor to be proud of

Saying I can’t is viewd as a weaknes and something to be ashamed about

But here joseph is, already successfully interpereted 2 dreams, being asked to do more by the most powerful man in the world, and he says I can’t, but God

Illustration: 1st year baseball player playing 9u-10u ball

It would be understood that the God Joseph is talking about here isn’t Ra, Hotep, Horus, or any of the other Egyptian pantheon of Gods.

It is Yahweh, Elohim, the God of the Hebrew (who are really just a small tribe of people at this point)

God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.

it would be as ridiculous as this 9 year old kid with a ridiculous swing walking up to the plate and saying, I know I can’t do it, but God will let me get a hit here...

Waiting

Remind people of the vision/dream God gave Joseph, yet nothing like it has come to pass.

Even at the height of what Joseph could have perceived to be the means through which Joseph’s dream could come true (Potipher’s House) he gets thrown into prison.

And Joseph is still waiting

Genesis 41:1

vs. 16

This is Joseph’s mindset through his life.

This is the mindset of someone who truly believes there is a power in this world much bigger then themselves

NIV

Joseph was being faced with an incredibly difficult situation!!!

All the Magicians of Egypt & ALL its wise men

Egypt!!!

This is the world Power of the Ancient world.

This is the cultural & financial center of the world at the time.

The ruler of the world’s greatest power, The most powerful man in the world called all of his wise men, all of his magicians (theological & spiritual advisors) who are well studied, well trained, and well practiced in their respective fields… and Joseph is brought in to do

I cannot do it

EVEN BEFORE HE HAS EVEN HEARD THE DREAMS!!!

What are you facing in your life that you can’t do?

Marriage, Parenting, Money Management, Family Relationships, Job situations, Preferences of friends, demands of society, time management...

Don’t stop at “I cannot do it!”

Look at the next two words Joseph gives Pharoah: “But God”

But God what?

What do you believe about God?

What we believe about God will determine how we react to overwhelming situations.

Genesis 41:

God will give Pharaoh a favoroable answer.

Joseph’s response to this overwhelming situation reveals what he Believes about God.

EVEN BEFORE HE HAS EVEN HEARD THE DREAMS!!!

Joseph is confident because he not only knows about the God he serves, he is cofident that what he believes about God is true:

What do we know to be true about God?

Is God aware of our situation?

Is omniscient?

Does he know all things, even the situation we’re facing right now?

Even the details we’re not even aware of yet?