Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dreams
Joseph Interpreting Pharaoh’s Dreams” oil on Canvas. http://www.wikigallery.org/ Philip Gyselaer
Meditation
Thursday, Ordinary 20, Proper 15, brought Joseph out of prison and before the Pharaoh, since the wine steward recalled that Joseph had explained his dream accurately, and the Pharaoh’s magicians and scholars could not give him a satisfactory explanation.
Joseph indicated the double dreams of Pharaoh actually were one dream, but it meant the events were going to happen soon. Both dreams reiterated the theme of seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. The seven fat cows were consumed by the seven lean cows; the seven plump heads of grain eaten by the thin scorched heads.
Joseph used his wisdom to advise the Pharaoh that he should appoint a governor in charge of preserving 1/5 of each year of plenty to use for the years of famine. The seven fifths of stored foods would supplement the seven years of lean food production and though no one would feel food was plentiful, they would not starve.
God would provide for the needs of the people—forever, the Psalmist said. They would be blessed. God guided Joseph, an archetype of Jesus, to be in Egypt in a circuitous and often, hardship-filled life, but brought him from the pit into the place of honor.
The New Testament lesson revealed the dream of St. John who encountered seven angels unleashing plagues over the earth—the last of them, for God’s anger would be finished. And those that survived the beast stood on the opposite side of the glass lake of fire, singing praises to God.
Through all the lessons, the signs and wonders demonstrated God’s glory. The Psalmist, the Egyptians and the churches in the New Testament period could see the glory of God in the actions that set God apart from all others.
We can praise God for working all things together for our good…and bringing us to unity. God appreciates all those who work to bring peace and unity among believers.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Click on the Scriptures for links to biblegateway.com, where many translations of the same text enhance the understanding the readings, which come from the (RCL) Revised Common Lectionary – Daily Lectionary
Readings. I add a Daily Prayer to bless you with God’s Favor.
Enjoy the Daily Encouragement and Bible Study and may you be inspired to be your best self for Ordinary 20, Proper 15.
Ordinary 20, Proper 15
God Moves in Mysterious Ways — Saint Michael’s Singers, Coventry Cathedral
The Beast Defeated in Revelation of John
The Beast Revelation 15:1 Then I saw another wonder (sign, token, symbol) in heaven, great and marvelous [warning of events of ominous significance]: There were seven angels bringing seven plagues (afflictions, calamities), which are the last, for with them God’s wrath (indignation) is completely expressed [reaches its climax and is ended]. Pastor Vincent Stone, flickr CCL
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Ordinary 20, Proper 15
Jesus United by Thy Grace – Hymn Site
The Orb in York Minster, June’s panel Great East window restoration, June’s restored panel. Seven blue angles at the top of the panel each carry a green vial. Below them, standing upon a sea of glass and fire, are the harpers, dressed in robes of white and gold. Allan Harris, flickr, CCL
Ordinary 20, Proper 15Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20133;Genesis%2041:14-36;Revelation%2015:1-4&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV
(multiple versions)
Thursday, Ordinary 20, Proper 15
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
King James Version (KJV)
133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Single Bible Study chapter to study
King James Version (KJV)
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.
15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.
16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s dream Bible drawings by Otto Semler and others, many based on the engravings by Carolsfeld, all in the public domain. Pcstratman; flickr CCL
17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:
18 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:
19 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:
20 And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:
21 And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke.
22 And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:
23 And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:
24 And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.
21.08.2007: Joseph window, Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges. See Genesis 41: 1-36. The odd thing about this is that the caption reads “Ioseph sominiat [sic]” or Joseph dreams. In the story Pharoah dreams and Joseph interprets the dream. Nick Thompson, flickr CCL
25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.
26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.
27 And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.
28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.
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.
Joseph Interpreting the dream, Internet Archive Book Images; flickr CCL
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.
34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, shine on us with your favor as you did Joseph and St. John. Empower us to recognized the signs of our lives and live in faith, trusting the graciousness of your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Ordinary 20, Proper 15 Music
Sweet Sweet Spirit – Elvis Presley
Ordinary 20, Proper 15 Humor
Seven Runt Cows Eat Seven Fat Cows
©Jeff Larson, Used by permission
In Christ there is No East or West – Richard Harris
I hope you found a chance to encounter your Creator and experience the Love of God and the joy of Christ in Ordinary 20, Proper 15.
Conclusion
Thursday, Ordinary 20, Proper 15 provided multiple amazing events, from the Psalmist, to the Old Testament lesson in Genesis with Joseph interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh and saving the nations because of it, to the dream of St. John about the end times.
The signs and wonders of God, the revelation to the discerning few, set the believers apart from the magicians and false prophets.
The lesson learned for us today, is that everyone can trust that God will work the events in our lives to provide for our needs and also demonstrate God’s power and grace.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
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*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
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