So, Genesis 41, it's a long chapter, and I'm going to read sections of it, but I'll tell
you where we're going as we move along.
So, Genesis 41, we'll start with the first 16 verses, and then we'll move to others, but
let's hear God's word to us this morning.
Follow along as I read, starting in verse 1.
When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream.
He was standing by the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and
fat, and they grazed among the reeds.
After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those
on the riverbank.
And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows.
Then Pharaoh woke up.
He fell asleep again and had a second dream.
Seven ears of corn, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk.
After them, seven other ears of corn sprouted, thin and scorched by the east wind.
The thin ears of corn swallowed up the seven healthy, full ears.
Then Pharaoh woke up.
It had been a dream.
In the morning, his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and the wise men
of Egypt.
And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, today I'm reminded of my shortcomings.
Pharaoh was once angry with me, his servant, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the
house of the captain of the guard.
Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.
Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard.
We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation
of his dream.
And things turned out exactly as he had interpreted them to us.
I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.
So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon.
When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.
And Pharaoh said to Joseph, I had a dream, and no one can interpret it.
But I've heard it said of you that when you hear a dream, you can interpret it.
I cannot do it, Joseph replied to Pharaoh.
But God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.
Now let's move down to verse 25.
Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, the dreams of Pharaoh are one of the same.
God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.
The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears of corn are also seven years.
It is one and the same dream.
The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterwards are seven years.
And so are the seven worthless ears of corn scorched by the east wind.
They are seven years of famine.
It is just as I said to Pharaoh, God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.
Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt.
But seven years of famine will follow them.
Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.
The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe.
The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God,
and God will do it soon.
And now, let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.
Down to verse 39.
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, since God has made all of this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you.
You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are submit to your orders.
Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.
Verse 48.
Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities.
In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it.
Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea.
It was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.
Verse 53.
The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said.
There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food.
Well, let's pray and ask for God's help to us.
Let's pray.
Father, thank you again for your word.
We thank you that it is true.
And more than that, it is life-giving.
And so we pray that as we hear your words to us today,
you would show us the life you have given to us,
the life that you have given to the whole world.
Father, may your word bless us today as we listen.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, it's quite the story, isn't it?
From the pit of a prison to power in the palace.
And if that doesn't impress you, all happened within 24 hours.
We could imagine Joseph at his first book launch down at his local Egyptian Eason's.
The secret of my success.
The true story of one man's journey from slave to master.
Get your signed copies here.
What a transformation.
So, Joseph, tell me, how did you do it?
What was your secret?
Well, it's the kind of story we would all dream of for ourselves.
We would long for these sorts of things to happen to us.
We would long, too, that our struggles would come to an end.
That things would dramatically change.
That we would have a better life than the one we have right now.
So, Joseph, how did you do it?
How did you manage to turn things around?
To go from prison to palace?
Well, as we'll discover in this account, it's not about Joseph at all.
It's about God.
And it's not Joseph's secret to success.
But God's story of salvation.
In fact, this account is all about how God works through his servants to bless the nations.
Three things we're going to look at that will show how this is true.
That first, God ordains the events of his servants.
Second, God establishes the purposes for his servants.
And then third, God blesses the nations by his servants.
So, let's look at these together.
First, God ordains the events of his servants.
Everything in this account is God's fingerprints all over it.
God decides what happens and when it happens.
Look at verse 1.
When two full years had passed.
So, Joseph has now actually been in prison for 13 years for a crime he had never committed.
But just as God had overseen Joseph in prison, so God was going to take him out of prison.
You see, everything happens according to God's timing.
Verse 1.
So, when the two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream.
But the problem is, verse 8, nobody in all the land of Egypt could interpret Pharaoh's dream.
But, all of a sudden, verse 9, the chief cupbearer who had forgotten Joseph had suddenly remembered Joseph.
Pharaoh, Pharaoh, I know someone who can interpret dreams.
And it's exactly as the dreams say.
Now, there's Joseph.
Stuck in his dirty, grubby cell.
Chalking off the days in his prison wall.
Oblivious to the upset in the palace.
When all of a sudden, Joseph, get up here.
Now.
Well, Joseph, verse 14, is ushered along by the guards.
Thrown into the shower room for a hose down.
Given a shave and some decent clothes.
But what's happening?
Where am I going?
To see Pharaoh.
He's got a problem.
And you can help.
Do you see how God is ordaining the events of his servants?
He's bringing all things together.
And all the people together according to his timing.
God is at work in Pharaoh's life.
In the cupbearer's life.
In Joseph's life.
God is the one who is over all these things.
In fact, if we look a little closer to the dreams.
We learn a little bit more.
The way in which God ordains everything.
Three quick things here.
First, God discloses what's going to happen.
Look at verse 15.
Pharaoh said to Joseph, I had a dream and no one can interpret it.
But I have heard it said that you can interpret it.
I cannot do it, Joseph replied to Pharaoh.
But God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.
I can't.
But God can.
Only God reveals what will happen.
Only God knows the future.
Now of course we have all kinds of people.
Who will promise to predict the future for a few euro.
Especially religious people that we can see on God channel.
They promise you all kinds of things about telling your future and what's going to happen next year.
It's all wild speculation.
It's just imaginations and thoughts and ideas.
God alone knows what will happen.
But more than that, God directs what will happen.
As Pharaoh retells his dream.
Verse 25.
Then Joseph said to Pharaoh.
The dreams of Pharaoh are one of the same.
God has revealed to Pharaoh what God is about to do.
You see, only God knows the future.
But he is the one who's going to bring it about.
You see, the dream isn't just information about the future.
But God's action to bring it to pass.
Verse 28.
It is just as I said to Pharaoh.
God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.
God is not only saying what will happen.
God is saying, I will direct the very events themselves.
Now you and I can't do that.
We can't change any event or make any event happen tomorrow, next year.
Never mind the events of the world.
But God discloses and directs everything.
In fact, God determines what will happen.
The dreams are clear in the interpretation.
There will be seven years of good harvest and seven years of no harvest.
A time of abundance and a time of famine.
But why were there two dreams saying the same thing?
Well, we're given the answer, aren't we, in verse 32.
The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms
is that the matter has been firmly decided by God.
And God will do it soon.
I want you to be crystal clear in your understanding, Pharaoh.
You may claim to be king of Egypt,
but God determines the times and the events of this world.
God has fixed the future.
Every second and every century is known by God
and is acted out by God.
Well, if God is in control of world events,
how much more is he in control of my life and your life?
Psalm 139 verse 16 reminds us,
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
Isn't that amazing?
That our life is ordained from beginning to end?
God is in charge of the bad times
when we're in the pit of life.
God is in control of the good times
when we're enjoying the pleasures of life.
We don't live in a world of random events
and chance circumstances.
No, God ordains everything.
You see, this is not about finding the secret to success.
This is all about God
who ordains the events of his servants.
So, God ordains the events of his servants.
Second, God establishes the purposes of his servants.
Well, God is clearly in control of all that's going on
including the choices and decisions of Pharaoh.
In fact, God uses the king of Egypt
to establish his own servant in his place.
Verse 33.
Joseph says,
And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man
and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.
Now, I don't think Joseph is seeking power here
or an upgrade.
I think Joseph is just stating the obvious implication of the dreams.
Look, Pharaoh, if there's going to be a famine,
you're going to need to store up grain in the good years.
You need a plan.
You need somebody who's going to look after that.
Positions and power were far from Joseph's mind.
But yet it seems God is at work through Pharaoh
to establish his servant.
In fact, as we look more closely at the story,
we see how God does this.
First, look at Joseph's rise to power.
To say that Joseph had suffered was an understatement.
He had 13 years in the pit of a prison,
but all of that was to change.
Verse 39.
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph,
Since God has made all this known to you,
there is no one so discerning and wise as you.
You shall be in charge of my palace,
and all my people are to submit to your orders.
Only with respect to the throne
will I be greater than you.
From the pit to power,
from being a slave to a master,
Joseph's life was radically changed in a matter of hours.
Once in grubby clothes and in irons of chain.
Now look at the end of verse 42.
We find him dressed in a robe of fine linen,
and not with chains of iron,
but a gold chain around his neck.
In fact, Joseph went from a position
of bowing down to others,
to where the whole nation were bowing down to him.
Look at verse 43.
Pharaoh made Joseph ride in a chariot.
Today it would be a fine, long-stretched limousine.
As his second in command.
And people shouted before him,
Make way, or bow down!
Thus, he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
What an incredible transformation!
But why are we surprised?
I mean, doesn't God ordain the events of all things?
What God has firmly decided will come to pass?
Now all of this was not for Joseph's sake,
so that he could write bestsellers
down at the local bookstore.
No, this was all for God's saving purposes.
You see, as Joseph came to power,
God was putting his ruler in place.
You see, the author wants us to see
that God's purpose is central.
This is not a story about how God is going to give me
power and riches.
No, this is a true story of God
putting his ruler in the right place.
Verse 42.
Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger
and put it on Joseph's finger.
The signet ring was the king's official stamp.
In other words, Joseph was acting on behalf of the king.
What Joseph said, the king said.
Verse 44.
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph,
I am Pharaoh, but without your word,
no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.
Joseph is given absolute power
and complete authority.
Don't you marvel at how the king of Egypt
places God's servant
into a position of being ruler of all Egypt?
You see, kings don't rule.
God does.
The leaders and governments of our world
are not in charge.
God is in charge.
In fact, God will use the leaders and the kings
and he will use their choices and decisions
to bring about God's ultimate and greater purposes.
Now, if that is true for the world,
how is that true for us?
You see, if you are a Christian here today,
then you are God's servant
in God's place.
Where you live and where you are
is not a mistake.
It's not a chance.
God has you where he has you
for his purpose.
For Joseph, that would be the experience
of being in a pit and a palace.
God has you in his place.
But wherever we are and whatever we do,
God has you in his place.
You see, this is not about finding the secret to success.
This is about God who establishes the purposes
for his servants.
So, God ordains, God establishes.
And third, God blesses the nations by his servants.
You see, as we follow in this story,
like a master chess player,
God is manoeuvring all the pieces and the people
for his victorious move.
All the events and all the people
served the great purposes of God.
Look at verse 46.
Joseph was 30 years old
when he entered the service of Pharaoh,
king of Egypt.
And Joseph went out from Pharaoh's presence
and travelled throughout Egypt.
You see, God was going to bring blessing
to and through his servant.
First, God's servant is blessed.
Joseph is in charge of all Egypt.
He's gone from the depths of the dungeon
to the heights of the palace.
What would Joseph be thinking
as he saw his life unfold before him?
Well, we're told.
He's very clear about how it all happened.
Look down at verse 51.
In between the years of abundance and famine,
we're told that Joseph had two children.
Verse 51.
Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said,
It is because God has made me forget
all my trouble and all my father's household.
The second son he named Ephraim and said,
It is because God has made me fruitful
in the land of my suffering.
You see, if Joseph was learning anything,
it was learning that God made everything happen.
God was in control.
All that Joseph received was by God's grace
and God's goodness.
Verse 51.
God made me forget.
God made me fruitful.
We could imagine that every time Joseph went out
to call his two boys in for dinner.
Forgetful.
Fruitful.
Every time he heard their names,
he was reminding himself of God's intervention
and God's blessing to him.
It was all of God's goodness and grace.
How he took the troubles of Joseph's life
and weaved them together for something beautiful and good.
How God had taken the hard times
to bring about blessing for Joseph.
But there was a purpose in blessing Joseph.
The purpose was
that God's servant would bring blessing to others.
You see, Joseph is blessed.
But God has a much greater blessing in mind.
Look how God provided.
Verse 49.
Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain.
Like the sand of the sea,
it was so much that he had to stop keeping records
because it was beyond measure.
Verse 55.
When all Egypt began to feel the famine,
the people cried out to Pharaoh for food.
Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians,
go to Joseph and do what he tells you.
When the famine had spread over the whole country,
Joseph opened all the storehouses
and sold grain to the Egyptians
for the famine was severe throughout Egypt.
What a means of blessing
Joseph became not just to his family,
but to all the families of Egypt.
If Joseph hadn't stored up that grain,
the loss of life would have been countless.
Thousands upon thousands would have died.
But God was thinking bigger and greater
than just Egypt.
The blessing extended beyond Egypt.
Look at verse 57.
And all the world,
the surrounding nations,
came to Egypt
to buy grain from Joseph
because the famine was severe everywhere.
The surrounding nations
came to God's servant
who blessed them.
Instead of death,
there was life.
God's blessing to Joseph
was overflowing
to the whole world.
Now, as great as Joseph was,
the blessings that he brought
were both temporary
and costly.
People had to come with their money
to buy their food,
but hunger would soon return,
wouldn't it?
However, we're told
of one who invites us
to buy and to eat
without any cost.
Look with me to Isaiah chapter 55.
Isaiah chapter 55.
You see, what Joseph offered
was temporary and costly.
But there is one who invites us
to buy and eat without cost.
We're offered food
that will fill us
and satisfy us forever.
Isaiah 55 verse 1.
God says through his servant,
Come, all you who are thirsty.
Come to the waters.
And you who have no money,
come, buy and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money
on what is not bread
and your labor
on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me
and eat what is good
and you will delight
in the richest affair.
The promise of food.
Where do we get this bread?
Well, listen to what Jesus said.
I am the bread of life.
I am the living bread
that came down from heaven.
Whoever eats this bread
will live forever.
This bread is my flesh
which I will give
for the life of the world.
You see, the true and eternal food
that God offers
and that God gives
is Christ.
He gives life
that is free
and eternal.
You see, this account in Genesis
is not about Joseph
and the secret of his success.
this is about God
and the story
of his greater servant
Jesus Christ.
The one who comes
to give food
that will truly satisfy
and will truly fill us
not just for us
but for the nations
of the world.
for Jesus came
into this world
and went into the pit
not of a prison
but into the judgment
of hell itself
for you and for me.
He suffered death
on the cross
for my sin
and for your sin.
But more than that
Jesus was raised
from the dead
defeating death for us
and now he reigns
with absolute power
and supreme authority
not just over a palace
but over the world
and the universe.
And as ruler
over all
he comes to us
in Christ
and offers us
the bread of life
without cost.
He invites us
to come to him today
needy
and hungry
to come empty
seeking him
who will fill you.
and as we turn
to Jesus
in faith
so we receive
his blessings
forgiveness
of all of our sin
peace with God
life eternal
what a feast
we have been
invited to
but this isn't
a feast
that we keep
to ourselves
is it?
As we receive
so we give
as God's servants
are blessed
in Christ
so we go
to be a blessing
to the world
and to the nations
the blessings
that we have received
overflow
from us
as we show
people
and offer people
Jesus
the true bread
of life
isn't that
what the church
is called to do?
just like
Patrick
who came
to the shores
of this island
1500 years ago
to preach
the good news
of the gospel
so that the people
of Ireland
might receive
and have
the bread
of life
that would
satisfy
well so too
for us
today
our country
is needy
there will be
Patrick
parades
all around
the country
but how many
of them
will be offering
the bread
of life
that is found
in Christ
so we go
knowing that
God has
ordained
every detail
of our life
we go
confident
that we are
his servants
in his place
and we go
as a blessed
people
to bless
others
as we show
them Jesus
who satisfies
who fulfills
us
and gives us
the life
of Christ
himself
let's pray
together
Father God
we are
sorry
for so
often
making
your word
out to be
all about
us
about me
help us
to see
afresh
that it
is all
about
God's
great
story
his plan
of salvation
through his
servant
Jesus
Christ
who takes
us from
the pit
of our
sin
and mess
and brokenness
and lifts
us up
to a greater
palace
of the
kingdom
of God
itself
where we
are satisfied
and fulfilled
forever
and forever
thank you
for Jesus
the bread
of life
thank you
that in him
we have all
that we need
help us
to go
into our
communities
to our
families
to our
workplaces
help us
to bring
the blessing
of Christ
may it
overflow
from our
life
and may
people
taste
and see
that Jesus
is good
amen
well we're
going to
sing
this
do
he
and
he
will