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In Order. Intimidation

January 26, 2017. Genesis 41 & 42.

 

Have you ever felt intimidated by someone or something? Like you are just not good enough to be speaking on specific subject, or you don’t have the degree to back up what you believe and find true? Joseph can relate.  

In Genesis 41 we find Joseph still imprisoned and waiting on God to show him what his next steps will be.  He finds out after two years, but probably not at all what he was thinking. 

14 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. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

How intimidating. Joseph has been in prison for two years, and is suddenly called before Pharaoh himself, but before he can even see him, he must be cleaned and shaved and changed of his clothes. Joseph is standing before Pharaoh, the man who could easily say “off with his head” if he does not like what Joseph has to say about his dreams. 

28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 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.

Yet Joseph calmly but directly, explains what his dreams mean and what God has shown him. He doesn’t let the fact that he is merely a slave in the eyes of the powerful man deter him from speaking the truth and revealing the plans of God to him. He trusts that God will use him in the way that he sees fit. And that is just what God does. 

41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, “Make way” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”

Don’t let someone intimidate you because of a title or certification that you may or may not have.  Speak the truth of God and let Him reveal himself through you.

Previous Devotional - January 25

Andrea Fite

Andrea is a wife to an amazing man, mother to a sweet little boy, Christ following, coffee addicted, book-loving woman. She grew up as a missionary and pastor’s kid, and learned at a young age that...more