Slices
Prepare
Who is the most influential person you have ever met? Perhaps it was the head teacher at school? Maybe it was the owner of the company you work for? Possibly you met someone famous? Maybe even royalty? Remember that moment.
Bible passage
Pharaoh’s dreams
41 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: he was standing by the Nile, 2 when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the river-bank. 4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.
5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: seven ears of corn, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6 After them, seven other ears of corn sprouted – thin and scorched by the east wind. 7 The thin ears of corn swallowed up the seven healthy, full ears. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream.
8 In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, ‘Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 12 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. 13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.’
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.’
Explore
Days turned into weeks, weeks became months and the months became a couple of years (v 1). Still, Joseph was stuck in the king’s prison. But God is in charge of timing. And his timing is perfect. Pharaoh also had a couple of vivid dreams that troubled him. None of his wise men had a clue how to help him. But then the cup-bearer remembered (v 9).
Finally, the most powerful man in the world heard about this unlikely Hebrew prisoner who could precisely interpret dreams (vs 12,13). Joseph was summoned, showered, shaved and brought before the most powerful man in the world. ‘I hear you can interpret dreams?’ Pharaoh asked.
Joseph’s response is stunning. ‘I cannot do it.’ (Wait, Joseph, are you crazy? Do you know who this is?) ‘But God will give Pharaoh the answer’ (v 16). Can you imagine having this opportunity and then telling Pharaoh that you cannot do what he asks of you, but God can do it? Pharaoh probably thought he was a god! This was gutsy evangelistic boldness from Joseph at the very moment that would define the rest of his life!
Respond
We do not know how we will handle the stress of a life-defining conversation. But we can certainly pray that we will have the humility and faith of Joseph whenever our moment comes! Pray for humility and faith now.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Genesis 14,15; Psalms 3,4
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Sarah Bowey (Sports Mission Pioneer) as she supports ‘Holy Ground’ spaces in Durham, Sunderland and Newcastle – inspiring and equipping churches to adopt communal places to reach out to young people through weekly sports projects. Pray that the young people will feel a sense of belonging and learn about the hope we have in Jesus.
