For centuries, cultures around the world have been fascinated with dreams. Art, literature, movies, and myths are filled with thoughts, reflections and speculations about why dreams occur and what their meanings might be. Today, you can go to any book store or online shop and order any number of self-help publications on the subject of dreams. Dreams in their simplest form, are often believed to be the nighttime resolution of a conflict or problem we have faced from our day-to-day life. Psychologists often tell us that dreams can also reflect fears that we have suppressed and are unable to consciously cope with in our waking hours. But frequently, culture seems to be most preoccupied with the mystical secret that dreams might hold for the future. This was true for the Egyptian culture that Joseph found himself living in. The Egyptians held fast to the belief that dreams were the channel whereby the gods would speak to a person, and the most critical message the dream carried was a foretelling of the future. Joseph came face-to-face with this mindset while serving his sentence in prison.
About 8 years have passed, and Joseph is still a prisoner serving as the highest official under the warden. He has prospered there and has won the confidence of the both the warden and his fellow inmates.The scriptures reveal that on one occasion, Joseph found both the Pharaoh’s cupbearer and chief baker had made their way to the palace prison. In the account, the cupbearer and the baker were very upset about dreams they had both had the night before. It is important to understand that these 2 men held high positions in Pharaoh’s court. They were more than the sous chef and the bartender. The chief baker prepared all of Pharaoh’s food, and the cupbearer tasted all food and drink before the Pharaoh, in case an attempt to poison the ruler should arise.They were the culinary form of the secret service for the king of Egypt. They had access to all ingredients and could easily cause the pharaoh to meet an untimely departure from rule. It is believed this is why they find themselves as Joseph’s cell mates. Just like Joseph, they had risen to great heights in their career, and in a few short moments, found themselves in the incarcerated unemployment line.
Obviously devastated by the turn of events, followed up by troubling dreams, Joseph takes note of their state of upset. He inquires what the nature of their problem is. When they share with Joseph that they both have had disturbing dreams, Joseph brings a Godly perspective to their pagan belief. He seizes the opportunity to let them know that dream interpretation is the business of God (Gen 40:8). Joseph then proceeds as God’s agent to interpret the dream.
Once again, I am reminded that the scripture states, “God was with Joseph in ALL that he did.” (Gen 39:21) Despite that Joseph was a dreamer himself, I do not believe that Joseph was born with some mystical magical ability to interpret dreams. Up until now, God had been preparing Joseph for the purpose He had ordained for him. Now I see that Gods’ power had equipped Joseph for the specific task at hand. God had not equipped Joseph to be a fortune teller, but rather provided him the opportunity to tell forth the truth. This is in no way splitting spiritual hairs. Joseph had already declared that dreams and their futuristic implications are Gods’ domain. We must remember that God is using Joseph as His agent to ultimately care, protect and provide for the Israelite nation for a coming famine. Rick Warren in his book,”The Purpose Driven Life” tells us “It’s not all about us.” In this case, this dreamy encounter is not all about Joseph. Rather it is about God and His great love and pursuit of His people. A bigger future than even Josephs’ mind could grasp.
This is a good place for me to stop and mediate. There are mysterious things in this world like dreams and coincidental circumstances that may arouse the curiosity of my human mind. However, God has called me to a life of faith and the future is under His domain. It is not in His design for me to be in a constant mystical pursuit of what is to come (as if somehow knowledge could increase my ability to control it). God wants me to be mindful of the future. He tells me in His word that I am called to a life of trust that He knows best and has the best plan and purpose for me (Jeremiah 29:11). It is not in Gods’ plan for me to either dread or fear the future. Christ is my constant companion and the Holy Spirit is my guide. Because of their presence, I am never lacking or ill equipped to face anything that comes across my path, to day or tomorrow.
As a child of God, I am neither a victim of fate, or the captain of my own destiny. Do I think there are other sources of limited power in the universe that may have some insight into dreams and their interpretations? Of course I do. The bible makes several references to such soothsayers and fortune tellers. But it also warns followers of God that this mystical venue is not for us (Deut 18:9-12).
The source behind it is the Father of all lies and Satan does not have the ability to see the future, and is not omnipotent. Neither is this spirit of evil motivated out of love for me in any way and any informational fragments I might obtain would not be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I am reminded of a past incident where I was at a social gathering of both friends and colleagues. There was a “medium” in attendance and she was slowly making her way around the room, seeking out folks, attempting to provide a “reading” for their future. When she finally made her way to me she inquired if I was interested in her doing a reading for me. She commented that I had a lot of energy and activity around my spirit and that I might find the information she could provide helpful. I, of course, declined. She asked “wasn’t I interested in knowing about the future?” My reply was that I was more interested in talking to the One who controls the future, rather than a person who might have a tad of insight. At this point, she walked away, commenting that my skeptical “negative” energy was blocking her vibes or whatever.
Jesus said in John, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” As His disciple, I believe truth to be incarnate and not just a mere set of accurate facts. God is the source of all truth! Past, present and future. Christ is the revelation of all truth. And the Holy Spirit is the manifestation of that truth, indwelling in me. I have all the access to truth I need.
This is the reason Josephs’ interpretation is accurate. It flowed from God’s mouth to Joseph’s ear. The cupbearer was restored to his position with the Pharaoh while the chief baker met his demise impaled on a pole just as it was portrayed in his dream. First and foremost Joseph honored God with the opportunity he had with the 2 workers. Because Joseph did this, it would open the door to being called by the Pharaoh to interpret the dream of the coming famine. The fact that Joseph beseeched the cupbearer to remember him to the Pharaoh and that the cupbearer waited 2 years to put in a good word for Joseph is not lost on me.
Once again, I see the providential timing of God and the waiting involved in cooperating with Gods’ purpose. The “test” to correctly interpret dreams would all the more be important to accurately and righteously interpret the Pharaoh’s dream. If Joseph inserted his own ego and failed to hear God, it would be of national consequence. The nation of both Egypt and Israel would starve. I am reminded of the parable of the Faithful servant in Matt 25:23 where the servants master commended him by saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.”
Joseph proved to be faithful at every opportunity and after 10 years in prison, he was restored to the palace and to an even higher position than he previously held due to his accurate interpretation of the KIng’s dream. God moved Joseph to be Governor over Egypt. All the previous administrative preparation in both Potiphar’s’ house and the prison would now provide Joseph with the skill set he would need for the task of mobilizing all of Egypt to prepare for the famine.
It’s easy to read this biblical history and fail to make an application for my daily life. After all, I am probably not going to get a dream interpretation gig anytime soon. But I can take away the truth that today’s task, however what may seem menial and unimportant to me, can be connected to a future plan God has for me. It can impact how God can use me if I will surrender the “now” to Him, and continue to trust Him for the “later.” I can also utilize what I have experienced and know about Christ and His love and purpose to help others when given the chance. I can be reminded during frustrating times of waiting that it isn’t all about me. Gods’ truth can bring purpose to suffering I don’t understand. It can bring clarity to my path at surprising turn of events. Today, I am reminded that Gods’ big visions and His big events often start with little dreams in unexpected places.
5oclockworker.com 