Bible Study - Pitfalls (4) - The Pitfalls of Hard Times - Genesis 41:28-32-47-54 - February 13, 2022

 

Bible Study – Pitfalls (4) – The Pitfalls of Hard Times – February 13, 2022

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled, “How to Avoid Life’s Pitfalls.”

Focus Scripture - Genesis 41:28-32- 47-54.

Trust GOD to see you through any crisis.

The background scripture is too rich to ignore. Our study will begin with Genesis 41:1. GOD takes care of HIS chosen people. GOD chooses all people but do all people choose HIM? It is exciting to see GOD’S hand at work through the lives of HIS chosen and how it benefits other people or people groups to make HIM known to them.

Who are the most important people in a city, community or neighborhood? They are the Christians who live there.

In this study, we see GOD’S protective hand in the preservation of the, yet to be, Israelites through whom the promised Messiah, JESUS, would come. GOD established Himself as The One True All-Powerful GOD over all gods through physical revelation e.g., plagues, parting of the Red Sea, cloud by day, pillar of fire by night, GOD’S presence on Mount Sinai and so much more.

GOD revealed Himself to Moses via the burning bush. Moses recorded his many encounters with GOD, which in turn, revealed GOD to all who read the Bible. Thus, many people and people groups know of Moses’ encounter with GOD through these encounters and revelations.

The pinnacle of GOD’S redemptive plan culminates with the physical birth, sinless physical life of JESUS, JESUS’ physical death upon the cross, HIS physical resurrection from the physically dead on the third day and HIS presence upon earth for 40 days before HE ascended into Heaven to take HIS seat next to GOD.

GOD’S redemptive plan for all people was completed. What is GOD’S redemptive plan? It is for all people to place their faith in the One and Only resurrected JESUS CHRIST WHO, by HIS shed blood, removed the sin barrier and opened the pathway to GOD.

However, there is one step that every person must take and that is accept, by faith, that JESUS paid in full for their sin. Then through the miracle of Spiritual birth one is Spirit-born into GOD’S Family, never to be Spiritually unborn.

The Spirit-born person will go to be with GOD in Heaven at physical death and remain in Heaven with GOD until JESUS returns to earth at HIS second coming. Only Spirit-born Christians will be in Heaven when they die physically and there will be Spirit-born people upon earth. At the second coming of JESUS those who are in Heaven will follow JESUS to earth and those Spirit-born upon earth all will receive their new Glorified bodies at the same time for all eternity. Those Spirit-born will not be judged but receive their Heavenly rewards. WOW! That is huge and all confirmed in scripture.

JESUS said in John 5:24 - ²⁴ “Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

In our study of Joseph, we get to see GOD’S hands at work through the life and trust of Joseph in GOD. Trust GOD. Ask HIM to reveal truth to you as you study this lesson. GOD has a plan for you and your life as HIS Spirit-born Child. Who is your enemy? It is Satan. But when you have become a Spirit-born Child of GOD, WHO is greater? It is JESUS. Why? It is because JESUS has defeated Satan by HIS sinless life and the shedding of HIS sinless blood to pay for all of the sin, both past, present and future of all who place their faith in JESUS. Yes, Spirit-born people sin, so, what can they do? Scripture reveals in 1 John 1:8-10:

⁸ If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Spirit-born people will be complete and perfected when they see JESUS either at physical death or HIS second coming.

What does this have to do with Joseph? When we are in Spiritual darkness is when we must trust in the light of JESUS. HE is our strength and hope that the darkness will pass and HIS light will guide our path through the dark times in our lives.

Let’s explore!

Genesis 41:1-27:

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dreams

41 At the end of two years Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile, ² when seven healthy-looking, well-fed cows came up from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds. ³ After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside those cows along the bank of the Nile. ⁴ The sickly, thin cows ate the healthy, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. ⁵ He fell asleep and dreamed a second time: Seven heads of grain, plump and good, came up on one stalk. ⁶ After them, seven heads of grain, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up. ⁷ The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, full ones. Then Pharaoh woke up, and it was only a dream.

[Notice that in Pharaoh’s dream he was standing beside the Nile River. The Nile was vastly important to Egypt. When it overflowed in the spring of each year it brought rich soil with it that was deposited upon the land next to the Nile. The rich soil adjacent to the Nile produced bountiful luscious crops.] 

⁸ When morning came, he was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.

⁹ Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I remember my faults. ¹⁰ Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guards. ¹¹ He and I had dreams on the same night; each dream had its own meaning. ¹² Now a young Hebrew, a slave of the captain of the guards, was with us there. We told him our dreams, he interpreted our dreams for us, and each had its own interpretation. ¹³ It turned out just the way he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.”

¹⁴ Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and they quickly brought him from the dungeon.^[a] He shaved, changed his clothes, and went to Pharaoh.

¹⁵ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said about you that you can hear a dream and interpret it.”

¹⁶ “I am not able to,” Joseph answered Pharaoh. “It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”^[b]

[Joseph made it perfectly clear WHO interprets dreams. It is no human. It was and is Joseph’s relationship with the One True GOD WHO reveals the truth of a dream. GOD knows all things and is in all. This is a huge witness to pharaoh and many others in Pharaoh’s court and commoners. Keep in mind that Pharaoh’s magicians could not interpret his dream and neither can Spiritualist, fortune tellers, soothsayers, horoscopes, mediums and all their ilk. GOD gives the interpretation. GOD reveals truth, through the indwelling Holy Spirit.]

¹⁷ So Pharaoh then said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, ¹⁸ when seven well-fed, healthy-looking cows came up from the Nile and grazed among the reeds. ¹⁹ After them, seven other cows—weak, very sickly, and thin—came up. I’ve never seen such sickly ones as these in all the land of Egypt. ²⁰ Then the thin, sickly cows ate the first seven well-fed cows. ²¹ When they had devoured them, you could not tell that they had devoured them; their appearance was as bad as it had been before. Then I woke up. ²² In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, full and good, coming up on one stalk. ²³ After them, seven heads of grain—withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind—sprouted up. ²⁴ The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven good ones. I told this to the magicians, but no one can tell me what it means.”

²⁵ Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. ²⁶ The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years. The dreams mean the same thing. ²⁷ The seven thin, sickly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind are seven years of famine.

[The One True GOD revealed to Pharaoh, who thought of himself as a god, truth. Pharaoh would witness his dreamed being confirmed over this fourteen-year time period. Did these facts result in Pharaoh wanting to know more about the GOD of Joseph? Both the crops and the animals would be impacted by this event. Therefore, plan wisely for this event. Who sounds the alarms of today? Does it come from our pastors, teachers or government leaders?]

Let’s read Genesis 41:28-32:

²⁸ “It is just as I told Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he (GOD) is about to do. ²⁹ Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt. ³⁰ After them, seven years of famine will take place, and all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten. The famine will devastate the land. ³¹ The abundance in the land will not be remembered because of the famine that follows it, for the famine will be very severe. ³² Since the dream was given twice to Pharaoh, it means that the matter has been determined by God, and he will carry it out soon.

³³ “So now, let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt. ³⁴ Let Pharaoh do this: Let him appoint overseers over the land and take a fifth of the harvest of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. ³⁵ Let them gather all the excess food during these good years that are coming. Under Pharaoh’s authority, store the grain in the cities, so they may preserve it as food. ³⁶ The food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine that will take place in the land of Egypt. Then the country will not be wiped out by the famine.”

Joseph Exalted

³⁷ The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants, ³⁸ and he said to them, “Can we find anyone like this, a man who has God’s spirit^[c] in him?” 

[Pharaoh sees through Joseph the wisdom of GOD. Pharaoh trusts GOD’S revelation through Joseph and in turn, Pharaoh witnesses the fulfilment of his dream through its manifestation to him and the people of Egypt and neighboring countries.]

³⁹ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you are. ⁴⁰ You will be over my house, and all my people will obey your commands.^[d] Only I, as king,^[e] will be greater than you.” ⁴¹ Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “See, I am placing you over all the land of Egypt.” ⁴² Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, clothed him with fine linen garments, and placed a gold chain around his neck. ⁴³ He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, and servants called out before him, “Make way!” ^[f] So he placed him over all the land of Egypt. ⁴⁴ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh and no one will be able to raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt without your permission.” ⁴⁵ Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah and gave him a wife, Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest at On.^[g] And Joseph went throughout^[h] the land of Egypt.

[WOW!!! What a witness for The One True GOD of Joseph. Joseph had been made second in command in all of Egypt.]

Joseph’s Administration

⁴⁶ Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout the land of Egypt.

[ In Genesis 37:2, we read - ² These are the family records of Jacob.

At seventeen years of age, Joseph tended sheep with his brothers. The young man was working with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought a bad report about them to their father.

From about 17 years old to 30 years old or 13 years, Joseph was in uncertain circumstances but he trusted GOD and in doing so was a positive witness for the One True GOD, Yahweh.]

Let’s read Genesis 41:47-49:

⁴⁷ During the seven years of abundance the land produced outstanding harvests. ⁴⁸ Joseph gathered all the excess food in the land of Egypt during the seven years and put it in the cities. He put the food in every city from the fields around it. ⁴⁹ So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance—like the sand of the sea—that he stopped measuring it because it was beyond measure.

Let’s read Genesis 41:50-54:

⁵⁰ Two sons were born to Joseph before the years of famine arrived. Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest at On, bore them to him. ⁵¹ Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh^[i] and said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and my whole family.” ⁵² And the second son he named Ephraim^[j] and said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

[Joseph saw how GOD had directed his life. Many times, it is in retrospect that we see how GOD has directed our lives for HIS plan and purpose. However, in the latter part of verse 52, we read that Joseph had not forgotten where he came from but he did see that GOD had been in control of his life, “in the land of my affliction.”]

⁵³ Then the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end, ⁵⁴ and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in every land, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 

Let’s read Genesis 41:55-57:

⁵⁵ When the whole land of Egypt was stricken with famine, the people cried out to Pharaoh for food. Pharaoh told all Egypt, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.” ⁵⁶ Now the famine had spread across the whole region, so Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. ⁵⁷ Every land came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, for the famine was severe in every land.

[GOD calls us into HIS service. Sometimes we know it and sometimes it is revealed in retrospect. But either way, what a joy when we serve HIM. The key is that GOD has a plan for all of HIS Spirit-born Children. Here I am LORD use me for YOUR Glory!]

Blessings!!!