PHARAOH DREAMED
Genesis 41:1 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river. 2 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. 3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. 4 And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. 6 And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. 7 And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream. 8 And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
Two very different men, with double dreams each, are both about to have their dreams fulfilled. For Joseph, the spiritual man, dreamed of both sheaves and of the sun, moon and stars. Now Pharaoh, the carnal man dreams of both cows and corn. And for Joseph’s dreams of long ago to be realized, Pharaoh must now dream, have his dreams interpreted, and then have them come to pass.
The regenerated spirit within the believer, like Joseph, always dreams of ruling over the natural and carnal man that still abides within. John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 1 Corinthians 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
And the natural man, still very much alive within the believer, must become disturbed, as was Pharaoh, having been brought to a conviction that his natural abilities cannot survive in the mysteries of God’s oncoming providences. These were to be brought on in order to reveal the arrival of the spiritual man, now ready to assume rulership. Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
And Joseph’s long and hard afflictions have now brought him to the place of seeing and bringing the invisible, spiritual realm to its ascendancy over the natural world. 2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
He has had long patience until it has now brought forth its godly fruit. James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
But before he was enthroned, it was only those imprisoned with him who knew of Joseph’s gracious spirit. 2 Corinthians 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
And it is only those who have entered into the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings who now know him. Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. That is, that he might fully attain to the complete spiritual raising from the spiritual death of trespass and sin. 2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
But one day Joseph was seen by all when he was enthroned by Pharaoh. Genesis 41:41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
And so it is with the Lord Christ! Being now enthroned for mediation, only those who have been given regenerating grace with eyes to see, know of the glorious graces of the Lord Jesus. John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. But upon his return, when all mediation has ceased, having incorporated into God as all in all, every eye shall see him! 1 Corinthians 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
One of the amazing things in this situation was that Pharaoh was startled in seeing ill favored, lean fleshed cows! And it was the same with corn. For he lived in a land made fertile by the overflowing of the Nile river. So he had never seen a skinny cow or a dried up ear of corn. But the Lord God will eventually cause man to know that ‘Mother Earth’ only sustains him due to the good mercies of Father God! Even if he has to finally have their sustaining river polluted with blood! Exodus 7:20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. 21 And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
But in this situation Pharaoh was not seeing cows, as cows! According to Joseph’s interpretation the cows, as did the ears of corn, represented years. Genesis 41:26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. Only the one who gave the dream can properly reveal its true meaning and purpose. Failing to understand the spirit of the scriptures, by the Holy Spirit has brought upon today’s religion a devastating deception. For as the Holy Spirit gave inspiration for writing the book, he is the only true Interpreter of the book! Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Seeking to understand the scriptures without the Holy Spirit has a killing effect upon the souls of religionists! 2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
God is spirit. And those who would truly worship him can only do so in spirit. John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. And for Christ’s words to be life within the souls of man, they must be understood by the Spirit! John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
But we in America are way too sophisticated for that! We greatly prefer education over revelation! We want the ‘preacher’ who has been to college, with the title of ‘Doctor’ before his name. This being the case, we would not have either the Lord Jesus, or Peter, James or John. The Apostle Paul, as learned a man as he was, determined not to know anything that was not imparted to him by the revelation of God. For to preach in only the wisdom of man is to destroy true faith in souls! 1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
In fact, he states that he counted his previous education to be as ‘dung’ in order to bring Christ to bear upon the souls of men. Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
The kind of man that Pharaoh needed was not the worldly wise men of Egypt. For carnal reasoning cannot perceive cows as years! He had turned to them first, but to no avail! and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
The kind of man he needed was one ‘discreet and wise.’ Genesis 41:33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: And there is a difference between only being discreet, and in being wise. We can see them both in the account of the Lord Jesus’ birth. For there were men who travelled from the east, following a star who were called wise. But there was also a group of highly trained and intelligent men who were already in the vicinity who were never identified by the word, “wise.”
In Matthew 2:3,4 Herod, like Pharaoh, gathers together all the chief priests and scribes to ascertain the birth place of the Lord Jesus. And these intelligent, discreet boys knew the book, the chapter, and the very verse that gave this information. And in Matthew 2:5,6 we see that they read to Herod from Micah 5:2, which gave him his information. That, dear Reader is religious intelligent discretion!
But!! Wait a minute!! If you read on down in verses nine through eleven you will find that not a single one of these intelligent men went on to Bethlehem to see their messiah. Those are only termed “wise men” who actually made the effort to put their intelligence into good use and went to Bethlehem and fell down, and worshipped him.
The difference? The priests and scribes proved that they had a dead faith, as it had not the accompanying works. And a dead faith is no faith at all! James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. They were discreet, but not wise! But those termed ‘wise men’ proved their faith by their works! James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
And, dear Reader, Christ alone is our wisdom! 1 Corinthians 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For the Lord has designed the gospel to be foolishness to the natural mind, so then that wisdom becomes vain. 1 Corinthians 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by (its) wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
God does not save people on the basis of intelligence, but on the basis of sinfulness! 1 Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
Be careful with your intellectual religious knowledge. Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Pastor Gene Breed
August 13, 2016
