THROUGH THE BIBLE - Genesis..

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com. That's cornerstonerbc.com. Good evening everyone and welcome to church. What a great privilege to have you worshiping the Lord with us.

Would you please open up your Bible to the book of Genesis? Genesis chapter 41. We continue with a corporate reading of the scripture as we always do by the grace of God that he has given us a book that we can come and read not only individually but also corporately. And as a church, we go through every book of the Bible, every chapter of the Bible, and we are up to chapter 41. We have a long portion of the scripture in front of us.

So let's read the word of God, paying much attention to each one of the words and with reverent hearts. I'm reading Genesis chapter 41. This is the word of God. After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed-grass. And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile.

And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke, and he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. And the thin ears swelled up the seven plump, full ears.

And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh. Then the chief capbearer said to Pharaoh, I remember my offenses today. When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody, in the house of the captain of the guard.

We dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with his own interpretation. Ion Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. And he interpreted to us, and it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.

Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you, that when you hear a dream, you can interpret it. Joseph answered Pharaoh, It is not in me.

God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows.

But when they had eaten them, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. When I awoke, I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good. Seven ears, withered thin and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me. Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, the dreams of Pharaoh are one.

God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years and the seven good years are years at seven years. The dreams are one. Then, seven lean and ugly cows that came after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. It is as I told Pharaoh, God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do.

Verse 29, there will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. But after them, there will arise seven years of famine and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land of Egypt. the land, and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. And the doubly nefarious dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.

Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years, and let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities and let them keep it. That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt so that the land may not perish through the famine." This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, Can we find, can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck.

And when he made him right in his second chariot, and they called out before him, bow the knee, thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without your consent, no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh called Joseph's name, Safenad-Paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potipharah, priest of Arn. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.

Joseph was 30 years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. During the 7.4 years, the earth produced abundantly, and he gathered up all the food of these seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it.

And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured. Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Petiphar, a priest of Ann, bore them to him. Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, for he said, God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house. The name of the second he called Ephraim, for God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.

The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end, and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph has said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all Egyptians, go to Joseph, what he says to you, do. So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.

Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt, to Joseph, to buy grain because famine was severe over all the earth. Amen. The words of God before us. a big chapter we have in front of us, brothers and sisters. Let me just give you in a very short sentence what I want us to meditate upon in this very long chapter.

There is a sense in which we could spend hours and hours and probably many sermons just addressing the many things that are contained in this chapter. But let me just give you in a very short sentence what I want us to meditate upon that is contained in this chapter. And that is the providential power of God in exalting Joseph, the providential power of God in exalting Joseph. I'm saying that because in the beginning of the chapter, we have a Joseph who is a prisoner. And then in the end of the chapter, we have a Joseph who is the second one in power in the land of Egypt.

There is an exaltation that happens of this man who was in prison and is going to become the second one in power after Pharaoh. So I want us as a church to meditate upon the providential power of God in the process of exalting this man who was a prisoner and bringing him to a glory next to Pharaoh in command in the land of Egypt. And when I say providential, beloved brethren, what I mean is that God, the triune God, it is in control of everything that happens. That's what I mean by providential. That what he decreed in eternity past, in his mind, in his wisdom, he's bringing about in reality and in time, he's working those things out by his providence.

So that everything that happens not only in the chapter that we're reading it is according to the providence of God and everything that happens in your life it is according to the providence of God who is working out his eternal decree and now what we have here is as i said the exaltation of this man who was a prisoner and now it is exalted in a human glory next to pharaoh i want us beloved to address this providential power of God in exalting this prisoner, Joseph, I want us to address that, the workings of God, the divine workings of God, of accomplishing that purpose of this exaltation of this man, in five different points that I think the text presents those different points. The first one, it is the dreams that are given to Pharaoh. He has got two dreams. And after that, he calms people to interpret those dreams, the wise and the magician. So I want us to address that, first of all, from the dreams that are given to Pharaoh.

Second point, I want us to address the providential power of God from the intent or the attempt better of interpreting those dreams by these magicians or wise men. The third thing that I want us to see is the remembrance of the cupbearer or the remembering of the cupbearer of this man who interpreted his dream, Joseph. And then the fourth thing that I want us to see is the interpretation that God gives to Joseph of these particular dreams that were given to Pharaoh to finally, brothers and sisters, address the life of the men that we have in front of us. And I'm going to try to do that very quickly. Each one of those points, five points, contribute to us understanding this providential working of God, of taking a man who was in a prison and then exalting that man to a human glory next to Pharaoh in the government of Egypt.

The first point, brothers and sisters, two dreams that are given to Pharaoh. Think about this. The ultimate goal of God in this chapter, in this story, was to exalt this man who had been going through lots of tribulation and suffering and sorrow. And now he is going to give, God is going to give a sinful man, a man that is not a Christian or a man who does not belong to the people of God. God is going to give this man, this sinful man, this hater of God, he's going to give to dreams.

Now, we know that these two dreams are of God because we see that these dreams come to true. They happen. They are interpreted by Joseph. But not only that, there is a particular order in how the Lord is teaching us his wisdom through these dreams that he's given to his people. Initially, two dreams are given to Joseph.

And then Joseph is going to interpret two dreams when he is a prisoner or he's in jail. And now God is going to give Pharaoh two dreams. Theologians call these the three sets of two dreams that are given in this section of scripture. God has decided, brothers and sisters, pay attention to that, to a sinful man to receive information that is given from God. God was working profidentially there with something that may not make sense to us to accomplish a final purpose.

After this Pharaoh received these two dreams that we have read here, he says that his spirit is perplexed. that he he he is confused about these two dreams that he has received and therefore he goes and calls the wise and the magicians men of the land of egypt and now think about it why would pharaoh call wise men and magicians to interpret his dreams he would do it because he thinks that these people have the ability to interpret those dreams. And why would Pharaoh think that they have the ability to interpret dreams? Well, with probably because they have done something similar in the past or because they have some type of supernatural ability to address things that are natural. It's not that it is came into the mind of Pharaoh and he just chose people just to come and interpret the dreams.

The Bible says that these men were wise, but also that they were magicians. Now, how would sinful people not only be wise, but also have the ability of doing things that are related to magic or being magicians. How would sinful people, haters of God, outside of the covenant of God, how would these people have the ability of doing supernatural things, addressing natural things? not any other way but that by the power of satan by the power of the dark powers these people had powers in and of themselves so given to them to actually not only be wise but also do things like they are related to magic but now God in his providential power that is taking each one of these pieces towards the final end, which is the exaltation of Joseph. He is going to restrain the power of these men or the ability of these wise men who had probably interpreted dreams in the past or who had probably manifested a type of ability related to magic in the past.

He is now going to restrain the ability and the power or the wisdom of these men so that no one would be able to give an answer to the dreams or no one will be able to give an interpretation of the dreams that Pharaoh had had. Now, brothers and sisters, I'm trying to present to you the providential power of God and how each one of the pieces were in the hands of God and how he was controlling each one of those steps towards that goal, which is the exaltation of this person that we have, that is Joseph. Because after that, there's going to happen something very interesting. In the previous chapter, we are told that the cupbearer forgot Joseph. But now God, in his providential power that brings about the things according to his purpose, according to his decree, according to his plan, he is going to produce a thought in his mind.

The one who had forgotten about Joseph now is going to say, now I remember. Now I remember the cat bear who had forgotten him. Now he's in front of Pharaoh. He says, now I remember this Hebrew who we had two dreams and he interpreted those two dreams and everything happened as he said. I don't know if you see the mighty hand of God, brothers and sisters, because even the thoughts of sinful men are controlled by the sovereign hand of God in His purpose of accomplishing that which He has decreed, not only for these men, but also for His people.

The thought of these men came in remembrance, and that by means of Him remembering Joseph is that Joseph can come before Pharaoh, and he is now going to give the interpretation of these dreams. Nobody had the power or the wisdom to interpret these dreams. But now Joseph is going to present himself before Pharaoh, and God is going to give him the interpretation of those dreams. Not only that, not only the interpretation is given, But also, as a wise man, he's also given the solution to the problem that the interpretations of the dreams were bringing to the table of Tharo. Seven years of abundance are going to be followed by seven years of famine.

And the seven of years of famine are going to be worse, are going to be more powerful than the seven years of prosperity. And the land is going to enter into very difficult times, but There is also a solution. So then Joseph comes up with the solution and he gives it to Pharaoh. He says, choose for yourself a wise man that is going to gather and is going to save during the seven years so that then in the seven years of famine, you will have sufficient provision for your people and beyond. Brothers and sisters, every single piece of this story is pointing towards the exaltation of this man.

And every one of these pieces is the providential power of God. Think about this. Joseph comes with absolute certainty that he is going to able to interpret the dream. He comes with absolute certainty that he has the ability to interpret this dream. Because this now takes me to the final point that it is not only the dreams that were given to Pharaoh, that these men, wise men, were not able to interpret, because even God restrained their ability and their wisdom to interpret that.

But it's also the remembrance or the remembering of the capbearer of the situation that happened in the past. And now he's bringing Joseph into the presence of Pharaoh to give the correct interpretation of what's going to happen. And not only the interpretation, but also the solution to that. But brothers and sisters, beloved of God, Think about the life of this man. This man had spent probably 13 years.

He was sold by his family. He was accused of slander by evil speaking against him. Then he was put into prison. Probably 13 years had spent or passed of suffering. Yet, when he comes and places himself before Pharaoh, before the men who thought they had all the power in Egypt and who thought himself to be like a God to these people.

Now, Joseph is presenting himself before him who has the power to decide what is going to happen with his life. And Joseph says, well, Pharaoh says to him, I've heard that you are able to interpret dreams. I have a problem with dreams, and I've heard that you are able to solve this. I've heard that you have the ability to interpret these dreams. What Joseph says to him is very interesting.

He says, it is not in me. God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer. Now, brothers. A prisoner is telling the man who thinks that he is like a God to this nation. He's saying, you are now under the hand of my God.

And I do not have the ability to give this information to you, but my God is going to give you the interpretation of your dream. And after when he's given the interpretation to him, he says, God has revealed this to you. So he is saying to him, God is the one who has decreed what's going to happen to you. God is the one who is revealing that which is going to happen to you. To the point that to the surprise of Pharaoh, he is going to end up this section after the interpretation and after the solution saying, there is no other man in the land.

who has been as wise, or who may have the Spirit of God in him as Joseph is. Brothers and sisters, this is the providential power of God in preserving and keeping not only his people, but his decree. that which he has decreed for his people he is going to bring it about according to what he said even though if the little pieces that are that are taking us towards that ultimate or that final purpose do not make sense in that particular period of time. So now I want to take you to first Peter because I want to show you something there to find to to finish our meditation here because Peter is going to summarize very clearly what what Joseph did during all of this time. So go to first Peter chapter 5.

First Peter chapter 5. And then in verse 6. Here in this section, Peter has finished his final treatise on suffering. the suffering of the Christian. And he's going to address in two verses, verse six and seven, exactly what happened in the life of Joseph, 13 years of suffering, 13 years of tribulation and difficulties.

And Peter says to the church, humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time he may exalt you. casting all your anxieties on him because he that is God cares for you. Brothers and sisters, what was the only thing? Now, please pay attention to this is the most important thing that I want you to have in your heart. What was the only thing that Joseph had during those 13 years?

What was the only thing that Joseph had during those 13 years of suffering, of being put in prison, of being a slander? What was the only thing that he had? It was two dreams that were given to him. And then the transferring of the oracles of God from one generation and to another generation. That is the spoken word of God, because he did not have this book that we have in front of us.

He had only the oracles of God as they had been transferred from one generation and to another generation, that this God who promised in the Garden of Eden that is going to preserve an offspring for himself, that he is going to bring a Messiah, that is going to bring ultimate or final salvation. And then he had received two dreams that were giving him the promise that through him or through his work a people was going to be preserved. 13 years of suffering and those 13 years of suffering were whole or he was holding through faith to the providential power of God that he is going to accomplish that what he had said from the very beginning. Joseph, in a sense, Learn to say, not my will, but your will be done. Because Joseph, brothers and sisters, is only a type.

If he was humbled, if he was going through sufferings, if he was going through difficulties, he is only a type. He's only a shadow of the one who said, no, my will, but your will be done. The one who did not only go to prison because brothers and sisters, the fact that Joseph went to prison, the fact that he was a slander, he deserved that in a sense because of his unrighteousness. You see, there is a sense in which we deserve many of the bad things that happened to us because of our sin, but Christ being God himself, in His perfection and in His holiness. He is the humble servant that came down to this world and made Himself like one of us, that through His humbling under the mighty hand of God, He will bring to completion this purpose of God of not only giving him glory, but also giving glory to those who were chosen before the foundation of the world in him.

Because the glory that is given to Christ is also given to the church. So the church can rest, brothers and sisters. Each one of the souls of the believers can rest in the fact that God is accomplishing providentially that which he planned for our lives, not because of ourselves, but because we are united to Christ in faith. And he has promised to his son that he's going to give him a kingdom, that he's going to give him a people, a holy people. So the promise is ultimately given.

to the one who is the lover of our soul. May God give us grace. Amen.