Genesis 41 Devotional Bible Study

Genesis 41 Chapter Summary

Two years later, Pharaoh had two dreams, one after the other. In the first, seven lean cows ate seven fat cows. In the second, seven thin heads of grain ate seven full heads of grain.

None of the magicians or wise men of Egypt could interpret the dream. Then, the cupbearer mentioned Joseph, so Pharaoh called for him and asked if he could interpret it.

 

"I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."

- Genesis 41:16

 

When Pharaoh had told Joseph the dreams, Joseph explained that God was warning Pharaoh that He was about to send seven years of abundance on Egypt, followed by seven years of famine. The reason Pharaoh had two dreams was that the matter had been firmly decided by God.

 

Then Joseph suggested that Pharaoh put someone in charge to collect and store up food during the seven years of abundance to be distributed during the seven years of famine. Pharaoh approved and put Joseph in charge. He was the second-highest ruler in all of Egypt.

 

Joseph was 30 years old when this happened. Pharaoh gave him Asenath, daughter of Potiphera the priest of On, to be his wife, and she gave birth to Manasseh and Ephraim.

 

After seven years, famine came to the whole region, but there was food stored up in Egypt.

 

Who Gets the Credit in Your Life?

Genesis 41:15-16

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.” “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

Pharaoh was ready to give Joseph the credit for being able to interpret dreams, but Joseph reflected all the glory back to God. How well do you do this? Maybe your spouse praises you for being good to them, or your friends observe what a great parent you are, or your church lifts you up for sharing your talents and spiritual gifts with them. Do you know and admit that it is God who enables you to do all these things?

I pray we can all stay humble before our God and simply thank Him for changing us, enabling us, and using us in the ways He does.

 

Confirming God’s Will

Genesis 41:32

“The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.”

The Lord gave Pharaoh two dreams to communicate one message. The second dream confirmed the first.

Have you ever experienced the Lord giving you the same message in more than one form? Maybe your pastor gives a message that gets you thinking about something, then you read the same basic idea in your morning devotions, then a worship song with some specific-to-you lyrics comes on the radio while you’re driving. Or maybe you have a dream the night before, then feel the Spirit prompting you the next day. 

Our God communicates to us in many different ways, but He will always confirm the message by giving it to more than once.

 

Wisdom in Preparation

Genesis 41:33-36

“And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

The Lord told Pharaoh what was going to happen, and Joseph used the gift of wisdom to help Pharaoh prepare. Do you prepare for what the Lord has told you is coming? You can prepare to use your spiritual gifts. You can prepare for a ministry He’s put on your heart. We can all prepare for the End – spiritually, physically, skillfully, financially.

Other times, people do not exercise wisdom in their preparations because they’re preparing for something the Lord has not said is coming. These people catastrophize and prepare for things that will never happen. They use their resources of time, energy, and money worrying about worst-case scenarios and things that may happen in the future instead of sowing into solving the problems of today. Scripturally, we’re not even guaranteed tomorrow, much less retirement and a long life to provide for afterward. 

What does spiritual wisdom tell you to prepare for – and not to prepare for?