Genesis 41:17-41 “The LORD Exalts Joseph”

“Joseph responded, ‘Both of Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God is telling Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do.’”
Genesis 41:25 (NLT)

God revealed the future to Pharaoh in a dream. He was an idolatrous ruler, yet God wanted to use him to provide for his own people and for other nations. God also wanted to raise up Joseph to be prime minister of Egypt, which was a world dominating empire at the time. This story reveals the sovereignty of God over nations and rulers.

“The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases.”
Proverbs 21:1, (NLT)

It is easy for us to forget this as we see the political wranglings of people. Rulers rise and fall. They pass policies we do not like. Sometimes they make decisions with which we agree. But behind it all, God is still working. We easily focus on what we see, but we forget that there is a spiritual battle going on. Satan and his cohorts seek to suppress the truth and blind people with lies. His purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. But God works even in disastrous situations to reveal His grace, truth and salvation. A worldwide famine would seem disastrous, but through it God would provide for His people and move the children of Israel to Egypt.

God is fully capable of moving on the hearts of even the worst rulers. And if they are stubborn, then He can take them out. For this reason (and so many others) our best course of action is prayer. It is our most effective spiritual weapon over rulers and nations. We can do other things after we pray, but prayer should be our first response.

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.”
1 Timothy 2:1–2 (NLT)

In the seats of government today there is a Pharaoh who is doing what is right in his own eyes. But God can also give him a disturbing dream that he cannot understand. He can bring him to the point of desperation. God can also raise up a Joseph before him who will advise him through the crisis. Let us pray earnestly that God would work in these ways so that His will is done on earth as it is in heaven. And we may live peaceful and quiet lives.