Interpretations Belong to God

The young dreamer never stopped dreaming (cf. Genesis 37:5-11).

Even in prison, Joseph was ready to see a vision in the night. He believed that the God who showed a bright future could restore his hope behind bars.

With an expectant soul, Joseph was prepared for what God was about to send him through his prison mates:

“When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, ‘Why do you look so sad today?’ ‘We both had dreams,’ they answered, ‘but there is no one to interpret them.’

‘Then Joseph said to them, ‘Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.’” (Genesis 40:6-8)

Joseph didn’t hesitate. At once, he walked out on the line of faith. Confident that God could crack the mystery of every dream, he took on the challenge.

His belief in God was real—real enough to take a risk that required supernatural help. 

And after hearing the dreams, Joseph said: “This is what it means …” (Genesis 40:12, 18).

Joseph didn’t waste time with a false humility. He wasn’t the one who had the interpretation. Because “interpretations belong to God,” he could deliver the meaning with confidence in the power of the Spirit.

Such authority did not come overnight. It was cultivated through years of keeping an ear out for God through the ebbs and flows. Since he was 17, he had been listening for the Lord. He had learned the hard way how to steward the precious gift of dreams (Genesis 37:10-36). And when the time was right—after many seasons of walking closely with his God—he was ready to show the supernatural power.

Though Joseph’s help was forgotten, seeds were planted in his fellow prisoner’s mind (Genesis 40:23). Two years later, the cupbearer would recall the divine wisdom of a fellow prisoner who could help interpret Pharaoh’s dreams (Genesis 41:9).

Are you ready to stand on God’s supernatural power?

Are you prepared to seize an opportunity to show that God is real?

God uses seasons of readiness in the shadows to raise us up as his representatives.

Walk so closely as an ambassador of God that you can introduce his supernatural power into the natural realm. You can give what belongs to God to those who do not yet know him.