The God of Joseph Still Speaks

For the good of his people, God gave Pharaoh a dream (Genesis 41:1-8). Seven thin cows ate seven plump cows, and seven thin ears of grain ate seven plump ears (Genesis 41:3-7). Like other kings to come (Daniel 2:1-5), Pharaoh summoned all the wise men and magicians in Egypt. But no one could provide the meaning (Genesis 41:8).

The only man who had the power to interpret Joseph’s dream was a Hebrew prisoner. Joseph explained that the dream was God’s way of warning Pharaoh of a coming famine. Egypt would need to store up grain over seven abundant years to prepare for the next seven years of famine.

God used Pharaoh’s dream and Joseph’s prophetic interpretation to provide for his people (see Genesis 46-47). But the power was never in Joseph. Joseph gave the interpretation, but even Pharaoh knew where the power came from. “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” (Genesis 41:38).

If Joseph himself was the source of the prophecy, then we should expect such power to die at the end of Genesis. But if the God of Joseph was the one who turned the world with dreams and visions, then we should expect that he will continue to do today what he did back then (Hebrews 13:8).

And this is exactly what the first disciples expected:

“And one [the prophets] named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.” (Acts 11:27-29)

If the Spirit of God could forecast a famine for the good of Jacob’s family, then surely he would do the same for the Christians in Judea (Acts 11:29). Why should the prophets of Jerusalem have expected anything less?

Today’s unbelieving world is crying out with Pharaoh, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” In these last days, we should have an answer.

Listen to the Spirit, and you will find that he has news to share (Acts 2:17-21). Still today, he is making Pharaohs fall on their knees by revealing himself as the living God.