Genesis 41:25 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Genesis 41:25

Comments

Joseph now stands before the ruler of Egypt. When he awoke that day, he was in prison, mixing with the criminal and the condemned. How suddenly his fortunes have changed! He who was ever mindful of his own dreams, was surely watching closely to see the possibility of their fulfilment. That fulfilment must come one day, and though he had misread the situation when he interpreted the butler’s dream and suffered disappointment, he had not given up hope, and was prepared to think again that circumstances were being aligned by God to bring it about. He knows that he must not be afraid whatever happens, but must speak the truth. He runs the risk of Pharaoh was wrath. He speaks respectfully but boldly. God will not allow harm to come to him by doing so. He is however again anxious to give credit to God, and stresses that it is God who is showing to Pharoah what he is about to do, and if God is doing so, then the dreams will certainly be fulfilled. Christ too always took care to credit his Father.Joseph’s interpretation is very clear. It is an interpretation given him by God, and not something he has worked out for himself as if he was an expert in the symbolism of dreams. Pharoah is listening intently, and hoping for an answer. He is ready, because of his sense of dread, to hear difficult things from Joseph as well as good things. Joseph is brief in his explanation and not long-winded, but he is also very clear. He wants to help Pharoah to believe this is a true interpretation and nothing fanciful, and so he presents the it as clearly and as logically as he can. The two dreams are one, because they agree with each other and are both giving the same message. Pharoah has received two dreams denoting the same thing to show that what God has revealed is about to happen is most certain. Joseph, as he interprets, sees what God is doing. This is a prediction of what is going to happen in the near future, and by his correct interpretation of the dreams, Egypt and the surrounding nations will be saved from famine and starvation. It is vital therefore that he convinces Pharoah of the truth of his interpretation.

Application

When we sense the presence of God and the authority of his word, the reverence of God which accompanies our hearing brings down our natural pride so that we are ready to hear what we would not be ready to hear at other times. This is the only right way to listen to the word of God, for without this, pride will always be a barrier that stops God’s truth entering our hearts.

Questions

The dream is a revelation that contains sufficient information to avoid a great danger that is coming. Why does God send this danger, and then reveal the means to avoid it? Because he wants to teach Pharoah what is the true source of all help. It will be through Joseph that the solution is made known, and the servant of God will be credited through it. But Joseph is in turn a type of Christ, and all this is going to be a type of the deliverance that we obtain through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Introduction

Genesis 41:25 Commentary and Bible Study