God at Work
Sermon Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: The Joseph Stories
Genesis 41:1-36 (ESV)
1 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, 2 and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. 3 And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. 6 And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. 7 And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8 So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. 10 When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, 11 we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. 12 A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. 13 And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. 18 Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. 19 Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. 20 And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows, 21 but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. 22 I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good. 23 Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, 24 and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one.27 The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine.28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do.29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt,30 but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land,31 and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe.32 And the doubling of Pharaoh's dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years.35 And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it.36 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”
Sermon Outline
God acts in a world where He is greater than all, often through those who seem least of all.
1. God is at work in the world
v8 So in the morning his spirit was troubled…. but there was none who could interpret… (v24)
v16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”
v25 “God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.” (v28)
v32 “And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God”
2. God is at work for his people
v9 Then the chief cupbearer said… “I remember my offenses today.”
v14 they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes…
v33 “Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.”
Prayer of Confession
Sovereign God, you are the Lord most High, ruler of all nations. We are troubled and confused and desperately need your help. Forgive our pride, our spiritual blindness, and all the ways we exalt ourselves over others. Forgive every sin and misdeed. We remember that we are not our own but belong to our faithful savior, Jesus Christ. He has paid for our sins, set us free, and preserves us so that without your will, not a hair can fall from our heads. Father, assure us of eternal life and make us willing and ready from now on to live for him. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
Is there evidence God is at work in the world? How can someone discern God’s activity (can they)?
Do you find it troubling in any way that you don’t know what will happen in the future? What difficulties does our ignorance of the future present?
What are some implications of the fact that God is over the whole world, even people and nations with power and influence who don’t acknowledge God?
While we often don’t know what God is doing in our lives, how are we better oriented when we believe God is at work, even in the details? What benefits does faith in God’s personal providence provide?
What are you currently hoping for and waiting on God to act? Are there opportunities to be a witness to God in the midst of this?
God makes His ways, and what we need to know about the future, known through Jesus. In what ways is the news Jesus brings “good news”? Why is it important to have this good news, and hold onto it, throughout life?