The amazing thing about Joseph is not that God empowered him to interpret dreams, but that he expected God to empower him to interpret dreams! When the cup-bearer and baker shared their dreams with him, seeking interpretation, Joseph said "Interpreting dreams is God's business. Go ahead and tell me your dreams." It almost sounds cocky, the confidence Joseph had in his ability to do this! And yet, according to verse 41:16, his confidence is not in his own ability but in God's. When Pharoah himself asked Joseph to interpret a disturbing dream, his response was, "It is beyond my power to do this, but God can tell you what it means and set you at ease". So Joseph had total confidence that God would equip him to carry out the task set before him. This is the part that amazes me. He expected God to come through for him. He accepted the assignment without hesitation because he knew God would give him the ability to accomplish what had been asked of him. Had he been me, he'd have never offered to interpret the dreams, because he'd have feared that God would not show up and he'd wind up looking like a fool. Oh, and he'd have rotted in jail instead of preserving the future of the nation of Israel by preventing their starvation. Joseph exhibited the kind of faith I aspire to. I want to approach God with that kind of confidence in my prayer life and in my service to Him. To think of the things I might attempt and the things I might pray for if I had real confidence that God would show up!
Tomorrow's reading: Genesis 42-45:15
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How do we know what is appropriate to expect God to do in our lives? Should I expect that he will keep our family safe and healthy? I understand what you are saying, but I think we all are afraid to "take God for granted" in assuming he will do what we want. I guess part of the answer is that Joseph's expectations of God were in direct relation to how he could help someone else.
ReplyDeleteDeep thought... and i think you are right regarding what we can expect of God. He is not our magic genie, here to give us what we want. He gives us what we need, which sometimes coincides with what we want, and ultimately contributes to what will advance the "big picture" of God's kingdom. We can clearly see from the illustration of Joseph, why God had given him the ability to interpret dreams and called upon him to use those talents. It ultimately advanced his purposes. It was a God-thing. And when God asks us to do a God-thing, we should be just as confidant as Joseph, that He will show up to see it through. Check out the following verses that speak to the "whatever you ask I will give you" parameters... You can see that "whatever you ask for" refers to whatever will bring glory to God or bear fruit for Him.
ReplyDeleteJohn 14:12-14 (New Living Translation)
12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father."
John 15:16
"You didn't choose me, I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, in my name."
good comment cindi...i was thinking a similar thought...it often feels like if i take on a faith of total confidence and 'assume' God will handle something...it's as if i am testing Him...which is not my intent...i don't want Him to think i've earned that He will do what i pray for or assume...don't want to take His provisions and guidance for granted...i just end up hashing it out as we talk along the process
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Melissa, I long for that same faith that Joseph had, that confidence. I pray that when I speak, He will put His words in my mouth and it would not be my words but His.
ReplyDelete"Then the Lord reached out His hand and touched my mouth and said to me, 'Now I have put my words in your mouth'." Jeremiah 1:9 NIV