An Answer Of Peace

We talked about peace on Sunday night and the Lord still has me thinking about it. So tonight we’re going to be in Genesis 41, a record we’re very familiar with. Pharaoh has a dream and he needs someone to interpret that dream.

I think one of the reasons for this whole issue of peace has been laying on me so heavily is because there seems to be so much lacking of peace in the Body of Christ right now. And I know part of that has to do with the upcoming Presidential elections. What the President election does is magnify what’s already there. The unrest, the lack of peace is just being magnified.

One of the things I hope I am able to communicate tonight is that for us, sons and daughters of God, peace is a decision. I’m getting ahead in my notes as I typically do. When we were born again everything we needed to have a peaceful life was deposited into us. We must start accessing it. And the story of Pharaoh plays a role in how I want to present this.

So, here in Genesis 41, Pharaoh has a dream and the way he tells the dream in the beginning of the chapter is different than the way he tells it beginning in verse 17. We’re going to pick the record up in verse 14.

The butler has told Pharaoh that when he was in prison a couple of years ago, he met a man who interpreted his dream and the dream of the baker and both interpretations were true. So he tells Pharaoh, “Maybe this guy can interpret your dream too.”

So Pharaoh sends for Joseph. Joseph cleans himself up. He shaves. He pulls out his brand new Amani suit and heads to Pharaoh’s court. Let’s pick the record up with verse 15.

(15) And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou can’t understand a dream to interpret it.

(16) And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”

What did Pharaoh want? He simply wanted someone to interpret the dream for him. He didn’t realize the interpretation of the dream would also include “peace”.

The thing that interests me so far is that Joseph tells Pharaoh “God is going to give you an answer of peace.” Joseph knew his God and he knew how to hear his God. Joseph had a sin nature, ladies and gentlemen. We have God’s life and nature. And sometimes many of us don’t know God is talking to us. We can’t hear him. He’s talking but we have not learned to hear him. Joseph had learned to hear God when he spoke to him.

“God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” In the Hebrew culture, the word “peace” was used to describe a person’s coming or going. In other words, “peace” was used to describe a person’s lifestyle. That’s very important.

Let me give you an example. I walk up to Jamie and ask her “How is your peace?” Today that would mean “How are you?” For us as sons and daughters of God, we should only have one answer. My peace, which I received the moment I said yes to Jesus, goes with me everywhere I go.

If peace is not where you live, it’s on you. Because Jesus has given you that peace. He deposited on the inside of you and if that is not where you live, then that tells you a lot about your relationship with Jesus. Do you hear what I’m saying? There is nothing in this world that should affect your peace. Nothing!

Let’s pick the record up with verse 17.

(17) And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:

(18) And, behold. There came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:

(19) And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:

(20) And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:

(21) And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke.

(22) And I saw in my dreams, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good.

(23) And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:

(24) And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.