Spiritual Discernment, Humility, Dreams, And Joseph. Genesis 40-41

2024.11.03.Sermon Notes. Genesis 40-41 Spiritual Discernment, Humility, Dreams, and Promotion of Joseph

William Akehurst, HSWC

Scriptures: Joel 2:28-32, Genesis 40:1-23, Genesis 41:1-57, Hebrews 1:1-2, Romans 8:28-29, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Daniel 2:28, Daniel 2:47, James 4:10, Daniel 2:20-23, Psalm 33:12

BIG IDEA: Joseph, in his humility, served GOD and was given Spiritual Discernment to interpret dreams. From humility, GOD lifts Joseph up to begin to accomplish HIS plans HE gave to Joseph through dreams.

Dreams from GOD…

How many of you have had dreams that have come true?

Was GOD preparing you for something that was about to happen?

How long did it take for the dream to come true?

I am reminded of my dream of my father’s passing. I didn’t know it was about him at the time. I even shared the dream with him the morning I had received it. The very next day it was fulfilled in my father’s death.

Dreams can prepare us, show us, warn us, or encourage us, of what GOD is preparing for you and me.

Joel 2:28-32

28 “And it shall come to pass afterward

That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your old men shall dream dreams,

Your young men shall see visions.

29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:

Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.

31 The sun shall be turned into darkness,

And the moon into blood,

Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.

32 And it shall come to pass

That whoever calls on the name of the LORD

Shall be saved.

For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance,

As the LORD has said,

Among the remnant whom the LORD calls.

Genesis 40:1-23 Dreams of the Butler and Baker

1 It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. 3 So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. 4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while.

The prison captain of the guard put Joseph was in charge of the prison. This shows great authority and responsibility that Joseph has even as a prisoner.

This is GOD’s plan at work in the life of Joseph.

Joseph was in prison, a bad place, and yet the LORD put him in charge of the prison, under the captain of the guard.

The Butler and Baker offended Pharaoh. They were in charge of Pharaoh’s wine and food, respectively.

Pharaoh may have become sick and these 2 may have been suspects of a murder plot, possibly by poisoning. Regardless, GOD wanted them to meet Joseph as ‘The LORD was with Joseph’.

5 Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream, both of them, each man’s dream in one night and each man’s dream with its own interpretation. 6 And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in the custody of his lord’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”

Joseph saw that the butler and baker were sad, and we get a glimpse of Joseph’s heart, even while in prison. He showed compassion for them. Why are you sad?

JOSEPH shows us JESUS.

An innocent MAN who came to the captives, with compassion and care towards us.

8 And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.”

So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”

JOSEPH saw these men troubled by their dreams and desired to help them.

“Do not interpretations belong to God?”

JOSEPH had experienced dreams in his youth which had not yet been fulfilled. His dreams about greatness antagonized his family, causing his brothers to mock him as a dreamer.

But Joseph knew the importance of dreams. And GOD had placed him in prison for this task.

Do not interpretations belong to God: God may certainly speak through dreams, and many passages of the Bible show this.

God spoke to these individuals in a dream:

Abimelech (a pagan ruler) (Genesis 20:3).

Jacob (Genesis 28:12; 31:11).

Laban (Genesis 31:24).

Solomon (1 Kings 3:5).