Magicians couldn’t interpret Pharaoh’s:

In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no-one could interpret them for him.  – Genesis 41:8

Magicians and wise men were common in the palaces of ancient rulers. Their job description included studying sacred arts and sciences, reading the stars, interpreting dreams, predicting the future, and performing magic.  These men had power (see Exodus 7:11, 12), but their power was satanic.  They were unable to interpret Pharaoh’s dream, but God had revealed it to Joseph in prison.

[The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. – Genesis 40:23.  When Pharaoh’s cupbearer was freed from prison, he forgot about Joseph, even though he had Joseph to thank for his freedom.  It was two full years before Joseph had another opportunity to be freed (41:1).  Yet Joseph’s faith was deep, and he would be ready when the next chance came.  When we feel passed by, overlooked, or forgotten, we shouldn’t be surprised that people are often ungrateful.  In similar situations, trust God as Joseph did.  More opportunities may be waiting.]

[And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. – Genesis 41:4.  Our most important opportunities may come when we least expect them.  Joseph was brought hastily from the dungeon and pushed before Pharaoh.  Did he have time to prepare?  Yes and no.  He had no warning that he would be suddenly pulled from prison and questioned by the king.  Yet Joseph was ready for almost anything because of his right relationship with God.  It was not Joseph’s knowledge of dreams that helped him interpret their meaning.  It was his knowledge of God.  Be ready for opportunities by getting to know more about God.  Then you will be ready to call on him when opportunities come your way.]

Joseph’s were coming true:

Although Joseph recognised his brothers, they did not recognise him. Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies!  You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”  – Genesis 42:8-9

Joseph remembered his dreams about his brothers bowing down to him (37:6-9). Those dreams were coming true!  As a young boy, Joseph was boastful about his dreams.  As a man, he no longer flaunted his superior status.  He did not feel the need to say “I told you so.”  It was not yet time to reveal his identity, so he kept quiet.  Sometimes it is best for us to remain quiet, even when we would like to have the last word.

[As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognised them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?“ he asked.  “From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.”  – Genesis 42:7.  Joseph could have revealed his identity to his brothers at once.  But Joseph’s last memory of them was of staring in horror at their faces as slave traders carried him away.  Were his brothers still evil and treacherous, or had they changed over the years?  Joseph decided to put them through a few tests to find out.]

[And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.  – Genesis 42:15.  Joseph was testing his brothers to make sure they had not been as cruel to Benjamin as they had been to him. Benjamin was his only full brother, and he wanted to see him face to face.]

Of Nebuchadnezzar:

In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed.  When they came in and stood before the king, he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.”

Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, “O king, live for ever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.” 

The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honour.  So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”

Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realise that this is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me the dream, there is just one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading the wicked things, hoping the situation will change.  So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.”

The astrologers answered the king, “There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer.  What the king asks is to difficult.  No-one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men.”  – Daniel 2:1-11

Dreams were considered to be messages from the gods, and the wise men were expected interpret them. Usually the wisemen could give some sort of interpretation as long as they knew what the dream was about.  This time, however, Nebuchadnezzar demanded to be told the dream also.  God sent a series of dreams to Nebuchadnezzar with prophetic messages that could be revealed and understood only by a servant of God.  People from other time periods who received dreams from God include Jacob (Genesis 28:10-15), Joseph (Genesis 37:5-11), Pharaoh’s cupbearer and his baker (Genesis 40), Pharaoh (Genesis 41), Solomon (1 Kings 3:5-15), and Joseph (Matthew 1:20-24).

(The astrologers told the king that “not a man on earth” could know the dreams of another person.  What the king asked was humanly impossible.  But Daniel could tell what the king had dreamed, and he could also give the interpretation because God was working through him.  In daily life, we face many apparently impossible situations that would be hopeless if we had to handle them with our limited strength.  But God specialises in working through us to achieve the impossible.)

(The astrologers were unable to persuade the king with any amount of logic or rational argument. The king asked for something impossible and didn’t want anyone to change his mind.  When power goes to a leader’s head, whether at work, at home, or in the church, that leader can sometimes begin demanding the impossible from subordinates.  At times, this may be the challenge needed to motivate workers to achieve more than they thought they could.  At other times, it may be the rantings and ravings of someone deluded with power.  Just as David dealt wisely in the situation, we can ask God to give us wisdom to know how to deal with unreasonable bosses.)

What the king asks is to difficult. No-one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men.”  – Daniel 2:11

The astrologers said that the gods “do not live among men”. Of course their gods didn’t – they didn’t even exist!  This exposed the limitations of the astrologers.  They could invent interpretations of dreams but could not tell Nebuchadnezzar what he had dreamed.  Although his request was unreasonable, Nebuchadnezzar was furious when his advisers couldn’t fulfil it.  It was not unusual in these times for astrologers to be in conflict with the king.  They sometimes used their craft to gain political power.

(By answering that the gods “do not live among men”, the astrologers betrayed their concept of the gods.  Theirs was a hollow religion, a religion of convenience.  They believed in the gods, but that belief made no difference in their conduct.  Today, many people profess to believe in God, but it is also a hollow belief.  In essence, they are practical atheists because they don’t listen to him or do what he says.  Do you believe in God?  He does live among people, and he wants to change your life.)

[At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him. Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.  He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.  – Daniel 2:16-18.  Daniel was at a crisis point.  Imagine going to see the powerful, temperamental king who had just angrily ordered your death!  Daniel did not shrink back in fear, however, but confidently believed God would tell him all the king wanted to know.  When the king gave Daniel time to find the answer, Daniel found his three friends and they prayed.  When you find yourself in a tight spot, share your needs with trusted friends who also believe in God’s power.  Prayer is more effective than panic.  Panic confirms your hopelessness; prayer conforms your hope in God.  Daniel’s trust in God saved himself, his three friends, and all the other wise men of Babylon.]

Of Joseph, Mary’s husband:

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt.  Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”  –   Matthew 2:13

This was the second dream or vision that Joseph received from God. Joseph’s first dream revealed that Mary’s child would be the Messiah (1:20, 21).  His second dream told him how to protect the child’s life.  Although Joseph was not Jesus’ natural father, he was Jesus’ legal father and was responsible for his safety and well-being.  Divine guidance comes only to prepared hearts.  Joseph remained receptive to God’s guidance.

[So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” – Matthew 2:14, 15.  Going to Egypt was not unusual because there were colonies of Jews in several major Egyptian cities.  These colonies had developed during the time of the great captivity (see Jeremiah 43; 44).  There is an interesting parallel between this flight to Egypt and Israel’s history.  As an infant nation, Israel went to Egypt, just as Jesus did as a child.  God led Israel out (Hosea 11:1); God brought Jesus back.  Both events show God working to save his people.]

[When Herod realised that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.  – Matthew 2:16.  Herod, the king of Jews, killed all the boys under two years of age in an obsessive attempt to kill Jesus, the newborn King.  He stained his hands with blood, but he did not harm Jesus.  Herod was king by a human appointment; Jesus was King by a divine appointment.  No-one can thwart God’s plans.]

©