The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 31 August 2024 — Depending On God For Your Elevation
TOPIC: Depending On God For Your Elevation
READ: Genesis 41:1-57 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.
2 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.
3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.
4 And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.
5 And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.
6 And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.
7 And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.
8 And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
9 Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:
10 Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard’s house, both me and the chief baker:
11 And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.
12 And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.
13 And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.
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 canst 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.
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 dream, 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.
25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.
26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.
27 And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.
28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.
29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:
30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;
31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.
32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.
37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;
43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.
46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.
48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.
49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.
50 And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.
51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.
52 And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.
53 And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.
54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.
56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.
57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.
Joseph’s friend, the chief butler, forgot him (Gen. 40: 23), yet he was the one destined to recommend Joseph unto Pharaoh. It took two full years for God to create an opportunity for the chief butler to reciprocate kindness unto Joseph, his prison friend (vv. 1, 9-14). This could be to give time for Joseph’s shifted heart to be fully restored from the chief butler unto God who shares His glory with no man (Genesis 40:14: Jeremiah 17: 5-7).
God now created an opportunity for the upliftment of Joseph by giving Pharaoh a dream that no one else could interpret but Joseph. He also convicted the chief butler of his fault for not speaking to Pharaoh for Joseph’s release from the prison (v.9). And because God was in for the upliftment of His faithful servant, the recommendation of Joseph for the job was endorsed by Pharaoh. Therefore, God uplifted Joseph from a prisoner to a prime minister in the land of his captivity, through his chosen vessels. Dear friend, on whom are you relying for your promotion? You better trust in God than in man. At His own appointed time, He will lift you up to your place of glory.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to wholly trust and depend on You alone for my upliftment in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Anglican Devotional 31 October 2024 — Ungodly Counsel Will Fail
The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 31 October 2024 — Ungodly Counsel Will Fail TOPIC: Ungodly Counsel Will Fail READ: 1 Samuel 18:17-30 (NKJV) Then...
Anglican Devotional 28 October 2024 — Characteristics Of A Disciple
The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 28 October 2024 — Characteristics Of A Disciple TOPIC: Characteristics Of A Disciple READ: John 15:17-27 (NKJV) “These things I...
Anglican Devotional 26 October 2024 — Confront Your Challenges
The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 26 October 2024 — Confront Your Challenges TOPIC: Confront Your Challenges READ: 1 Samuel 17:1-40 (KJV) 1 Now the Philistines...
Anglican Devotional 25 October 2024 — Skillful In Playing
The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 25 October 2024 — Skillful In Playing TOPIC: Skillful In Playing READ: 1 Samuel 16: 14-23 (NKJV) But the Spirit...
Anglican Devotional 23 October 2024 — Finishing The Unfinished Business
The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 23 October 2024 — Finishing The Unfinished Business TOPIC: Finishing The Unfinished Business READ: 1 Samuel 15:10-35 (KJV) 10 Then...
Anglican Devotional 22 October 2024 — Incomplete Obedience
The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 22 October 2024 — Incomplete Obedience TOPIC: Incomplete Obedience READ: 1 Samuel 15:1-9 (NKJV) Samuel also said to Saul, “The...
Anglican Devotional 21 October 2024 — Working Under Ungodly Leadership
The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 21 October 2024 — Working Under Ungodly Leadership TOPIC: Working Under Ungodly Leadership READ: 1 Samuel 14:24-52 (KJV) 24 And...
Anglican Devotional 20 October 2024 — Blessed Is The Man Who Fears The Lord
The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 20 October 2024 — Blessed Is The Man Who Fears The Lord TOPIC: Blessed Is The Man Who Fears...