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Ministry Encouragement Podcast – Episode #051
Rev. Jim W. Hollis, Executive Director of Proactive Ministries and your Host for this podcast
Hello and welcome to our fifty-first Episode of the Ministry Encouragement Podcast. It’s hard to believe that we are one Episode away from an entire year of weekly podcasts. Thank you so much for being part of the wonderful, grace-filled community that has formed around this podcast! Your calls, emails, texts, voicemails, and Facebook messages have all served as an inspiration and blessing to our community as it has grown. You all mean so much in encouraging me to invest in this each week.
Today we will be finishing up the amazing journey of Joseph, the youngest son of Jacob (also referred to as Israel) in the book of Genesis. We have been working our way through this fascinating and roller-coaster like journey of Joseph who has demonstrated to us how very powerful it is to trust God, even in the midst of all kinds of turmoil, disaster and wrong that takes place in our lives.
We will pick up on the journey of Joseph’s life at Genesis 40:15 where we find these words in Scripture:
15 For in fact I was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews; and here also I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon.” – (Genesis 40:15, New Revised Standard Version)
These were words that Joseph shared with the Cupbearer or butler of the Pharoh of Egypt, after Joseph had interpreted both his dream and also the chief baker’s dream for them. The Cupbearer would be restored to his place of work, power and affluence. The Baker would lose not only his job but his life. The arrangement was that when the Cupbearer made it back in good favor with Pharoh again, he would graciously share with Pharoh about this young, gifted prison leader named Joseph and in finding favor with Pharoh, Joseph would be released. But as is so often the case – the Cupbearer simply forgot it for two long years!
However, the Pharoh one day had two incredibly troubling dreams. One was a dream where seven fat, sleek cows were consumed by seven diseased, wretched, famine stricken cows which came up from the Nile River – the source and symbol of life. Pharoh was shaken and waked up in horror.
Not only were there seven cows who were consumed, but then Pharoh saw in a second dream seven plump and healthy ears of corn who were then consumed and ravaged by seven blighted ears of corn and the good ones were lost. After these two dreams Pharoh was greatly troubled and sought every way possible to turn to all his magicians, soothsayers, and other interpreters but could find no one to give a true interpretation to these nightmares.
Suddenly, the Cupbearer who worked in Pharoh’s inner court, recalled what Joseph had done for him two years earlier and shared it with Pharoh. They sent for Joseph, cleaned him up, dressed him up and brought him in before Pharoh. Pharoh let Joseph know that he understood Joseph was a powerful man with great ability to interpret dreams, but Joseph made it clear to Pharoh that it was God who had the power:
16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not I; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” (Genesis 41:16, NRSV)
Joseph gave the correct interpretation to Pharoh’s dreams and his entire existence as well as humanity in general was changed by the outcome and response of Pharoh. Listen in and see the miraculous unfold!
Thanks for sharing with me in this podcast today my friends. As always, I hope and trust that you will pass this along to those who you want to bless and encourage. You may mention this in a Tweet or two, in a Facebook Post, or send several friends an email with the LINK to this podcast.
Many small groups, fellowship groups, Bible study groups and Sunday School classes have let me know that they are using Episodes from this podcast for discussion and resources to grow through. That is a joy and blessing to learn about. I encourage you to spread the word and be an encourager in your own sphere of influence that God has given you.
Keep your comments coming in as they really make a difference! You may reach me with your thoughts, comments and suggestions at:
Email: jim@ministryencouragementpodcast.com
Ministry Website: www.proactive-ministries.org
Phone: (770) 803-9988
Voicemail: ON the blog page on the right hand side, use your microphone and mouse to click and record. These come to me.
Facebook: Jim W. Hollis
LinkedIn: Jim W. Hollis
Until our next Episode, may the Lord bless you and keep you. I covet your prayers and God continues to use us all to share Divine Love and touch others with the Joy of Jesus Christ.
Blessings,
Jim
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