Why We Must Heed God’s Revelations of Warning

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

God’s revelations will always be true. Yet, why do we question God’s truth? Are we greater than the Lord?

Introduction

What is there that God does not know?  God is omniscient – He is all-knowing!  So, God’s revelations of truth to us ought not be disregard, right?  In this week’s Sunday School commentary, we will go over scripture where God gave Pharaoh a warning that could not be ignored.  This week’s Sunday School commentary covers scripture from Genesis 41:25-36.

Joseph and the Pharaoh

In this chapter of Genesis, the Pharaoh of Egypt had a couple of concerning dreams that troubled him in his spirit (Gen. 41:1-8).  He wanted to understand the dreams, but none of his people could interpret them.  So, his chief butler, who had a dream interpreted by Joseph while he was imprisoned, advised the Pharaoh to get Joseph to interpret his dreams (Gen. 40:1-15; 41:9-13).

For those of you who may not be familiar with this passage of scripture, Joseph was the eleventh son of Israel (Jacob) (Gen. 35:22-26).  He was sold into bondage by his older brothers, who sold him to Midianite traders, who then sold him to Egypt (Gen. 37:28,36).  

The Pharaoh in this passage of scripture is not the same Pharaoh from the Book of Exodus who defied God.  This Pharaoh died during the period of time not fully covered in between the books of Genesis and Exodus.  As we are told in Exodus 1:1-8, generations had passed before the rise of the Pharaoh who enslaved the children of Israel.

The Lord had always been with Joseph and had revealed through dreams the greatness Joseph would one day experience (Gen. 37:5-11).  In all the challenges he faced, Joseph learned to rest in the will of God.  This is certainly a lesson that all of us should learn.  (I did a full series of studies – “There Is Always Hope” – that covered Joseph’s life, which I would highly recommend you read so that you can see his full story.)

God Warns Pharaoh

When Joseph came to interpret the Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph made it clear that the interpretation of the dream would come from God (Gen. 40:16).  Even after hearing the dreams, Joseph gave glory to God for revealing the interpretation of the dream. Joseph told Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.”

God had given these dreams to Pharaoh.  They troubled Pharaoh, and none of his magicians and wise men could understand them, but let’s make this clear – God is not the author of confusion.  As Paul said, God is the author of peace – He gives clarity and understanding (1 Cor. 14:33).  God will give clarity to those who seek Him and desire to understand Him.

The two dreams, while they showed two different things, had the same message.  The repeating message from God speaks to the seriousness of the message.  God wanted Pharaoh to know what He was about to do.  

Why would God want Pharaoh to know what He was about to do?  Well, let us consider:  Why does God repeatedly warn us that His kingdom is at hand?  Why does God repeatedly warn us that this physical world will come to an end, and He will judge all things?  God warns so that one may make preparations to be able to endure what is ahead.

Now, the fact that Pharaoh was receiving these dreams from God ought to catch our attention as well.  Some of us think that only certain individuals can receive dreams from God.  Some of us think that God only speaks to certain individuals.  Yet, the dream wasn’t given to Joseph, who likely was the one faithful man in Egypt at that time, but to a Pharaoh who likely worshiped his idols.  

God speaking to Pharaoh should show you that God will speak to anyone.  God, I genuinely believe, is speaking loudly today but how many of us are paying attention?  How many of us are disregarding what the Lord is saying?  

God’s revelations must not be disregarded and ignored.  When God speaks, one must stop and listen.  Some of us may brush off God’s revelations, thinking those passing thoughts or dreams are nonsensical.  Yet, when your spirit is troubled at a passing thought or passing dream, consider taking it to one who you know is wise in the Spirit.  If we cannot understand God’s revelations, we ought to turn to one who is of faith and can guide us in understanding.

God’s Revelation of Warning Made Clear

Genesis 41:26-28 covers the interpretation of the dreams that Pharaoh.  The dreams, Joseph revealed, was about seven good years and seven years of famine.  And again, Joseph repeated to Pharaoh, “God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.”  Joseph keeps repeating this to make it clear to Pharaoh to take God’s warnings seriously.

In Genesis 41:29-31, Joseph repeats the interpretation of the dreams to make them clear to Pharaoh.  The seven good years meant that there would be seven years of “plenty” throughout the land.  “Plenty” means that the land would produce many crops.  After that seven-year window, there would be a great famine that would be so severe that it would deplete the land.

The famine that is being spoken of in this passage of scripture is the famine that would bring Joseph’s brothers face-to-face with him after having sold him into bondage twenty years prior.  This famine would lead to Israel coming with all of his family to Egypt to dwell under Joseph, who would become governor of the land.  Ultimately, this is the famine that led to the children of Israel living in bondage in Egypt.

This one famine led to God showing His power and authority to man as being omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.  You see, the Lord would eventually send Moses to Egypt to free the children of Israel from the Pharaoh who held them in bondage.  That whole event put on display God’s great authority and that His sovereignty is unmatched.

Pharaoh’s Choice

After hearing the interpretation, therefore, the warning that God had given him, Pharaoh is left with a choice to make.  Pharaoh could choose to heed God’s warning or he could choose to disregard God’s revelation. 

Heed God’s revelation or not

In Genesis 41:32, Joseph reminded Pharaoh that the dreams were repeated twice because God was going to move, and not delay.  Pharaoh had to choose to believe the revelation of a God he knew nothing about or disregard it.  If he chose to disregard it and make no preparations, then he faced possible doom – though we know the doom would have been certain.

The position this Pharaoh found himself in is a position that everyone is in.  God has revealed a certain truth to us in that He is going to judge.  God has revealed that those who believe in His only begotten Son will be saved, but those who don’t will be cast from His presence for eternity.

Rather than giving all of us dreams, God put Himself into the world to warn us in the flesh.  So, we are in a position to decide whether or not we will believe God’s truth through Christ or not.

God is the sovereign ruler over His creation.  There is nothing in HIs creation that He is not aware of.  There is nothing that has been put in motion that God has not either permitted to be put in motion or He put into motion Himself.

Moreover, because the Lord searches the heart, He is in even more control than you and I realize.  God knows the intentions of man’s hearts before man even moves.  To be clear, God knows what you’re thinking, what you’re doing, and what you’re about to, or are, saying at this exact moment.  Because God knows us on that level, He knows everything man is doing in the world, no matter where, at this exact moment.

God is God, and to disregard His word would be foolish (Prov. 1:7).  Yes, to disregard the one who created all things, sees all things, and knows all things would be rather foolish.  Denying God’s wisdom and authority will only harm and hurt you; it will delay the blessing that God has for you.

Giving power to another

 So Joseph, Genesis 41:33, advised Pharaoh, “Let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.”  This word of advice could also be a word to persuade Pharaoh to do otherwise.  One might see this as an idea of ceding power to another, and powerful people rarely desire to cede any power.

When it comes to our lives and heeding God’s revelations of truth, many of us don’t want to cede our “power” and “authority”.  You see, the Lord calls on us to live in submission to His will.  In other words, the Lord desires for us to follow His instructions so that we may become holy and righteous and ascend to be with Him.

Yet, many of us struggle with the idea of living in submission to anyone, let alone giving authority over our lives to God.  Many want to be the one who is at the steering wheel; we want to be in control.  Yet, where can we lead ourselves that would be better than where God would take us?  Can we bless ourselves more and better than God can?

If we could bless ourselves, wouldn’t all of us be living like gods today?  One may say, ‘Well, we aren’t any better off with God at the wheel’.  However, the blessing of God is not the material possession.  God desires to restore the heart that is in famine today so that it may become a heart of plenty.

If you truly desire to endure a world that is plagued with sin, I recommend you turn to the one who can provide during famine.  I recommend you choose to live in submission to God, who knows what He is doing and will do for you.

Choosing God over pride and ego

Our lesson comes to a close with Joseph advising Pharaoh to also appoint officers over the land so that they may help to collect food to store during the seven years of plenty (Gen. 41:35-36).  The selected scripture does not cover the choice that Pharaoh made, but Pharaoh ended up heeding the warning and giving authority to Joseph (Gen. 41:37-41).  

Because of his choice, when the famine struck the land, Egypt’s food stores were so full that people were coming from all over to gather food.  Those who came included Joseph’s brothers, whom he ended up testing before he revealed himself to them.

There are so many parallels in Joseph’s story and believers today.  I do believe we are living in a significant spiritual moment of crisis.  We are living in a moment where souls are being stress tested.  The wicked are striking hearts as hard as possible, trying to deplete hearts of hope and joy.

Yet, God has revealed that such times can be overcome if one chooses to lean on Him.  God will make sure that your “food stores” are filled with the hope and joy you need to endure a season of spiritual famine.  Yet all we have to do to endure is continue to heed His voice.  God’s revelations will bring you through.