17 January | Teens
« And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.” …So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” » Genesis 41: 15,16
Joseph, sold into slavery by his own brothers and later unjustly imprisoned, never lost his faith and trust in God, even in the face of extremely adverse circumstances. When Pharaoh had disturbing dreams that no one in Egypt could interpret, Joseph was called in to help, thanks to his reputation for interpreting dreams. He explained to Pharaoh that the dreams were warnings from God: there would be seven years of great abundance throughout Egypt, followed by seven years of severe famine. It is from this episode that the saying of the “lean cows” times comes. Joseph then suggested a smart plan for saving food during the years of plenty to use in the years of famine.
His interpretation and advice were so impressive that Joseph was promoted to a position of great authority, becoming the second most powerful man in Egypt, right after Pharaoh. Thanks to Joseph's wisdom, Egypt was able to store enough food to not only survive the seven years of famine, but also to assist the populations of other nations who sought help in Egypt.
Do you know what else we learn from Joseph's story? Perseverance. Even when things were bad –like being sold and betrayed by his siblings or being wrongfully imprisoned– Joseph could still find hope and purpose in him life. Joseph stood firm, he didn't give up, and God turned his adverse situation into an opportunity to save the whole world of his day!
Take Action
Before you go to sleep, think about a dream you had recently. Now, get creative and come up with a fun interpretation for that dream. Maybe the dream means you're going to have an exciting adventure, discover something new, or even help someone like Joseph helped Egypt!