Dreams in the Book of Genesis

1. Dreams in the Book of Genesis • Genesis tells of six dreams and their interpretation. • Joseph spoke for God unlike anyone before him. • Joseph was the 4th generation from Abraham. “Desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow…” 1Pet 2:2 “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat” - 1Cor 3:2

2. The Joseph Dreams: 3 pair • Sheaves and Stars: Gen37:5, 9 -These first two dreams were by Joseph himself. • Butler and Baker: Gen40:5 – Joseph interpreted the dreams of these two. • Cows and Corn: Gen41 – Joseph interpreted these two dreams of the Pharaoh and was promoted from prison.

3. His brothers didn’t like it when he told them their sheaves bowed down to his sheaf, but his dream turned out to be prophetic after he was made 2nd to the Pharaoh in Egypt. His family interpreted his dream of the sun, moon, and stars as meaning they would be bowing to Joseph. Compare how Jesus is “True Bread”, Jn6, and a “bright star” in Rev 22:16. Sheaves and Stars

4. Joseph from Canaan. Special Coat 1st born of Rachel. Resisted sin, but was unjustly punished. Savior of his people. His name means: “The Lord will add a son”, Gen30:24 Jesus from heaven. Special ‘Body’ 1st born of the Spirit. Resisted sin, but was unjustly punished. Savior of born-again. Jesus was the son that came “in the fullness of time”, Gal 4:4 Parallels of Joseph & Jesus

5. The Butler’s Dream He dreamed of a vine with three branches, and himself squeezing the grape juice into the Pharaoh’s Cup. Gen40:10. Joseph’s interpretation (remember how prophecy and interpretation are spoken of in the New Testament, and how Jesus said he was the Vine and we are the branches) was that the three branches meant three days. That’s when the Butler would be restored to his position: his dream meant LIFE! Jesus said “Destroy this temple (meaning his own body) and in three days I will raise it up”, Jn2:19. He said that more than 2,000 years ago, but when a thousand years are as one day, it means that now we are in THE THIRD DAY. The Butler’s dream is a type of Communion!

6. The Baker’s Dream His dream was of three white baskets on his head, and the birds eating bake-meats (bread) out of the uppermost. Joseph gave him the bad news: that in 3 days the Pharaoh would have him taken out and hung – he would be food for the birds. The 3 baskets meant 3 days (like the 3 branches), but his “third day” dream meant DEATH. The New Testament refers to people as vessels (containers), and tells of Jesus as Living Bread. He spoke of the “whited sepulchres” which looked good on the outside but like dead men’s bones inside. We need to have the True Bread, the Word of God, in our top basket, instead of our own opinion or what other people might say.

7. Seven fat cows eat seven thin cows and don’t gain weight! Cows aren’t cannibals. It’s not the right kind of food for them. What kind of food doesn’t have calories? Seven good ears of corn eat seven thin ears of corn! Peculiar corn indeed, which doesn’t have mouths to eat, but only has ears—to hear. The Dreams of the Pharaoh

8. Joseph Interprets The dream about cows was separate and distinct from the dream about the corn, because they occurred on different nights, but Joseph tells the Pharaoh the “two were one”. Seven years of good harvest would be followed by seven years of famine, Joseph said. How to prepare for the famine? It happened like he said: 7 years plus 7 years, just like in the time periods for Rachel and Leah. But prophesy in the Bible often has more than one outcome. Like money in the bank! Put part of the good harvest in a storehouse to be used during the famine years, Joseph said.

9. TIME-LINE: Three 2,000 yr. periods “There are differences of administration and diversities of operations, but the same Lord”. 1Cor12:5 Parable of the hidden leaven: Matthew 13:33

10. The two (2) covenants (Gal 4:24) are the two sevens! Joseph’s dreams were a prophecy of 4,000 years, and now we are feeding on the words of Scripture!

11. Are you ready for ‘The 3rd Day” ? Jesus rose on the 3rd day, as he prophesied in John2:19 “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (but he spoke of the temple of his body). Now WE are the temple of the Holy Ghost, and when a thousand years are as one day, it means that ever since the year 2,000 we have been in ‘the third day’. No wonder he says in Revelation “Behold, I come quickly”. Less than a week in His view! “After two days will (God) revive us; in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live… Hos6:2

12. Finally, in closing… The Bible teaches interpretation in these accounts of dreams in the Old Testament, and only He could know the end from the beginning. “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world”,Acts15:18. Jesus was of the Tribe of Judah. Rev5:5 The Joseph in Egypt was not in the line of Christ, and neither was Mary’s husband, or any of the other nine Joseph’s named in the Bible! Jesus truly is the Seed and Son of God.