Beyond Sunday: Looking at Dreams

[Editor's note: Beyond Sunday is a Monday refresher to carry you through the week.]

Focus Verse of the Week

Joseph answered Pharaoh, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer." (Genesis 41:16, ESV)

Classic Commentary

And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, [it is] not in me

This expresses his great modesty, that he did not claim such skill and wisdom as his own; declaring, instead, that he had no such power and abilities in and of himself to interpret dreams; what he had was a gift of God, and wholly depended upon his influence, and the revelation he was pleased to make to him of such things.

God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

such an answer to his request in the interpretation of his dream as shall give him full contentment and make his mind quiet and easy, and which shall suggest the welfare of him and his kingdom. Some render the words as a prayer or wish, "may God give Pharaoh"; so as it were addressing his God, that he would be pleased to make known to him his interpretation of the dream to the satisfaction of Pharaoh: but the other sense seems best, which expresses his faith in God, that he would do it, and to whom it should be ascribed, and not unto himself.

(Adapted from John Gill's exposition of the bible, genesis 41.)

A Thought to Keep

What are the gifts that God has blessed you with? When others compliment you or request your help, do you point to Him as the source and provider of those gifts?