Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. 14 And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward, they shall come out with great possessions. (Gen. 15:13–14 NKJV)
This prophetic dream told Abram that his descendants would serve strangers for 400 years. What does that mean? Does it mean that God foreknew what was going to happen or that he destined it to happen? It certainly was a true word. It happened. Why?
God spoke to Abram in a dream. He gave Abram vital information projecting a fair distance into the future. And we foolishly discount dreams today. Maybe the Lord has important insights to share if we would only learn to interpret our dreams properly. I find that if I am seeking God for counsel but have a decided pull towards a particular outcome, that I cannot always hear God when I journal. So I ask for a dream. Dreams are not as affected by my desires since I am asleep. God spoke to Abram and as with most prophetic words he ended it with hope. Your descendants will make it out and they will be wealthy.
How did Abram’s descendants end up in trouble? Abram became Abraham and was very wealthy. Isaac was wealthy and so was Jacob. But then famine hit the land. Jacob and his family had to adjust. But before famine hit while they were prosperous, one son, Joseph had a couple of dreams about him rising to prominence. It might have been prudent for him to ponder them in his heart, but Joseph shared them with his family. Again, we see the importance of dreams. Joseph displayed a bit of pride. His brothers reacted in pride and sold him into slavery. Jesus said, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Their sin would have consequences. They would reap what they sowed.
In Gen. 42 to 44 we read about the brothers going to Egypt because of the famine. They get into trouble. Then they said to one another, “We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us. And Reuben answered them, saying, “Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us.” (Gen 42:21–22 NKJV) They suspected why they were in trouble.
“Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, ‘It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may make a case against us and seize us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.’” (Gen. 43:18 NKJV) The brothers were afraid. Their fear was rooted in their sin of selling their own brother into slavery. Fear is not faith in God - it is faith in the adversary. They framed up in their imagination that they would be made slaves. Joseph had no intention of making them slaves, but they yielded to (F.E.A.R.) false evidence appearing real. They visualized a negative outcome.
Later in the same narrative Judah the de facto leader of the sons, declared on three or more occasions that they will be slaves. He makes declarations. And he speaks for the family. “We will be your slaves!” Joseph counters his declaration which delays it, but when Joseph dies the protection dies with him and Israel is forced into slavery by a Pharaoh who did not know Joseph.
What happened?
- Pride brought about destruction.
- The law of sowing and reaping - they sold a brother into slavery, and they reaped it.
- The consequences of unrepented sin. When we sin, we set in motion something that will have consequences.
- Fear drove them to frame up negative outcomes in their imagination. They visualized their way into slavery. They put their fear to work. And their faith in the negative outcome worked to bring what they imagined into reality.
- Life and death are in the power of the tongue - Judah as an authority declared that they would be slaves. He spoke it. God heard it and responded. By your confession of faith so be it.
I think it can be argued that God did not destine them to be slaves. They did it to themselves. God in his covenant kindness eventually set them free and delivered them and led them out of Egypt with their wagons full of treasure. God is good.
Journaling
Lord, what would You speak to me concerning this story? How would You apply it to my life?
Take Charge of Your Health
Free Video Event: December 26 - January 3
Register now: https://go.cluschoolofthespirit.com/healthevent
Fan the flames of revival by sharing this blog with your friends on social media!
Add new comment