Daily Scripture Reading Genesis 40:20 - 41:16
Over the past couple centuries, there has been a strong push to deny the supernatural. Many scientists and philosophers refuse to acknowledge that God exists, and they live as if He does not exist. This has led to a general de-emphasis of everything supernatural, including angels and demons. There is not a lot of attention given to the subject of humans attempting to communicate with demons.
However, throughout history, humans have attempted to communicate with demons and gain insight from them. We will read a passage today that appears to illustrate the prominence of sorcery in ancient Egypt. Christians need to be aware that sorcery is real so that we can protect ourselves and others from it.
Pharoah’s baker and cupbearer were imprisoned with Joseph. One night both of them had a dream, and Joseph interpreted the dreams for them. The cupbearer’s dream meant that in three days Pharaoh would restore the cupbearer to his position while the baker’s dream meant that in three days Pharaoh would execute the baker.
Gen. 40:20 ¶ Thus it happened on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants.
Gen. 40:21 And he restored the chief cupbearer to his office, and he put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand;
Gen. 40:22 but he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had interpreted to them.
Gen. 40:23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Joseph had asked the cupbearer to help him get out of his wrongful imprisonment once he was restored to his office, but the cupbearer forgot to do so.
Gen. 41:1 ¶ Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream, and behold, he was standing by the Nile.
Note the words “two full years”. When Joseph interpreted the dream for the cupbearer, he had hope he would be released from his unjust imprisonment, but two years went by and Joseph was still in jail.
Gen. 41:2 And behold, from the Nile there came up seven cows, sleek and fat; and they grazed in the reeds.
Gen. 41:3 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, ugly and thin, and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile.
Gen. 41:4 And the ugly and thin cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. Then Pharaoh awoke.
Gen. 41:5 He again fell asleep and dreamed a second time; and behold, seven ears of grain came up on a single stalk, plump and good.
Gen. 41:6 And behold, seven ears, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them.
Gen. 41:7 And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.
Gen. 41:8 Now it happened that in the morning his spirit was troubled, so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. And Pharaoh recounted to them his dream, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
Take note of the word “magician”. The only Old Testament books that mention magicians are Genesis, Exodus, and Daniel. All references in Genesis and Exodus refer to magicians in Pharaoh’s court. The references in Daniel refer to the magicians in the kingdom of Chaldea/Babylon.
Exodus mentions the magicians using secret arts to imitate the plagues. I gather from this passage in Genesis that the magicians had a reputation for being able to interpret dreams. Perhaps they used secret arts and sorcery to do so. However, in this case they were not able to interpret the dream.
Over the past couple centuries, there has been a strong push to deny the supernatural. Many scientists and philosophers refuse to acknowledge that God exists, and they live as if He does not exist. This has led to a general de-emphasis of everything supernatural, including angels and demons. The subject of sorcery, reaching out to demons, is not often mentioned.
However, angels and demons are real. Throughout history humans have attempted to communicate with demons and use them for various purposes. While we live in an age when the supernatural is denied, there are people today who attempt to communicate with the supernatural. Christians need to be aware of this so that we are not naive and can protect ourselves and our children from the evil allure of sorcery.
Gen. 41:9 ¶ Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, “I would bring to remembrance today my own offenses.
Gen. 41:10 Pharaoh was furious with his servants, and he put me in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, both me and the chief baker.
Gen. 41:11 And we had a dream on the same night, he and I; each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream.
Gen. 41:12 Now there was with us a Hebrew youth, a slave of the captain of the bodyguard, and we recounted them to him, and he interpreted our dreams for us. To each one he interpreted according to his own dream.
Gen. 41:13 And just as he interpreted for us, so it happened; he restored me in my office, but he hanged him.”
Gen. 41:14 ¶ Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they rushed him out of the pit; and he shaved himself and changed his clothes, and he came to Pharaoh.
Notice the words “rushed”, “shaved”, and “changed his clothes”. On the one hand they were in a hurry for Joseph to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. On the other hand, Joseph could not appear before Pharaoh without being properly attired.
Gen. 41:15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, but no one can interpret it; yet I have heard it said about you, that you hear a dream and that you can interpret it.”
Gen. 41:16 Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will answer concerning the welfare of Pharaoh.”
Once again we see that Joseph properly gave God the credit for revealing the meaning of dreams.
Over the past couple centuries, there has been a strong push to deny the supernatural. This has led to a general de-emphasis of everything supernatural, including angels and demons.
However, throughout history humans have attempted to communicate with demons and use them for various purposes. Christians need to be aware of this so that we are not naive and can protect ourselves and our children from the evil allure of demons and sorcery.
What are some modern examples of people trying to communicate with demons?
In what ways is sorcery alluring?
What are the dangers of sorcery?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”