Eddie’s Bible Journal Jan 14-20

18 Jan Eddie’s Bible Journal Jan 14-20

In Genesis chapters 40-41, God spoke to me quite a bit about Joseph’s supernatural spiritual gifting to interpret dreams.

Consider the following verses. . .

“We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.” (Gen. 40:8)

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” (Gen 41:15-16)

So here we say Joseph making statements like:

“Interpretations belong to God”

“I cannot do it” (referring to the interpretation of dreams)

“God will give Pharaoh the answers he desires”

Based on these statements, I would expect Joseph to have said “since only God can do this, you should ask God for these interpretations”. Or, at a minimum, I would have expected him to say, “tell me your dreams and I will ask God what they mean and tell you what He says”. . but he doesn’t say either of these things. . .he says “tell me your dreams”. . and then he tells them what they mean (seemingly without asking God what they mean). I believe this section of scripture gives us a good example of what it looks like to partner with God to operate in our spiritual gifting.

We know, of course, that all giftings (or more generally, just walking in the supernatural) are only exercised and experienced by the grace of God Himself. Apart from Him, we have no spiritual gifts, nor can we walk in supernatural power. But how should we walk in our giftings? The example provided here by Joseph suggests that we should walk in boldness and confidence, knowing that we have the mind of Christ (Jn. 1:12-13) and that He has already given us every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:3).

We see this example in the New Testament as well. For example. Acts 3:6 says, “Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” We all know that it is only God who heals, but Peter didn’t ask God to heal the lame beggar. Instead he says “what I do have I give you” and then he commands the man to walk in Jesus’s name. This is the model for healing and more generally the model for walking in the supernatural throughout the entire New Testament.

So. . .what are your spiritual gifts? Are you walking and boldness and confidence in these giftings like Joseph and Peter did? Do you fully believe that God has already given you these gifts and your only responsibility now is to steward and exercise them? One last insight from Joseph’s dreams. . .Joseph walking in his gifting resulted in immense blessing for him, his family, and the entire known world. As you walk in your gifting, know that God too will bless you, your family, and your world!