What does God want of me?

Gen. 41:1

When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream:

He was standing by the Nile, 2 when out of the river there came up
seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. 3 After
them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and
stood beside those on the riverbank. 4 And the cows that were ugly
and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke
up.5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of
grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6 After them,
seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east
wind. 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full
heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream.

12 Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of
the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us,
giving each man the interpretation of his dream. 13 And things turned
out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my
position, and the other man was impaled.”

14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the
dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came
before Pharaoh.15 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.”16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to
Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and
the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The
seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain
are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean,
ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the
seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are
seven years of famine.

28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is
about to do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming
throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine will
follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and
the famine will ravage the land.

31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the
famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was
given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly
decided by God, and God will do it soon.

33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put
him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh appoint
commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt
during the seven years of abundance.

.39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to
you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in
charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your
orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”

Joseph in Charge of Egypt.

41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land
of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on
Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain
around his neck. 43 He had him ride in a chariot as his
second-in-command,[b] and people shouted before him, “Make way[c]!” Thus
he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no
one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.” 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name
Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of
On,[d] to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.

46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh
king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and
traveled throughout Egypt.

What we learn from Joseph’s life:

1. Dedication means that you diligently address the
   challenges (cut thru culture and society).
2. Dedication means intentionally focusing on a vision
   for the future.
3. Dedication means consistently showing up and doing
   the daily work (prayer, Bible study, seeking, go live it
   out)

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9