Fri.’s Devo - Dreams and Parables

Read: Genesis 39:1-41:16; Matthew 12:46-13:23; Psalm 17:1-15; Proverbs 3:33-35
I just realized that Joseph was sold by his brothers to Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt. Ishmael was Abraham’s son who was the born of a slave and Joseph was fromAbraham’s son, Isaac, who was the son of the promise. Egypt is the picture of slavery and false gods. Joseph was sold to Potiphar which means “dedicated to Ra”. Ra is the sun god.
Potiphar put Joseph over his household and immediately his business was blessed because God’s favor was on Joseph.
Everyone noticed, especially Potiphar’s wife. Potiphar must have gone away a lot so she took advantage of the empty house. When Joseph refused to fall into her seducing trap, she found a way to get him back. She falsely accused him of rape and had him thrown into prison.
Little did Joseph know, this was all part of the plan. He was getting closer and closer to his destiny even though nothing looked like it. In jail, his gift of administration once again gained him status and favor. When two of the Pharaoh’s top men, the cup-bearer and the baker, were thrown in jail because they had offended the king. I would guess there was a plot to poison the king and one of them would have had to be a part of it.
They both have a dream and since dream interpretation is one of Joseph’s spiritual gifts, he is able to rightly interpret them. God was setting things up for when the Pharaoh had his dream. The cup-bearer remembered Joseph and it was time for him to come to his destiny.
In Matthew, Jesus is summoned by his mother and brothers. I wonder if this is about Joseph’s death and them wanting him to come home and take up the family business which would be the job of the first born. Jesus refused to let customs or family define who he was. He made it clear that his family was the world and not just the one he was born into. He was about his father’s business and his father was God.
Then Jesus gives us the parable of all parables about the seed and the sower. All the parables and everything Jesus taught hinges on this concept. The concept is the Word can only be cultivated in a heart that is ready to receive it.
Lord, help us to cultivate a heart to receive your Word.