Genesis 132 – Encountering a Dream – Part 4

Genesis 41:37-45

 

“The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 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.” So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 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. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.” Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.” Amen.

 

Divine Sovereignty and Joseph’s Awakening

At last, Joseph stood before Pharaoh. After Pharaoh recounted his dreams, Joseph provided a clear and masterful interpretation. The fact that Pharaoh had the same dream twice in different forms was definitive proof that God had already ordained these events and would bring them to pass swiftly. At that moment, Joseph must have felt a profound resonance within his soul. He surely remembered that he, too, had once received two dreams with a similar theme in his youth. Joseph finally realized, through the reality of his own life, that God had ordained his path and was even now bringing His plan to fruition.

 

Joseph’s life did not drift along by mere chance, nor were the grueling years he endured in vain. God did not give Joseph those early dreams simply to instill a vague hope for the future. Rather, they were part of a divine providence designed to reveal God as the Sovereign Ruler of all history. Though Joseph’s life took a path entirely different from what he might have expected—a journey steeped in hardship, tears, lamentation, and pain—every step was held within the unfolding plan of God.

 

In his past, Joseph was the beloved son who wore the coat of many colors under his father’s doting care. Yet, God stripped away every environment Joseph relied upon, leading him down to the very bottom: the dungeon. Paradoxically, however, one truth remained steadfast through every peak and valley of his turbulent life: "God was with him." Through the crucible of affliction, Joseph was learning the art of walking with God.

 

The Meaning of the Confession: "It Is Not in Me; God Will Answer"

This realization was the bedrock upon which Joseph could speak so boldly before Pharaoh. Joseph confessed, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace. I am not the master of my own life; God is. I am not the one unraveling this dream; God is its owner. It is not I, but God who performs all these things." Often, when we hear that "God does it all," we might imagine a passive stance—sitting back with folded arms, waiting for God to handle everything. Yet, Joseph’s life demonstrates the opposite. After becoming Prime Minister through his interpretation of the dreams, he carried out a vast and meticulous ministry with all his might.

 

The reason God seeks the confession "It is not I, but God" from our lips is not that He desires us to remain in a state of lethargic helplessness. On the contrary, the meaning is quite the opposite. It is a resolve to no longer follow a life of one's own making, but to fully pursue the path that pleases God. It is an acknowledgment that, whereas we once judged and decided everything for ourselves—defining success, failure, good, and evil by our own standards—we now recognize that even the joys and sorrows of our lives are governed by God. It is a powerful declaration of intent to trust and obey God as our true Master.

 

Therefore, "entrusting all to God" is never an act of passivity. Rather, it is a commitment to move toward God's direction with all one's heart, soul, and strength to fulfill His will. It is living to one's absolute best while making it clear that the results and the glory do not belong to us. This is the essence of the confession "God did it." Ultimately, this confession carries a deep spiritual significance: a total realignment of one's perspective, choosing to view both the past and the present through the eyes of God.

 

A Shift in Perspective Across All Areas of Life

This shift in perspective manifests concretely in our daily lives, particularly in how we view our children. Previously, one might have considered a child’s obedience and academic success—getting into a prestigious school and securing a good job—as the pinnacle of parenting and a source of personal pride. However, we must now break free from such values. We must acknowledge that our children are not our possessions but gifts entrusted to us by God, belonging solely to Him. Consequently, teaching them to fear the Lord and helping them know who He is becomes the most significant mission of our lives.

 

When a child, once seen only as a helpless infant, becomes a member of God’s covenant through baptism, parents realize that this child is also a being dearly loved by God. Because they trust that God is leading the child’s life with a clear purpose and plan, parents come to respect the child as an independent individual. They begin to listen to the child's voice and walk the path of a partner, discerning together the life course God has prepared.

 

This transformation is also evident in how we discipline. Rather than scolding or reacting in anger simply because a child failed to meet personal expectations, the focus shifts to helping them grow as a child of God. We instill in them the identity that says, "You are a precious person destined to manifest God's will on this earth," helping them realize the direction they ought to live as His children. Instead of being moved to wrath because our parental authority was challenged, we offer counsel in love, caring for the child's future under the reign of God. This is the mark of a parent whose perspective has been transformed by faith.

 

True Faith Beyond Religious Habits

This transformation must extend beyond the parent-child relationship and be mirrored in our church life. Frequently, people claim to have faith upon joining a community, yet they fail to see the church as anything more than a general religious organization. The vague notion that a group of people gathering to beg for blessings will move a deity to respond is the epitome of ritualistic religion—something the Bible strictly labels as "idolatry." Too often, we trade the living God for such an idol, mistakenly believing this to be the essence of a life of faith.

 

If the reason we attend worship is not out of a rightful love for God or the joy of fellowship with saints, but out of a sense of obligation—thinking, "I can hardly call myself a Christian if I don't at least do this"—our faith will gradually wither into dry religiosity. When we fall into such formalism, the thrill of praise, our attitude toward the Word, and our rightful passion for the Lord practically vanish. Even though we stand here claiming to love the Lord, a part of our hearts may still be striving to satisfy our own desires and pleasures before God’s.

 

In truth, we are fragile beings who often do not even know what we truly want. Look at Joseph in today’s text. All Joseph did was proclaim a single truth. Though the wisdom to interpret the dream was given by God and the Holy Spirit was at work, Joseph’s own confession was clear. He simply stood before Pharaoh and delivered the truth: "I am nothing; it is God who acts."

 

A Truth of Faith That Shakes the Center of the World

Joseph not only interpreted Pharaoh's dream by speaking God's will, but he also provided a clear strategy for overcoming the impending crisis. Deeply moved by Joseph’s wise proposal, Pharaoh made a momentous declaration. He did not stop at praising Joseph’s cleverness; he confessed, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?" It is highly unlikely that Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had an accurate understanding of the Holy Spirit. Yet, he made such a confession for one reason: the truth Joseph had first uttered. Because Joseph declared, "It is not I, but God," even a pagan king was compelled to acknowledge that the source of all wisdom was God.

 

This simple, unadorned truth—"I am nothing, and God is everything"—shook the king of the world's most powerful nation, unsettled his officials, and ultimately moved the entire country. The single truth Joseph held moved the world. God meticulously guided the thirteen years of Joseph’s hardship—and perhaps all thirty years of his life—to draw this sincere confession from his lips and enable him to live according to it.

 

Now, I ask you: what is your truth before God? You could tell countless stories about your life and the path you have walked. You might share moving testimonies. But what is the core truth that defines your existence? Is your truth, "I moved to this foreign land and established myself, building this career and foundation"? Is your truth the external reality of "I raised my children well and live comfortably with a nice house and car"? Or is your confession, "The Lord is my only strength, and I have lived solely by the grace of God"? Depending on the truth we hold, we can either live a powerful life that shakes the world or remain buried in our own egos, repeating a mediocre existence.

 

The Gospel of the Cross and the Believer's True Hope

We often confess, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." Do you hold this confession as the truth of your life when you look back on your journey? Do you truly acknowledge that it was not you who lived, but the Lord who came into your life to dwell with you, and that God alone has shaped you into who you are today? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is your eternal life, your only salvation, and your joy? Is the cross of Christ truly your hope?

 

If this is our genuine confession, then why are we—who hear the Gospel, sing of the cross, and confess the Lord with our lips—so troubled and shaken? What causes us such pain, and why are we so disappointed? Why do we linger in exhaustion like those without hope, staying in a state of helplessness as if we have nothing and can do nothing?

 

If the past week was so wearying that you came here seeking God’s comfort, here is the true comfort of heaven: the fact that Christ died for you. It is the truth that God’s eternal love, incomparable to anything in this world, has descended upon this earth for you. Is this truly our strength and the reality of our lives? I pray that this Gospel becomes your living truth. I desire for us to live by the One who became my sin, who became my repentance, my restoration, and my completion. I hope your truth becomes the confession that, because He became your tears, you can finally wipe them away.

 

Jesus Christ, the Man of the Spirit, and Us

Observe Pharaoh facing Joseph. Even though Pharaoh did not know Joseph or God accurately, God caused even the lips of this pagan king to proclaim a magnificent truth of faith. Joseph’s confession—"It is not I, but God"—shook Pharaoh's heart. It evoked a sense of awe: what does this man rely on to be so confident? What fills his inner being? Through Pharaoh's lips, God tells the story of the One who stands beyond Joseph—the One whom Joseph foreshadows and who will eventually complete the work: Jesus Christ. Though Pharaoh may have vanished into history without seeing the full reality of that glory, the words he proclaimed were fully realized through Joseph and ultimately in Christ.

 

Pharaoh called Joseph "a man in whom is the spirit of God." Who is the One in this world who lived in perfect harmony and inspiration of the Spirit of God? It is Jesus Christ. Another title for Jesus is "the Man of the Spirit." We often use our frailty as an excuse to complain before God, saying, "Lord, do You not know my weakness? How can I live fighting against sin in this harsh world?" Yet, the Lord proved that we can do all things through faith and in Christ. While on this earth, Jesus lived solely by relying on the Holy Spirit.

 

Why did He, who is God by nature, refrain from manifesting His own divine power and instead rely purely on the Holy Spirit and God the Father? It was to send the most powerful message to us, who share the same human nature. "Do you think I do these things because I am God? Do you think I live by an inherent power of My own? No. For your sake, I rely on the Spirit; I act and heal in His name. I do not speak my own thoughts, but only the words the Father gives Me." Because this was how Christ lived, He can say the same to us: live by relying on the Spirit, learn to walk with the Spirit, and remember that He will never leave you alone. The fruit of the life Jesus lived by the Spirit has ultimately become ours in Christ.

 

The True Happiness of a Life Led by the Spirit

This was true not only for Joseph but also for Daniel. King Nebuchadnezzar said to Daniel, "I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom are found in you." Even the worldly rulers witnessed that every step Daniel took was under the hand of God. That same Holy Spirit lives in you now. You have become a person whose life is led by the inspiration of the Spirit. The Lord said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." This paradoxically shows how unlikely it is for us to reach true happiness if we live only according to our own desires.

 

You may possess many things in this world. You might accumulate knowledge that others envy, enter a desirable profession, and see all your plans unfold smoothly. Your beloved children might grow up exactly as you prayed. Yet, even if all these conditions are met, we can never enjoy true happiness if one thing remains unfulfilled: the principle that we must live according to the longings of our spirit, as the Holy Spirit inspires us and dwells within us.

 

We often lament, "I know I should read the Bible and rely on the Spirit, but the spirit is willing and the flesh is weak." However, we must change our thinking. It is a natural law for the flesh to grow weak; no matter how healthy a person is, the body declines with time. Our real problem lies not in the flesh but in the heart. To be blunt, it is not that our flesh is weak—the flesh remains strong in its own desires—but rather that our heart toward God is weak.

 

The Joy of Following the Desires of the Spirit

The Bible says that God has already placed within your heart what you truly desire. What your spirit sincerely craves is to draw near to God and encounter His Word. Unfortunately, we often follow the temptations of our sinful nature rather than the voice of the spirit. Because you are a precious child of God, your spirit instinctively longs for Him. This is why the Holy Spirit within us groans—sometimes with tears, sometimes with a heavy heart—leading us back to God. Unless the spiritual longing is met, true happiness remains elusive because you are not living the life you truly desire.

 

I think of the famous novelist Kim Hoon. He originally worked in the civil service and only began his career as a writer in his 40s when his passion for novels blossomed. When asked how it compared to his old life, he replied, "I am happy now as a writer." It is because he is doing what he truly desires.

 

When is a person most happy? It is when they do what their spirit desires. We become happy when we turn our steps toward the Lord, when we call upon His name just once more and remember His grace, and when we open the Word and gain subtle insights. The brief moment when you confess, "Lord, I have lived wrongly," and turn back is, in fact, the blessed time when what your spirit desired most is being fulfilled. True joy, which nothing in this world can provide, is found right there. If you want to live a truly joyful and pleasant life, live as your spirit leads. A person finds deep satisfaction when they live doing what they truly want.

 

By worldly standards, doing what you are good at becomes a career, and doing what you must even if you don't want to becomes a livelihood. However, doing what you truly desire is a delight and a joy. When you are immersed in it, time flies. So why do you live forgetting what your soul so desperately wants? We feel a sense of vitality—"I am alive"—only when we devote ourselves to spiritual matters. Is there anyone thinking, "Pastor, I don't think that applies to me"? Please, just try it once. Open the Word with the heart that says, "I haven't listened to the Pastor until now, but this time I'll read the Bible for just 15 minutes." See for yourself how your spirit responds. Do not give up if there is no immediate change; persist ten times, a hundred times. Honestly confront whether God's Word truly revives your soul and what kind of longing the God you believe in has placed within you.

 

Try living according to the desires of the spirit for just one day, or even a week. You will realize how exciting and joyful the life of faith can be. The reason I raise my voice during the sermon is not just to wake you up, but because this truth is so overwhelming and exciting. Would I stand here by force? No. I do this because I truly love it. I am truly happy because I am doing what I desire. I pray that you too will enjoy this happiness. The countless lyrics that say, "Just the thought of You, Lord, is good for my heart," are not empty words. They are reality and truth. Do not miss this happiness that belongs rightfully to those who believe in Jesus Christ. The good desire is already planted in your heart. I bless you to live a blessed life following that holy desire, as one inspired by the Spirit of God.

 

A Season of Refining and the Desire for Recognition

In the text, Pharaoh acknowledges Joseph, removes the signet ring from his own hand, and places it on Joseph’s. He also clothes him in fine linen and puts a gold chain around his neck. This act of "clothing" is a highly symbolic element that runs through the heart of Joseph’s story. Joseph’s life began with the coat of many colors, a symbol of his father's favoritism. At that time, Joseph enjoyed being the center of attention—a teenager who constantly craved recognition. To him, there was nothing better than being noticed. He loved showing himself off so much that he even wore that special coat to the fields where his brothers were working. Perhaps this is a reflection of a nature latent in all of us.

 

There is a characteristic story about the Puritan theologian John Owen, whom we so deeply respect. Though he wrote many brilliant books, he left almost no personal records. It was only about fifty years after his death that a biography was compiled from the accounts of his friends. According to those records, one of Owen’s most prominent traits was a strong desire to be recognized by others. How much must that great theologian have struggled within, fighting against the need for human approval? As he labored through that struggle, we see that this is no simple matter. Though we may deny it, we often find ourselves reacting with sudden anger when someone ignores us or bruises our ego.

 

Joseph was no exception. Therefore, God called him into a place of refining to discipline him through His Word. His life was a series of events that shattered his human pride. God forcibly stripped him of the coat of many colors he so cherished and clothed him with what? The clothes of a servant. The clothes of a slave. From then on, he had to live in the attire of a slave. He became a slave who had to cast away all pride and serve others. In another sense, he could have become a slave to many things—even to his own desires. However, because he learned in that place that God was with him, he sought to cast off the "slave's garment" of the soul and seek God’s will.

 

Ambassadors of the Kingdom Beyond the Righteousness of the Law

Our journey of faith is structurally very similar to Joseph’s life. Even before we believe in Jesus, or even after, we often think, "Well, God exists, so I should live a moral life according to His standards. I should avoid harming others or taking what belongs to them; I should not live an unkind life in this world." In a way, this resembles the attempt to justify oneself before God by keeping the law. Structurally, when Joseph cast off his garment and fled from temptation, it might look like he was demonstrating his own goodness before God by keeping a moral law. But what was the result? We must remember what happened to the many Pharisees and Sadducees who tried to appear righteous before God by strictly observing the law and His commandments.

 

God has delegated a much greater mission to us than merely keeping rules. You are kings of God’s kingdom and, at the same time, His ambassadors. Our true King—or in our terms, our Emperor—is God. We are kings who work alongside Him under His authority. Therefore, when you hear the Gospel, when you speak the Gospel, and when the Gospel is being fulfilled in your life and bearing fruit, the kingdom of God expands. Even in small things, God’s kingdom begins to grow. If you used to use a hundred words to wound others but now reduce that by one and use another word to build someone up, the kingdom of God has expanded by that much. If you used to pass by those in difficulty but now turn back to look at them with tears or an aching heart and pray for them, you are witnessing the expansion of God’s kingdom.

 

Every moment you walk with the Lord in obedience to His Word, you see His kingdom expanding. In this kingdom, you are second-in-command, following only the Triune God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. You are "Number Two." You might feel that being second-in-command is meaningless if you have no "soldiers" under you, but the truth remains: you are second-in-command. In God’s kingdom, as kings, we will rule over all the creation God has made.

 

The Glory of the Saints with a New Name and New Clothes

All of this glory is the title, delegation, power, and joy that God gives to you. This is also revealed in the name "Zaphenath-Paneah." It carries a meaning like "God speaks and God lives." This name was given to Joseph, but do you think God gave it only to him? He has given it to us as well. Indeed, the one who completes the story of Joseph is Jesus Christ. He suffered as Joseph did. Where Joseph failed in many things, the Lord fulfilled them perfectly. By completely achieving salvation for us, Jesus became the "Ultimate Joseph." He is the Ultimate Moses and the Ultimate Abraham. Christ fulfilled everything in the Old Testament.

 

But for whom did He fulfill these things? Why did He do them? It was for you. It was for us. Who benefits from all those blessings, that love, and those deeds? Who enjoys the grace of the cross? Is it Jesus? Does Jesus need eternal life for Himself? No. He did it because of you. We are the ones who enjoy it. Therefore, the name of the "God who speaks and lives" becomes our name. It says in Revelation, "I will write My name on your forehead"—God gives us His name.

 

The name that protects you and guards us is the very name of God. That name belongs to us. We put on fine linen. We cast off the prison clothes that signify frustration, despair, misery, and failure, and we put on the Lord’s ring. Not the "Lord of the Rings," but the "Ring of the Lord." He places the ring of the eternal God on our finger and welcomes us.

 

In a way, this story is very similar to what Jesus said in the famous Parable of the Prodigal Son. Just as the father welcomed the son, putting a ring on his finger and saying, "My son has returned alive," God is showing through Pharaoh’s exaltation of Joseph how He lifts you up—reminding us through Scripture that Joseph's story is your story.

 

The Path of a King Walking in Humility

Therefore, I have one final exhortation for you. If you have realized, "Wow, I am not just a child of God, but a king of His kingdom, called to reign," and have come to know a little more of who you are, then I hope you will grow to understand even more of what that blessing and grace entail. However, if you already knew this and have been living with the attitude, "I am a child of God and a king, so let the world try and stop me; I am God’s daughter," then I urge you: never "assume the majesty of the tiger." There is an expression, Hoga-howi (호가호위), which describes a fox acting as if it were a tiger by relying on the tiger's presence. You must never try to shine your own light or decorate yourself by using God as a backdrop.

 

Exalt God and humble yourself. Stand in the place of Jesus Christ, who, though a King, gave Himself up to death and received the name "the Lamb." Walk with Christ. Walk as He walked, in deep humility. Walk as He did, relying on the Holy Spirit. Humble yourself alongside the Lord, who lowered Himself time and again. God will surely exalt you to the highest place together with Christ.

 

Look forward to how God will lift you up in His kingdom, how He will guard you in this world, and how He will lead you as one worthy of that glorious name. Live today not by the problems before you or by this dark world that distresses you, but by the name of God with which He has called you. Remember that nothing can ever defeat that single Name. No matter how dark it gets, no matter how miserable, no matter how hopeless it seems—even in the moments when it feels like everything is lost and life has no meaning—remember that the name of Jesus overcomes it all. Remember that this is a day you live through Him.

 

Let Us Pray

Lord, help us never to forget that we are within Your grace and under the power of Your name. Like Joseph, let us be those who confess the truth, "It is not I, but God." Help us to stand firmly in that place. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.