Food in Famine

The Shocking Message



These weekly devotionals I will be posting come from and are copyright to Pam Iannello, my pastor's late wife who went home to be with the Lord on June 18, 2008. They were written by a Godly lady for other ladies young and old so that their walk with the Lord may be strengthened.


Learning how to face our family problems through an in-depth study of the troubled home of Joseph.




This devotion is part of the "Family Problems" series.

Today we'll listen in as Joseph exercises the wisdom that God has given him to interpret Pharaoh's dream in Genesis 41:25-32. You'll find that Joseph frequently states to Pharoah that God was forewarning him of imminent circumstances. You see, Joseph knew that in order for him to react properly, Pharaoh needed to clearly understand that what was facing him shortly was GOD'S doing…

Genesis 41:25-32
And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh. Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

Through Joseph, we learn from God that the 14 cows and the 14 stalks dreamed about represented 14 years. The first seven years would be a time of great crop growth. The second seven years would be a time of terrible famine. In reading this portion of scripture, the first thing that comes to mind is that change is unavoidable, yet are we prepared for it? Here we learn that even the comforts of this life are subject to severe alteration. Perhaps you can remember a time when you experienced plenty and then a period of lack. How did you respond to the shift in circumstance? Though most of us live a life of well being, we cannot boast in tomorrow or even next year. Men and women rarely consider the fact that worldly satisfactions are flimsy at best, therefore we must not rest in them. We do not always know what is facing us; therefore, we must join Pharaoh in learning that we must live with the understanding that all our circumstances are under the direction of God!

Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

I think you'd all agree with me that contentment is a continuing lesson. Through many complex experiences contentment is added to our character. Growing in our dependency upon God certainly helps speed the process along! You see, ladies, God desires that our godliness always be coupled with contentment. The Bible says such a combination is great gain. How far would you say you have grown in your dependency upon the Lord? How content a person would you admit you are today?? Do you adjust well to the will of the Lord? Can you flourish in good times and bad??

Proverbs 15:16
Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.

We find in our text today, that God in His infinite goodness is informing both Joseph and Pharaoh of His Divine plans ahead of time. Be assured that what God ordains WILL come to pass… Though we can't change what God has proclaimed, we can gird ourselves up for His will, amen? In His great love for us, the Lord takes the most trying task and makes it doable to even the weakest person. Through yielding to God's guidance, proper adjustment to any circumstance is always attainable!

Proverbs 8:18
Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

Philip. 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Actually, the Lord has provided Joseph and Pharaoh with the chance to be prepared for the future and He has done the same for you and I as well. By God's grace, we can really handle the various demands and pressures of life. However, scripture didn't say all things would be easy - just possible, amen? Perhaps things are flourishing for you today as a child of God - you are in a good church and getting a steady diet of truth. Maybe you are experiencing your seven years of crop growth, so to speak. Shortly a change will be upon you… Ladies, I hope you are busy storing away enough spiritual growth to face tomorrow's famines, for that is the reason the Lord gives the increase! What we glean from the Word of God is never to be wasted. Nor should opportunities we have been given to mature be wasted either. God would have His children to use their time wisely. If you're diligent to make good use of the time and provisions the Lord has supplied you with TODAY, then no matter what type of famine He takes you through tomorrow, you'll experience contentment through living a life of total dependency upon the Lord!

Philip. 4:11-12
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Ladies, don't let sufficiency swallow up insufficiency. Why do I say that? Because prosperity has done more damage to believers than adversity! Under trial we run to the Lord, but when things are good we tend to forget God, amen? Beneath which circumstances would you say you flourish? God would have us learn to be secure during both times! Do you know how to conduct yourself as you pass through change? Contentment is not something that we hold but what holds us together. Do you believe that whatever God determines is best? What Pharaoh needed to understand by his dreams is the same thing you and I must realize - when we have God, we really have all that we need! A contented mind is a continual feast… Our life does not consist in that which we possess, but in the Lord… Faith in God always finds food in famine.

God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003 Meet Ms. Pam

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