Application and Understanding
Application vs Interpretation.
“And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.”
Genesis 40:8
God’s word, the Holy Bible, is not meant to be interpreted. It is meant to be applied to our lives.
In this story in Genesis, Pharoah’s chief butler and chief baker were imprisoned with Joseph. Both of them had dreams that they asked Joseph to interpret.
Joseph told them that only God can interpret what God wants, what His Will is. Joseph told them about the dreams and what they meant, life for one, and death for the other. He also told them that he would be released from prison and Pharoah would make him ruler over Egypt.
The butler was released from prison and lived and the baker was released from prison and was killed by Pharoah.
This was just as Joseph had told them.
Two years later Pharoah had dreams that none of his servants could interpret. Joseph was summoned and told Pharoah what the dreams meant and took it as an opportunity to talk about God.
Two years had passed since the baker and the butler had their dreams. Pharoah not only released Joseph from prison, he made him ruler over Egypt.
Instead of interpreting the dreams, Joseph told them what they meant and turned their focus toward God. Joseph took the opportunity to witness to the baker and the butler, no matter where he was, in prison. When the opportunity came, Joseph was brought before the Pharoah and Joseph told him what was in store from God.
Joseph didn’t hold back. His relationship with God is what brought about his freedom from prison. Joseph had faith. He didn’t rely on sorcery or witchcraft or prophecy. He told them what the symbols of their dreams meant. He didn’t interpret them, he told them of their meaning. This was because of his relationship with God. Not some magical power.
Eventually, all of the things Joseph was told from these dreams, came true.
We should take time to build a relationship with God based on His word. We should lean on this relationship for understanding and not to try and bend and twist it for what we want.
The deeper our relationship with God, the more understanding we will have. Although our understanding might not give us answers right away, our relationship with God and staying in His Will can never fail us.
The Bible is meant to be applied to our lives. It is not meant to be interpreted.
“And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.”
Genesis 41:25
“This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.”
Genesis 41:28
“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.”
Genesis 41:32