In their book Spiritual Leadership, Henry and Richard Blackaby point to five ways God authenticates a leader. These are: God fulfills His promises to the leader and the leader’s organization, God vindicates the person’s reputation over time, lives are changed, others recognize God as the driving force behind the leader’s agenda, and people are becoming like Christ (page 99-100). We can see some of this happening in the life of Joseph at this point in his life and now he faced a divine opportunity that would have major consequences. We don’t know when he realized that he stood at the door of a divine opportunity, but there are some things in Genesis 41 that point to an open door.
1.Interpret a dream. Joseph was being called upon to do something he had done before. He had interpreted with God’s help the dreams of two government officials he met in prison (see Gen. 40). He had some experience. Experience isn’t always a must, but we must realize there is a reason we have the experiences that we do. Our experiences can serve as means for ministry to others as we learn from what we did right and what we did wrong. In some ways, the experiences of life give us clues about our future opportunities.
When we face an opportunity, we may want to ask how does our experiences point us in this direction.
2. Dependent upon God. Joseph explained that only through God’s assistance would he be able to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. Divine opportunities came through us recognizing that we are facing something that only God can do. God gave Joseph an opportunity to be an instrument of His power. This recognition comes through humility. We know we are not capable yet God gives us the opportunity to demonstrate that He is.
When we face an opportunity, we may want to ask if we can trust God to accomplish His work through us.
3. A plan for storing. After Joseph interpreted the dream, he proposed a clear next step for Pharaoh to consider. Joseph discerned the right path to take in light of the interpretation; storing up crops in the first seven years that could be used in the years that followed. God helped Joseph see what he needed to see so an effective plan could be put in place. So many times, we see a need or opportunity and act before God gives us a plan for meeting that need. We can easily get ahead of God and others in the process which may be one reason Joseph didn’t suggest that he be the one who carried out the plan.
When we face an opportunity, we may want to ask if God has given us a clear next step.
4. Recognized as the person for the job. Joseph had proven himself as a capable leader. Potiphar and the jailer all saw it as he worked under them. Pharaoh confirmed that Joseph was the right person for the job. God had already placed Joseph at the door of a divine opportunity with Pharaoh simply recognizing that God had done so. God used a pagan leader to move Joseph forward.
When we face an opportunity, we may want to ask if God has placed others around us who see as God’s instrument.
We may not be called upon to oversee the management to the nation’s food supply but no doubt that God gives us divine opportunities within His redemptive plans. Not all open doors are divine opportunities, but some are and we must ask God for discernment to know the difference.
Reader Interactions
Comments
Dan saysI noticed in this week’s BLOG the word “diving” is used instead of “divine” in the last sentence of the first paragraph.
Thought you’d like to know.
Dwayne corrected it….
- Dwayne McCrary says
Thanks for letting us know….we have made the correction.
- Dee Wieninger says
Hi Dwayne: Thanks so much for your insights on using our experiences; “Our experiences can serve as means for ministry to others as we learn from what we did right and what we did wrong. In some ways, the experiences of life give us clues about our future opportunities”. I write stories of my experiences and post them on my website. As I prayed about posting my next story, asking for discernment as you also suggest, I felt though the Lord was sharing that “had not the experiences of so so many lives been written down we wouldn’t have His amazing Word” which is “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness,so that the servant of God may be thoroughlyequipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Writing my experiences are probably more for my benefit – as a glorified journal, but should others read them and be blessed; all the glory is God’s! Thanks so much! Be Blessed By Faith, Dee
- Dwayne McCrary says
Thank you for the reminder of the value of our stories. God bless.
FAQs
What do I do while I wait for God's opportunity? ›
- Believe that the God who saved you hears your cries (Micah 7:7). ...
- Watch with expectancy, but be prepared for unexpected answers (Psalm 5:3). ...
- Put your hope in his Word (Psalm 130:5-6). ...
- Trust in the Lord, not in your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).
God's going to give out his medals for the important things, the things that are on the inside. Because it's the inside things, that make you a winner in life. As you grow up, kids, God wants to make your life fantastic, but he can only do that if you listen to him and do what's right.
What is Genesis chapter 12 about? ›Chapter Context
Genesis 12 shifts the story to Abram and his journey on into the land of Canaan. God promises to make Abram the father of a great nation, and to give Abram's descendants that very land. Abram begins to worship the Lord, but quickly fails a test of his faith in Egypt.
In the opening verses of Gen 40, we are reminded that, like in the life of Joseph, God has each event in our lives planned, and these are part of His progressive work in our lives. Gen 40:2-7 tell us how and why Joseph becomes embroiled in the problems of these two men.
What the Bible says about new opportunities? ›Ephesians 5:15-16
"Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." The Good News: Take advantage of new opportunities to strengthen your faith and create meaning in your everyday life.
Make good use of every opportunity you have, because these are evil days. Don't be fools, then, but try to find out what the Lord wants you to do. Do not get drunk with wine, which will only ruin you; instead, be filled with the Spirit.
What does the book of Genesis teach us about life? ›The book of Genesis brings us back to the beginning, where the foundation of life itself is explained. We learn how we were created, about the origins of sin and its fallout, and how to best relate to God—through obedience and trust.
What does Genesis teach us about? ›Genesis is arguing that our lives are not accidental and purposeless, that we are not helplessly caught between good and evil, that the world is not morally neutral, and that we have a role to play in it, based on our relationship with the creator.
What is the meaning of Genesis chapter? ›Genesis, Hebrew Bereshit (“In the Beginning”), the first book of the Bible. Its name derives from the opening words: “In the beginning….” Genesis narrates the primeval history of the world (chapters 1–11) and the patriarchal history of the Israelite people (chapters 12–50).
What does Genesis 12 1 4 mean? ›Theological Reflections on Genesis 12:1-4
Of course, human obedience is from the very beginning involved–God says, “Go…” and “Abram went.” But Abraham's trust in God's commitment to fulfill the promises made provide the energy and will to follow God's commands.
What did God promise Abraham Genesis 12? ›
In Genesis 12:1-3, God promised Abraham that He would multiply his descendants as the stars in the sky. He would be their God and give them a specific piece of land forever. Yet even before that, God said He would bless Abraham and his descendants so that all the families of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12).
What plan was revealed in Genesis Chapter 12? ›God makes a covenant with Abram, promising to make Abram's descendants into a great nation. Abram agrees to leave his home and move southwest to Canaan with his wife and his nephew, Lot, to a land that God has promised to give to Abram's descendants.
What is the meaning of Genesis 40 14? ›Joseph did ask the cupbearer to do a favor for him: would he show kindness to Joseph and influence Pharaoh to get him out of prison (Genesis 40:14). He told the cupbearer that he had been put in prison and had done nothing to deserve being imprisoned.
What does 40 symbolise? ›In religion, 40 seems to be shorthand for “a long time.” Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness being tempted by the devil; the great flood lasted 40 days and 40 nights; the Jewish people wandered the desert for 40 years.
What does Genesis 40 1 23 mean? ›Genesis 40:1–23 takes place during Joseph's years in a prison, or dungeon, within the house of the captain of the guard. Two men join him there for a time and experience troubling, prophetic dreams. Joseph's interpretation reveals that the former cupbearer to Pharaoh will be restored to his old job.
How do you identify divine opportunities? ›Key Thoughts on Recognizing Divine Opportunities
Focus on your relationship with God and pursue Him. Focus on serving others and the assignment God has given you. The divine opportunities will look for you and even chase you down. If you miss an opportunity, ask God to forgive and forgive yourself.
As one of our definitions suggests a divine opportunity is “a good chance for advancement or progress.” Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that in Christ all opportunities are made possible or turned into a blessing.
What is the biblical meaning of opportunity? ›Here is a working definition of “opportunity”: Opportunity is an event or moment at which actions of importance or significance can be achieved. Greek word (Kairos) It is more than a succession of moments (chronos) Critical or decisive point in time. Period marked by distinct conditions.
What does it mean to take opportunities? ›to take the opportunity (to do sth): to use the chance or occasion (to do sth)
What is spiritual opportunity? ›Spiritual opportunism refers to the exploitation of spiritual ideas (or of the spirituality of others, or of spiritual authority): for personal gain, partisan interests or selfish motives.
What is the most of every opportunity? ›
The Scriptures tell us to make the most of every opportunity. Make the most of every opportunity literally means "redeem the time." We are all given an equal amount of time each day. How we use it determines its value. When we redeem the time for Christ, we place the utmost value upon it.
What is the main message of Genesis chapter1? ›Genesis 1 shows us the immense power of God, as he separates the chaotic waters and brings order to creation. God establishes time, the sky, the sea, and the land, and then he fills these realms with inhabitants.
What is a quick summary of Genesis? ›The Book of Genesis opens the Hebrew Bible with the story of creation. God, a spirit hovering over an empty, watery void, creates the world by speaking into the darkness and calling into being light, sky, land, vegetation, and living creatures over the course of six days.
What are the 3 key themes in the book of Genesis? ›The theme of Genesis is creation, sin, and re-creation. God made the world very good, but first cursed it and then destroyed it in the flood because of man's disobedience. The new world after the flood was also spoiled by human sin (ch. 11).
What is the conclusion of Genesis? ›In the end, God puts Abraham to the test and, due to his faith, Abraham is found to be righteous and God thus confirms his covenant with Abraham and with his seed.
What does Genesis 12 4 explain? ›God calls Abram to leave his people and land behind. He also promises to bless Abram and to make his descendants into a great nation who will one day occupy the land of Canaan.
What does Genesis 12 1 3 mean? ›Genesis 12:1–3 Praises Jesus as Lord of Our Hearts
And that when we trust in him, put our faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, for eternal life under his Lordship, that we are saved. The Christian life is a life of faith and it's been this way from the very beginning.
In Genesis 12:1, the Lord commands Abram to leave his country, kindred, and his father's house, to the land that the Lord will show him. Thus, v. 1 emphasizes in great detail what Abram must leave behind in order to obtain the promises that God intends for him and his family.
What are the three promises of God to Abraham? ›- the promised land.
- the promise of the descendants.
- the promise of blessing and redemption.
God asked him to leave the city he knew, leave his family, and go to a land that I will show you. If you do this, I will make you a great nation, I will bless you, and make your name great. Did I mention that Abraham is 75 years old at this time, and his wife couldn't have kids?
What are the 4 promises of God? ›
- God Will Strike Down the Firstborn (our old nature / old self). – Exodus 12:12. ...
- God Will Execute Judgment on Worldly Gods. – Exodus 12:12. ...
- God Will Protect and Overshadow the House Where You Are. — Exodus 12:13. ...
- God Will Protect You from the Plagues. — Exodus 12:13.
Like Abraham, we should have confidence in God, trusting Him with everything and being willing to sacrifice our best to Him. Though we may not fully understand His plans, He, in His providence, supplies all our needs. All He asks is that we have a willing heart.
What is the explanation of Genesis 12 1 2? ›The meaning of the passage is that Jesus will personally provide replacements for all that you have parted with, including loved ones and even home. For in the Church, He will give you new family members to help you through and become mother and father to you.
What is Genesis 40 short summary? ›Genesis 40. Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh's chief butler and chief baker—The butler fails to tell Pharaoh about Joseph. 1 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.
What does it mean to become Abraham's seed? ›So what does this mean for us? Paul exclaims, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” All the promises that God made to Abraham are fulfilled by Jesus and given to us. We are first of all heirs of a promised land.
What is the meaning of the flood in Genesis? ›Some Christian biblical scholars suggest that the flood is a picture of salvation in Christ—the Ark was planned by God and there is only one way of salvation through the door of the Ark, akin to one way of salvation through Christ.
What does the number 41 mean? ›If you have the number 41 in your numerology chart, it means that you are a very lucky person. You have the potential for great success and good fortune in all aspects of life. You're a very stable and grounded individual with a lot of common sense, which means that you are reliable and dependable.
What does it mean that God is the Lord of the harvest? ›When we put God in his place — his rightful place — we recognize him as the Lord of our harvest. We recognize that he is the one who gave us hands to work, that he is the one who supplies our provisions, that our family is actually his family … that it rightfully belongs to him.
What is the meaning of Genesis 42? ›After the famine began, Joseph sold grain to the people of Egypt and other nations. Genesis 42:1–5 tells how Jacob sent all of his sons except Benjamin to Egypt to buy food so they could survive the famine.
Why did God make Jacob wrestle with him? ›Jacob (Genesis 32:22-32)
This is one of those strange stories from the Bible that are a tad baffling. Jacob wrestled with what he thought was a man but turned out to be God, and he received a blessing. This blessing was a confirmation of the promises and blessings God had given his grandfather before him.
What are the process of waiting on God? ›
What does it mean to wait upon the Lord? In the scriptures, the word wait means to hope, to anticipate, and to trust. To hope and trust in the Lord requires faith, patience, humility, meekness, long-suffering, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end.
How do you pray while waiting on God? ›May the words of the Psalmist be true of me, "I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope" (Psalm 130:5). Help me to remain faithful in this place of waiting. Help me to serve you and live for you even in this crossroad of my life. Help me to wait as long as it takes.
What happens when waiting on God? ›Isaiah 20:31 “Those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength…” When we take matters into our own hands, worry about a situation, or force a desired outcome we are drained. However when we wait up on the Lord our strength is replenished, our spirit is renewed, and our hearts are revived.
How do you trust God in the waiting? ›- By Tricia Lott Williford, excerpted from Just. ...
- A global pandemic has tested our patience, and maybe even our faith.
- Let yourself be honest with God. ...
- Serve someone else. ...
- Circle your prayers. ...
- Remember when God was faithful in the past. ...
- Take a step.
To increase our trust.
First and most foundationally, he uses waiting to increase our trust in him and loosen our perceived control. Waiting reminds us we're at the mercy (literally) of God's timing, and we have no power to change that. As humans, we crave control, yet waiting pulls that from our grasp.
- Acknowledging God's sovereign control of all things. ...
- Coming to terms with our dependence upon God. ...
- Seeking spiritual strength from the Lord. ...
- Being patient and quiet. ...
- Refraining from needless fear and worry. ...
- Continuing to learn and obey God's commands. ...
- Expecting the Lord to save.
Waiting on God increases and strengthens our faith in Him. We learn more patience, and our trust in God intensifies! Most importantly, we have God's peace knowing that when He does give us the “green light,” we are in His will. There is not a better feeling in the world as we journey on the highways of life.
How do I pray to get immediate answer from God? ›- Evaluate Your Questions. Sometimes I assume that God will simply give me revelation because it's obvious that I need His help and guidance in my life. ...
- Practice Serious Reflection. ...
- Write It Down. ...
- Ask: Is There More? ...
- Invite Revelation. ...
- Move Forward in Faith.
Through the scriptures, we are taught that God will always hear our prayers and will answer them if we address Him with faith and real intent. In our hearts we will feel the confirmation that He does hear us, a feeling of peace and calm. We can also feel that everything will be fine when we follow the Father's will.
How do you stay in faith with God? ›- Regularly Examine Your Faith. Introspection is essential. ...
- Find Inspiration in Biblical Figures. ...
- Take Solace in Prayer. ...
- Connect with a Faith-Based Community. ...
- Do Good in the World. ...
- Show Compassion.
Who waited the longest in the Bible? ›
...
| Methuselah | |
|---|---|
| Born | 687 AM |
| Died | 1656 AM (aged 969) |
| Known for | Exceptionally long life |
| Spouse | Edna |
Isaiah 40:31 —”They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” There are many instances in the Bible when people were asked to wait on God, such as Exodus 24:12 .
How do we trust God in difficult times? ›Because God loves you, you can show your trust in Him by talking about all your feelings and circumstances with Him — the good and hard — through prayer. Don't let your emotions rule your life; bring them to God so He can help you address them. He is not disappointed or frustrated by your struggles, doubts or pain.
What is God's time called? ›In Christian theology
In the New Testament, kairos means "the appointed time in the purpose of God," the time when God acts (e.g. Mark 1:15: the kairos is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand).
In the flesh, we have limited understanding, and in difficult times, this feeling of uncertainty may feel even more present. God still holds your future in his hands. He wants the best for you. As you trust and rely on Him and His promises, He will renew your hope and fill your heart with His love.