Tag Archives: ILMA ARTS STUDIO

GENESIS 41 THE PHARAOH’S DREAM

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March 14

GENESIS 41

After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, 2 and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. 3 And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. 6 And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. 7 And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8 So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh. – Genesis 41:1-8

GENESIS 41 THE PHARAOH’S DREAM

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

Two years later, the king dreamed he was by the Nile

Out of the Nile, seven cows came up beautiful and plump

These cows fed in the reed grass and then seven other cows came

These next seven cows were ugly and thin and came up out of the Nile

They stood beside each other in the bank of the Nile, but a bizarre thing happened

The ugly seven thin cows ate up the seven attractive plump cows and the king awoke.

The king’s dream bothered him so much that he was obsessed to find out what it meant. So, he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt to interpret these two dreams that troubled him.

All those two years, the cupbearer had forgotten that Joseph could interpret the dream. It was probably God’s timing that all these events happened that way for it will lead to Joseph’s rise from that prison cell. We never know what God’s timing is.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think God allowed another two years for this dream to happen?
  • Why did God not rescue Joseph right away and let him suffer longer?

GENESIS 40 THE BAKER’S DREAM INTERPRETED

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March 13

GENESIS 40

16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, 17 and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.” 18 And Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. 19 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you! —and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.” 20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.   – Genesis 40:16-23

GENESIS 40 THE BAKER’S DREAM INTERPRETED

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After hearing the favorable dream of the cupbearer

The baker excitedly narrated to Joseph his dream

He dreamed that three cake baskets were on his head

In the topmost basket were all kinds of baked goodies for the king

But then, the birds were eating it out of the basked on the baker’s head

Joseph interpreted the dream as the three baskets are three days

And in three days, the king will lift up his head and hang him on a tree

On the king’s birthday which was the third day, the cupbearer will be restored.

The interpretation of the baker’s dream was not as pleasant as the cupbearer’s dream. He expected it to be favorable after hearing the cupbearer’s dream interpretation by Joseph. Sadly, they both happen in three days with extremely opposite endings. It must have terrorized the baker.

Both interpretations truly happened. Joseph requested the cupbearer not to forget him when he is reinstated so he can also be pulled out of prison, but he forgot all about it. So, Joseph still remained in prison after the dreams came into reality.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it easy to forget our promises when things are going well?

GENESIS 40 THE CHIEF CUPBEARER’S DREAM

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March 12

GENESIS 40

9 So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream there was a vine before me, 10 and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” 12 Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. 13 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. 14 Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. 15 For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.”   – Genesis 40:9-15

GENESIS 40 THE CHIEF CUPBEARER’S DREAM

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

When Joseph asked the two imprisoned officials about their dreams

The chief cupbearer shared his dream about the vine and three branches

When the branches’ blossoms came out, it ripened into grapes

Then the king’s cup was in the dreamer’s hand and placed it in his hands

Joseph interpreted the dream that the three branches are three days

And in three days, the Pharaoh will reestablish him in his office

Joseph reminded him to remember him when that happens

So that he can be pulled out from prison and go back to his land.

What an interesting dream interpreted by Joseph. This was one of the first dream interpretations that Joseph did when he was in prison. It was in prison that the Lord blessed him with such an ability to interpret dreams. Because the Lord was with him all these times, he was able to accurately interpret this dream. He reminded these two officials at the onset of their sharing of the dream that interpretation comes only from God. Despite all that he went through, Joseph never forgot to give credit to God and never forgot that all that he has are gifts from God.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think God gave this gift of dream interpretation to Joseph in prison?

GENESIS 39 POTIPHAR PUTS JOSEPH IN PRISON

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March 10

GENESIS 39

19 As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. 20 And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed. – Genesis 39:19-23

GENESIS 39 POTIPHAR PUTS JOSEPH IN PRISON

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

Potiphar believed his wife’s accusation of Joseph

He didn’t even ask Joseph’s side as he fumed in anger

Joseph was taken by his master to the king’s prison

But the Lord never left Joseph and still gave him favor

The keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all prisoners

Whatever Joseph did in that prison walls, the Lord made it prosper.

The malice and slander that Potiphar’s wife had over Joseph’s character poisoned her husband’s trust in Joseph. Interesting that he never pondered on those many years that Joseph did everything for him and that he didn’t have to manage anything that he owned. Anger overtook him and made a rash decision to put Joseph in prison without even hearing his side. After all, he trusted him that long. He was blinded by his wife’s sly and cunning ways to get rid of someone who rejected her sexual advances. Anger that isn’t processed always leads to unhealthy results. In this case, it was to break his trust to Joseph. It was also to his detriment because now, he had to attend to all that Joseph responsibly did for him.

No one can hurt anyone who belongs to God, the psalmist says in Psalm 105 that no one is to touch or harm his people. Psalm 34 also says God let angels encamp around them.

REFLECTION

  • How is this passage a message of hope for those afflicted with suffering?

GENESIS 39 POTIPHAR’S WIFE ACCUSES JOSEPH

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March 9

GENESIS 39

11 But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, 12 she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. 13 And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, 14 she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. 15 And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.” 16 Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, 17 and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. 18 But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.”

                                                                   – Genesis 39:11-18

GENESIS 39 POTIPHAR’S WIFE ACCUSES JOSEPH

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

It angered Potiphar’s wife that Joseph wouldn’t sleep with her

So, she grabbed Joseph to force him to lie with her, but Joseph fled

When he avoided her in haste, he left his garment which she used against him

His mistress’ used that to lie to her husband and avenge Joseph’s rejection

This caused Potiphar to believe his wife instead of hearing Joseph out

Lies and deception continued to prevail in that Egyptian household.

In this account, we witness the work of the devil using Potiphar’s wife as a host of demonic spirits. She has been obsessed with lust over Joseph. She would do anything to get him to lie with her and when Joseph was able to resist her over and over again, she got so mad and got back at him. This is a manipulation tactic of the devil. Lies and twisting the truth were clearly the strategies used here against Joseph. It destroyed his master’s trust in him and eroded that good relationship they had through that slander and malice that the mistress did.

REFLECTION

  • How is slander and malice clearly a tactic of the enemy?
  • How can we be aware of the devil’s sly strategies to tempt us to sin?

GENESIS 38 TAMAR AND JUDAH’S SINS EXPOSED

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March 6

GENESIS 38

20 When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to take back the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her. 21 And he asked the men of the place, “Where is the cult prostitute[b] who was at Enaim at the roadside?” And they said, “No cult prostitute has been here.” 22 So he returned to Judah and said, “I have not found her. Also, the men of the place said, ‘No cult prostitute has been here.’” 23 And Judah replied, “Let her keep the things as her own, or we shall be laughed at. You see, I sent this young goat, and you did not find her.”24 About three months later Judah was told, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has been immoral. Moreover, she is pregnant by immorality.” And Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned.” 25 As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, “By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant.” And she said, “Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff.” 26 Then Judah identified them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her again. 27 When the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb. 28 And when she was in labor, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out. And she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” Therefore his name was called Perez. 30 Afterward his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.

                                                                   – Genesis 38:20-30

GENESIS 38 TAMAR AND JUDAH’S SINS EXPOSED

The acts of Tamar deceiving his father-in-law so she can have a son and Judah using a harlot to appease his grief from his wife’s passing are both sins. Tamar’s deception was an offshoot of her vengeance for Judah not keeping his promise to have Shelah marry her when he was of age. Judah’s sexual sins were exposed when he tried to shame Tamar after discovering her pregnancy. His judgment on her bounced back at him when Tamar showed the signet, cord and staff that belonged to him. Humans automatically hide their sins until they are visibly confronted by proof of such acts. The reaction of remorse and repentance were evident when Judah admitted that his dismissal of his promise to Tamar to marry Shelah made Tamar more righteous than him. The twin sons of Tamar, one of which will be our Savior’s ancestor was the outcome of this sexual act of Judah and Tamar.

REFLECTION

  • How is “hiding” a clear manifestation of sin? Why do sinful people hide?

GENESIS 38 TAMAR’S PLOT TO DECEIVE JUDAH

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March 5

GENESIS 38

12 In the course of time the wife of Judah, Shua’s daughter, died. When Judah was comforted, he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And when Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,” 14 she took off her widow’s garments and covered herself with a veil, wrapping herself up, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she had not been given to him in marriage. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. 16 He turned to her at the roadside and said, “Come, let me come in to you,” for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?” 17 He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” 18 He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 Then she arose and went away, and taking off her veil she put on the garments of her widowhood.

                                                                   – Genesis 38:12-19

GENESIS 38 TAMAR’S PLOT TO DECEIVE JUDAH

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After losing her first husband without an offspring, she waited

Tamar’s patience ended for Judah breached his promise to marry her to Shelah

She plotted to deceive Judah and posed as a prostitute so she can have a child

Without Judah’s knowledge, he slept with Tamar and her plan worked for her.

It is unthinkable how our Messiah’s ancestors could have come from these deceivers. Even though Tamar wasn’t part of God’s people, she had that desire to let God’s plan come into fruition in Abraham’s clan. She married Er, the son of Judah but didn’t have a son, yet she continued to hope that she would have one with the next son, Onan. They were both taken by the Lord for their evil ways. Now, Shelah, the youngest, was promised by Judah to give her an offspring when he grows up, yet, Judah has not kept his promise. It was time for Tamar to take matters into her hands and get pregnant with Judah. She posed as a prostitute in order to do so.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think God allowed Tamar to deceive Judah?

GENESIS 37 JOSEPH’S PLIGHT

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March 3

GENESIS 37

25 Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28 Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt. 29 When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes 30 and returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone, and I, where shall I go?” 31 Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.” 33 And he identified it and said, “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” 34 Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him. 36 Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard. – Genesis 37:25-36

GENESIS 37 JOSEPH’S PLIGHT

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After being thrown into a pit to be killed by his own brothers

Judah decided to earn money by selling Joseph to the Ishmaelites

Joseph was taken to Egypt and reported as dead to their father

Jacob tore his garments and mourned for his beloved son for many days.

We get a glimpse of the evil that resulted in the jealousy that the brothers had against the favorite son of Jacob. Although Reuben had his own plan to rescue Joseph, that failed because of Judah’s spontaneous decision to sell him and earn from doing so. He made it look like they were cleaning their hands from the blood if they killed Joseph but it still showed their evil hearts that were guiltless as they got rid of Joseph’s presence in their lives. The pain of the special treatment to Joseph was harder for all of them to bear as Jacob continued to give him more favor and not treat them all equally.

REFLECTION

  • How did God use evil and turned it for good in this predicament of Joseph?

GENESIS 37 THE PLOT TO KILL JOSEPH

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March 2

GENESIS 37

12 Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am.” 14 So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.” So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15 And a man found him wandering in the fields. And the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” 16 “I am seeking my brothers,” he said. “Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” 17 And the man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.18 They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” 21 But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” 22 And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. 24 And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.  – Genesis 37:12-24

GENESIS 37 THE PLOT TO KILL JOSEPH

After Joseph narrated his two dreams to their brothers and father, he was despised by the brothers. Now, Israel wanted to check up on his others sons in Shechem so he sent Joseph there but they were in Dothan. A stranger led Joseph to find them, but as soon as he was approaching them, the brothers began to plot to kill Joseph. They planned to tell their father that he was attacked by an animal and place blood on his special robe made for Joseph. They hated him so much because he was treated differently by their father. Their jealousy led them to murder him. This is what happens when envy takes over people and when there is unequal treatment of others.

Reuben, the eldest, came to the rescue of Joseph, but only halfway. He was still okay to put him in an empty pit and be sold as a slave. You’d think that he was truly going to save him, but he also thought of sending him away as a slave to whoever buys him.

REFLECTION

  • Why did Reuben only halfway saved Joseph?

GENESIS 37 JOSEPH’S TWO PROPHETIC DREAMS

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March 1

GENESIS 37

5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 7 Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.9 Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” 11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.  – Genesis 37:5-11

GENESIS 37 JOSEPH’S TWO PROPHETIC DREAMS

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

Joseph had two dreams that got him in much trouble

First, he dreamed of bundles of grain in the field that stood up

Joseph’s bundle was in the middle while theirs gathered around it

These sheaves around the middle bowed down to Joseph’s

The next dream was about the sun, moon and stars bowing down

All the eleven stars were also bowing down to Joseph

Then Jacob rebuked his son for it seemed like they too were bowing to him

All of Joseph’s brothers got so envious of him, so Jacob kept the dreams to himself.

Joseph’s first prophetic dream was scorned by his older brothers. They couldn’t bear thinking of the older ones being under the reign of the younger. They already had a hard time accepting that Joseph was the favorite of their father. It is aggravating to hear that he will have authority over them. Of course, they took it literally and not like a prophecy.

The second dream was another prophetic dream he shared to them as well. Jacob gently rebuked his son to protect him from further negative reactions from his brother, but took note of it. He knew that God can manifest his plans in a dream, so he kept quiet about it.

REFLECTION

  • How were these two dreams prophetic also of Jesus’ coming and his authority?