When Does Pharaoh Awake?

When Does Pharaoh Awake?

“Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river. Suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. Then behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and gaunt, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the river. And the ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven fine looking and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke.” Gen. 41:1-4 [Emphasis added].

In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees and the scribes were considered “fine-looking cows” in the eyes of men, and not least in the eyes of Pharaoh (in the eyes of evil spirit powers). Jesus had no form or comeliness, that people should esteem him, and neither did His disciples. They were like ugly, gaunt cows. You could also describe the Catholic Church and the state churches as fine-looking, fat cows, who despise the gaunt, “heretical” and “sectarian” cows. Pharaoh is enjoying all this, and he continues to sleep and dream. But when the seven gaunt and ugly cows eat up the seven fine-looking and fat ones, Pharaoh wakes up. This story has repeated itself in Christendom all through time. When God sends a revival, seven cows immediately appear out of the river, fine-looking and fat. They gorge themselves on God’s grace and become mighty and rich.

They look with contempt on the seven gaunt cows, who are obedient to the Word regarding perseverance, frugality, obedience, etc. The fat cows consider such words bondage. But one day, in God’s good time, the seven gaunt cows—the ones that were so strongly warned against—eat up the seven fine-looking and fat cows. Then Pharaoh wakes up. Strange that he doesn’t continue to sleep. Perhaps he has a lot at stake.

In our day, too, the seven fine-looking and fat cows have met their end. There are no more meadows, and the manger is empty. Good counsel is now a precious rarity. The gaunt cows have become accustomed to their lean diet, so things aren’t so difficult for them. They have been open to exhortation and have allowed themselves to be forewarned. They have gathered oil in their vessels. When God withdraws His grace, everyone senses a shortage, both the fat and the gaunt cows. Then it is important that you have not gorged yourself in the good times so that you have nothing left for the bad times.

So let not the rich boast of his wealth, since the poor are just waiting to devour his goods. Let not those who are gifted and highly esteemed in spiritual matters exalt themselves over the less gifted. The important thing for all of us is that we do not allow grace to be in vain.

Our state church uses the word “sectarian” in just the same way as the Catholics use the word “heresy” to mean that someone has chosen to worship God outside the state church. Do you think God is dependent on the state church? Or is He dependent on any other denomination? Isn’t it people as individuals whom God loves, and didn’t Jesus die for them? He certainly didn’t die for institutions and the work of men. So let there be an end to all this ridiculous talk of “heresy” and “sectarianism.” This only shows that the people who write and speak in such a way are “heretics” and “sectarians” themselves. Let love reign; then you will love people for who they are. That is what God does. If we do the same, a significant measure of Christ’s mind will be our portion.

But if anyone regards himself as fine, fat and beautiful, let him remember that there are seven gaunt, thin and ugly cows ready to eat him up. God has so ordained it, and it doesn’t matter a bit if Pharaoh wakes up and protests.

Who holds the Pharisees and scribes in high regard today? It seems like the gaunt cows of former days ate them up; people now praise Jesus and the apostles rather than the Pharisees and scribes.

About a hundred years ago in Norway, we had one of the gaunt cows here. His name was Hans Nilsen Hauge. The fat cows tried as hard as they could to eat him up, but where are they today? The fact is that Hans Nilsen Hauge has eaten them up, and all that is left of them is their dishonor, while Hauge shines like a sun.

See to it that you are not found among the fine, fat, beautiful cows who despise the ugly and gaunt ones. You might end up as part of the dark background that causes their light to shine even brighter.

There is nothing new under the sun.