“Y2K, Joseph and Being Prepared” Part 2  

Some of you remember the great stock market crash of ’29 like it was yesterday. I can still recall my own whereabouts on the day President Kennedy was assassinated and when the Challenger Spacecraft exploded. In the future, will people be saying: “Where were you on Y2K day?”

Last week, we learned that come January 1, 2000 you could wake up with a dead telephone line, no electricity, no heat in your house and no access to the money you need to survive. Does this scenario sound farfetched and alarmist? Possibly, but no one knows and that is the real problem.

If the computer programmers can’t win the race to fix all the bugs the billion-dollar question becomes: How do we avoid panic and prepare for the coming crisis? Also, why does a country preacher think he’s qualified to answer this issue? 

Of course, I am not qualified, but God is. In Genesis, approximately 4000 years ago: “Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing on the bank of the Nile River. In his dream seven fat, healthy-looking cows suddenly came up out of the river and began grazing along its bank. Then seven other cows came up from the river but these were very ugly and gaunt. These cows went over and stood beside the fat cows. Then the thin, ugly cows ate the fat ones!”  (Genesis 41:1-4)

The Pharaoh looked everywhere for someone to interpret the dream before they found a young man named Joseph, who had been sold into slavery by his own brothers, falsely accused of sexual harassment, locked up and forgotten in prison. But God had been preparing him for just this crisis. Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream could be part of our solution to Y2K.   

Joseph said: “It is beyond my power to do this, but God will tell you what it means and will set you at ease… The seven fat cows represent seven years of prosperity. The seven thin, ugly cows represent seven years of famine… Let Pharaoh appoint officials over the land and let them collect one-fifth of all the crops during the seven good years… and store it away…” (Genesis 41:16-36) 

A Y2K style crisis was coming that would have disastrous effect on Egypt. Seven years of prosperity then seven years of famine. Can God’s words to Joseph help us to better prepare?

1.         It is beyond our power, but God will tell us… Faith: Being prepared starts with faith.

2.         Years of famine… Listen: Are we listening to God’s warnings?

3.         Appoint officials over the land… Leadership: Are you willing to support capable leaders?

4.         Store it away… Sacrifice: Are you willing to sacrifice today for a better tomorrow?

Seven years of prosperity followed by seven years of famine occurred just as God said, but thanks to the leadership of Joseph, Egypt was well prepared. In addition to feeding their own, they were even able to offer aid to other starving countries. A potential catastrophe turned into an opportunity to help those less fortunate by the loving grace of God. What an awesome thought!

Here are some practical steps you can take today to prepare for Y2K:

Ø       Get current copies of all your records: Bank statements, stocks, etc.

Ø       Put enough cash aside to last you two to four weeks or longer.

Ø       Do you have an alternative source of energy or heat for your home?

Ø       Do you have an adequate supply of food and water?

Ø       Do you have copies of your medical records?

Ø       Do you have emergency tools such as flashlights, batteries, etc.

Will Y2K be a catastrophe for you and your family or an opportunity to show God’s amazing love to someone in need? The answer lies in your willingness to learn from God’s counsel through Joseph. “Have faith. Listen to God’s warnings. Support capable leadership and be willing to sacrifice today in order to prepare for a better tomorrow.” Like Egypt, you too could be used by God to bring someone much needed aid in the midst of tragedy. What an awesome thought!