Genesis 41 Pharaoh’s Dreams

We see Pharaoh’s dreams and their interpretation by God. Joseph has been waiting two years since he interpreted the cup bearer’s and the baker’s dreams.

When Joseph interpreted the dreams for his fellow prisoners, he only asked for one thing in return. That the cup bearer would mention him to Pharoah. In my mind, I would hope for that mention right away. Probably in Joseph’s too. But it took two full years for an opportunity to present itself. The cup bearer had to wait until the need arose; or so he figured. And God made certain that there would be a perfect opportunity for this conversation. Joseph is in Egypt by divine appointment! Let’s join him in the jail as he faithfully serves.

♥ ♦ ♥

“Is it time yet Lord” Joseph wonders. It feels like he has been in the dark, dank dungeon forever! He has almost forgotten the feeling of being warm, or having the sun shine fully on him. Yet, Joseph faithfully serves both his captors and his fellow prisoners with a glad heart.

Two years ago, Joseph thought his time in prison would be coming to an end. He had given interpretations for the dreams of two of Pharaoh’s servants. God had given him their meanings, which Joseph faithfully passed on. Joseph had quietly gone to the one who would be restored and asked him to tell Pharaoh about him. Joseph did not receive a promise from his fellow prisoner, but he hoped he would be remembered.

It’s late at night; a time when all of Egypt should be asleep. Unless you are a guard on night duty of course. There is one who has woken up out of a fitful sleep. He is Pharoah of all Egypt. And what woke him was a disturbing dream.

Pharaoh sits up and looks around his room. Everything seems fine. “It’s just a dream” he comforts himself as he rolls over, punches his pillows and goes back to sleep. A short time later, Pharoah is again wrenched from his sleep. It’s a second dream; and it feels as if the two are somehow connected. And VERY important. Dawn has not yet broken, so Pharaoh decides to wait a little while. Maybe if he ponders the dreams, he can unlock their secrets on his own.

The morning has broken bright and clear, and Pharaoh is no closer to understanding his dreams than he was the moment he woke from them. “I KNOW these dreams are important” Pharaoh tells himself. They haven’t left his mind, as if they are on a constant loop in his memory.

Pharaoh calls his servant, who dresses him for the day. Once properly prepared, he goes to his throne room.

“Summon all the magicians and wise men. I have a matter which I need their assistance with” Pharaoh orders his scribe.

The scribe quickly dispatches orders to the guard at the entrance to the throne room. They will be delivered immediately. While Pharaoh awaits the arrival of those he summoned, his cup bearer and baker present him with his first meal of the day. Pharaoh is too agitated to sit still. His breakfast is left untouched. The cup bearer retreats to his quiet spot in the throne room. He will remain here until summoned.

The magicians and wise men arrive in groups. Each group is ushered before Pharaoh.

“I had a dream last night that disturbed me. And then I had a second dream. I believe they are related to one another but I have no idea of their meaning. I am certain though that they must be interpreted.”

“Please tell us your dreams my Pharaoh.”

“I ‘was standing by the Nile River. In the dream, seven cows came out of the river and stood there eating grass. They were healthy, good-looking cows. Then seven more cows came out of the river and stood on the bank of the river by the healthy cows. But these cows were thin and looked sick. The seven sick cows ate the seven healthy cows’ (verse 1-4a). Then I woke up. When I went back to sleep, I had a second dream. I ‘dreamed that he saw seven heads of grain growing on one plant. They were healthy and full of grain. Then [I] saw seven more heads of grain sprouting, but they were thin and scorched by the hot wind. The thin heads of grain ate the seven good heads of grain’ (verses 5b-7).”

In all of the magicians and wise men, there was not one that could understand Pharaoh’s dreams. If it weren’t for the urgency these dreams impressed upon Pharaoh, he would have given up trying. “This is important! I KNOW that as well as I know the run rises each day over the land of Egypt” thinks Pharoah.

Pharaoh’s cup bearer has been waiting quietly when not needed, and serving Pharaoh his drink when called for all morning. After the last of the magicians and wise men have done their best to help Pharaoh, without any success, the cup bearer sees an opportunity. An opportunity to not only help Pharaoh, but to pay back a kindness done for him two years earlier.

Pharaoh’s face is dark with frustration and confusion. “Surely the gods would not withhold this information from me, and yet drive me to extremes to find those answers” thinks Pharaoh.

The cup bearer knows to be cautious when approaching Pharaoh. The only reason he does so now is because he feels compelled to help his master. And he is certain he knows the one who can do just that. He quietly stands beside Pharaoh’s throne, holding out the cup, until Pharaoh notices him.

Once Pharaoh noticed him, the cup bearer carefully launched into his solution. “I remember something that happened to me. You were angry with the baker and me, and you put us in prison. Then one night he and I had a dream. Each dream had a different meaning. There was a young Hebrew man in prison with us. He was a servant of the commander of the guards. We told him our dreams, and he explained them to us. He told us the meaning of each dream, and what he said came true. He said I would be free and have my old job back, and it happened. He also said the baker would die, and it happened!” (verses 9b-13).

Pharaoh’s face brightened. Here was some home at least. “Have this Hebrew brought to me right away” commanded Pharaoh.

The cup bearer is in it now. “You better not fail young Joseph or we are both dead” thinks the cup bearer.

The captain of the guards is summoned to the guardhouse.

“Pharaoh demands to see your Hebrew prisoner who interprets dreams right away.”

“I have but one Hebrew prisoner. As for interpreting dreams, I have heard some talk of it. But I have not had the opportunity to assess his talent personally.”

“Just get him. And clean him up first.”

The captain of the guard personally went in search of Joseph. He found him tending to one of the prisoner’s needs.

“Joseph.”

“Here I am master” answered Joseph.

“Come with me right now.”

Joseph gave a sorrowful look to his fellow prisoner before leaving him. Both knew that Joseph could not delay even for a moment when called by the captain of the guards. It did not matter what Joseph was doing at the time. He had to drop it immediately.

“Where are we going my master?”

“Pharaoh has requested your presence.”

Joseph’s heart began to beat faster. “Lord God of my Abba’s, watch over me this day as I stand before the leader of this land” Joseph silently prayed as he followed the captain of the guards.

“First, we have to get you cleaned up. I’m sorry for the rush job, but Pharaoh is waiting.”

“I understand and no need to apologize.”

Joseph was stripped of his clothing and scrubbed with stiff bristles and lye soap. Then his head and face were shaved clean. He was then dressed in a new robe and sandals. As soon as his feet were laced into the sandals he was off again.

Pharaoh was pacing the floor of his throne room. “Where is he?” He demanded.

“Pardon my lord. They are probably cleaning him up. The prison is very dirty” offered the scribe.

“Yes. You are right.”

Pharaoh goes back to his throne and has just settled in when the guards appear with Joseph. Joseph bows in respect to Pharaoh.

Pharaoh immediately launches into his reason for summoning him. “I had a dream, and no one can explain it for me. I heard that you can explain dreams when someone tells you about them” (verse 15).

Joseph stands tall before Pharaoh. This is his opportunity to get out of prison but he will NOT take credit for the work of the Lord.  “I cannot! But God can explain the dream for you, Pharaoh” (verse 16).

Pharaoh is pleased at this young man’s honesty. He nods his head, then begins retelling Joseph his dream.

 “In my dream I was standing by the Nile River. Seven cows came up out of the river and stood there eating the grass. They were healthy, good-looking cows. ¹⁹ Then I saw seven more cows come up out of the river after them, but these cows were thin and looked sick. They were the worst cows I had ever seen anywhere in Egypt! The thin, sick cows ate the first healthy cows, ²¹ but they still looked thin and sick. You couldn’t even tell they had eaten the healthy cows. They looked as thin and sick as they did in the beginning. Then I woke up.

“In my next dream I saw seven heads of grain growing on one plant. They were healthy and full of grain. And then seven more heads of grain grew after them, but they were thin and scorched by the hot wind. Then the thin heads of grain ate the seven good heads of grain.

“I told these dreams to my magicians. But no one could explain the dreams to me. What do they mean?” (verses 14-24).

Immediately in his spirit, Joseph heard the interpretation from the Lord. “Both of these dreams have the same meaning. God is telling you what will happen soon. The seven good cows and the seven good heads of grain are seven good years. And the seven thin, sick-looking cows and the seven thin heads of grain mean that there will be seven years of hunger in this area. These seven bad years will come after the seven good years. God has shown you what will happen soon. He will make these things happen just as I told you. For seven years there will be plenty of food in Egypt. But then there will be seven years of hunger. The people will forget how much food there had been in Egypt before. This famine will ruin the country. It will be so bad that people will forget what it was like to have plenty of food” (verses 25-31).

Joseph also knew that there was urgency behind this dream and Pharaoh needed to know this also.  “Pharaoh, you had two dreams about the same thing. That means God wanted to show you that he really will make this happen, and he will make it happen soon! So, Pharaoh, you should choose a wise, intelligent man and put him in charge of Egypt. Then you should choose other men to collect food from the people. During the seven good years, the people must give them one-fifth of all the food they grow. In this way these men will collect all the food during the seven good years and store it in the cities until it is needed. Pharaoh, this food will be under your control. Then during the seven years of hunger, there will be food for the country of Egypt. And Egypt will not be destroyed by the famine” (verses 32-36).

Pharaoh is impressed by this young man, again. Not only did he interpret the dreams, but he gave him a solution to deal with the problem. Pharaoh is so impressed that he decides on the spot that Joseph will be that man.

Pharaoh addressed all those in his presence. “I don’t believe there is a better equipped man in all of Egypt to take on this task. Not only is he wise but the Spirit of God is on him. He will lead us in this task.”

Two of Pharaoh’s servants hurried from the room. They knew where Pharaoh was going with his words. They needed to have the appropriate gifts ready for Pharaoh to bestow on Joseph, when the time came.

Pharaoh then addressed Joseph directly. “God showed these things to you; therefore, I know that you are the wisest of men. I will give you charge over all of Egypt, and the people will obey all your commands. I, alone, will be more powerful than you.”

Pharaoh stepped down from his throne and approached Joseph. “I now make you governor over all the land.”

Pharaoh took off his signet ring and placed it on Joseph’s finger. Then he snapped his fingers and a servant brought forth a royal robe. Another carried a gold necklace. Pharaoh took these things from their hands and placed them on Joseph.

Pharaoh then led Joseph out of the throne room and to the vestibule where his chariots waited. “Place Joseph in my second chariot” ordered Pharaoh. He himself stepped into his lead chariot. Pharaoh led a procession through the city, through every street and alleyway. This was to show the people Josep’s position and that HE would command them.

Pharaoh’s officials shouted out as they drove; “Let him be the governor over the whole land of Egypt.”

When they returned to Pharaoh’s palace, Pharaoh gave him authority over everything EXCEPT Pharaoh himself.  “I am Pharaoh, the king over everyone in Egypt, but no one else in Egypt can lift a hand or move a foot unless you give him permission.”

Pharaoh had two final gifts for Joseph. The first was a new name. “Your name will be Zaphenath Paneah.” Finally, “Pharaoh gave Joseph a wife named Asenath. She was the daughter of Potiphera, a priest in the city of On” (verse 45).

Joseph was 30 years old when he became governor of all of Egypt. “This will take a little getting used to” thinks Joseph. That night, he hesitated going into the home Pharaoh had given him. After being confined in prison for so long, he wanted to experience as much ‘freedom’ as possible. He fell asleep on the steps with his face turned to the sky.

“Thank You Lord for my freedom. Give me wisdom in executing the plans You have provided. I seek to honor You in all I do” was Joseph’s prayer that evening as he fell asleep. Tomorrow would start his new life. One of great responsibility.

(to be continued)

Father God, I’m SO glad I don’t carry the amount of responsibility Joseph did. I can’t imagine being responsible for so many people and having to make the decision that were on the horizon for him. You prepared him from his youth. You didn’t ‘throw him into the deep end of the pool and watch him sink’. You gave him opportunities and positions of increasing responsibility, where he proved himself faithful to those over him AND to You. He had to learn BOTH before he was ready for what You had ahead of him.

You do the same for me in my life. You have taken me step-by-step into the places where I serve today. You KNEW my path before I was even born and worked out the processes I would need to encounter to bring me to where You can use me. I wish I could say I am as faithful as Joseph, but I know better. I have fallen down on MORE than one occasion. But You always raise me up stronger. Keep working on me Father.

Some of my children are struggling right now Jesus. If this is from You, to bring them back to You, help me hold tight for the ride. If it is not, move in their lives and bring about the solutions that they need. Give my son Don and Jason favor as they search for work. Give Jason confidence in himself that shines through to prospective employers. You know the needs of both their families. And You know the needs of their hearts MUCH better than I ever could. I place them, again, in Your hands. Could they be moving towards their ‘Joseph moments’?