We love this story of Joseph being set free from prison at last! We applaud God for setting things right for Joseph after being sold all those years ago by his brothers. We cheer God on when Joseph is put in charge of Potiphar’s household as a servant held in high esteem. But then we boo when Joseph is threatened, humiliated, and eventually falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison. The kid can’t catch a break! He’s in a foreign country with no rights or help—or so it seems.
Genesis 41
Pharaoh’s Dreams
41 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, 2 when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. 4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.
5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind. 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream.
8 In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 12 Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. 13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.”
14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.
15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”
16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. 19 After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. 20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 21 But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.
22 “In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23 After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.”
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.
28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.
33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”
37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”
Joseph in Charge of Egypt
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.” 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.
50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52 The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”
53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”
56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. 57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
Joseph has been given a prophet’s gift of interpreting what God says with what He will do. Joseph had previously interpreted the dreams of the king’s cupbearer and baker in detail, with complete accuracy. What Joseph predicted would happen to them—happened! Now, Pharoah, the king of Egypt, has dreams that trouble him. The cupbearer, by his side, finally testifies; “I know a man who can interpret dreams!”
It is God who put the dreams in the mind of the king. It is God who speaks through Joseph of God’s seven-year plan. But the greatest thing about this story is not Joseph’s amazing ability to interpret with precision and wisdom; but the credit and praise Joseph gives to God! “I cannot do this…God does this!” This young man is growing the wisdom of God through all the trials and suffering. The life of Joseph is often compared to the life of Jesus by many theologians. Jesus testified often about God, His Father. He told people I only speak what the Father wants me to say and do only what I see my Father doing. This message permeates the gospel writings.
Our human nature wants to shout, “Take that, you evil brothers of Joseph!” We like having the tables turned on those who hurt us so deeply and profoundly. We like it when God intervenes and provides justice to an unfair situation. But, in thinking this we might miss the main message of the story of God—He is always with us. God will accomplish His will. God is always in control of every situation. God’s timing is always the best timing. By God’s power at work within us through the trials and sufferings we learn His character which is being embedded into our being. Seeds of integrity, wisdom, are some of the seeds planted that produce the fruits of His Holy Spirit as we grow to be more like Him.
We are created by God for God to complete His purposes and ultimate plan. Life will make more sense when we believe this about God. Joseph does believe God. Joseph’s humbled, obedient life to God is going to take some interesting turns that will lead to the ultimate forgiveness of his brothers. Joseph’s life will come full circle back to his family.
Ah, but we get ahead of ourselves! Let’s take this huge story in smaller bites so we don’t miss the flavors of God’s endless work in us. We see how God is working in Joseph when we hear what he named his first two sons;
Manasseh— “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.”
Ephraim—“It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”
Joseph and God are in close communion while growing an intimate relationship of love, mercy, and grace. God is helping Joseph move forward with Him.
Lord,
Your goal is to know us personally and intimately. I am humbled by that truth often. May I never forget the benefits of knowing you and growing in my relationship with you.
In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 