November 1998
Genesis 41
Joseph was left in the prison dungeon after interpreting the dreams of the head baker and butler of Pharaoh. According to Joseph’s correct interpretation, the chief baker was executed and the butler was restored to his position in Pharaoh’s court. But the butler initially forgot his promise to Joseph to put in a good word to the Pharaoh for Joseph, so Joseph was left in prison.
Two years later we learn in the 41st chapter of Genesis that the Pharaoh himself had a dream which greatly disturbed him. He dreamed he stood by a river bank. Out of the river rose seven fat, nourished cows which went into the meadow to feed. Then out of the river rose seven more cows, but this seven cows were thin, under-nourished and ugly. The seven thin and ugly cows ate up the seven fattened cows.
Pharaoh then had a second dream. He dreamed about a corn stalk on which grew seven good, beautiful ears of corn. Then up grew seven bad ears of corn which looked like they had been blasted by the east wind. The seven thin and ugly ears of corn devoured the seven good ears of corn.
Pharaoh awoke from his dreams and could not figure out what the dreams meant. He called on all the magicians in Egypt and all the wise men of Egypt. None could interpret the dreams. The chief butler was then reminded of Joseph, who had correctly interpreted his dreams while he had been in prison.
The butler reminded Pharaoh of the time the Pharaoh had become mad at the servants and had placed the chief butler and the chief baker in prison. In prison the two had met a young Hebrew man. The butler informed the Pharaoh of the young Hebrew man named Joseph who had correctly interpreted dreams.
The Pharaoh sent his guards for Joseph. Joseph was cleaned up, shaven and given fresh clothes and brought before the Pharaoh. Pharaoh explained that he had two dreams and that neither his magicians nor wise men could interpret the dreams, but that the Pharaoh had heard that Joseph could interpret dreams.
"It is not in me: God shall Pharaoh an answer of peace." answered Joseph. Gen. 41:16.
The Pharaoh explained to Joseph the first dream of the seven thin and ugly cows devouring the seven fatten cows; then of the second dream of seven worn and beaten ears of corn devouring the seven good ears of corn.
Joseph answered: "God hath showed Pharaoh what he is about to do."
Joseph explained that the seven fattened cows and seven good ears of corn represent seven upcoming years of prosperity in Egypt. The seven thin and ugly cows and the seven bad ears of corn represent seven years of famine in Egypt to follow the seven good years.
"Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous." Gen. 41:29-31.
Joseph advised the Pharaoh to find a discreet and wise man and put him in charge of all the land of Egypt to properly supervise the harvests, reserving a fifth of all harvests for storage to reserve for the seven upcoming years of famine. If the Pharaoh follows this advise, Egypt will survive the famine and not perish.
The Pharaoh was impressed with Joseph’s interpretation, as were all of the Pharaoh’s servants. The Pharaoh inquired among all his servants, where can we finds a man wiser than the man who had just interpreted the dreams and "a man in whom the spirit of God is?"
Pharaoh told Joseph: "Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house..." Gen. 41:40.
The Pharaoh elevated Joseph to a position of power and leadership second only to the Pharaoh, answerable only to the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh placed Joseph in charge of all the lands of Egypt. The Pharaoh placed Joseph’s new position, and then clothed Joseph in fine clothes and jewelry and allowed him to ride in the second chariot in royal travels and parades.
Pharaoh gave Joseph a wife, Asenath, the daughter of a priest, and sent Joseph to rule over the land of Egypt. Joseph was thirty years old.
The crops of Egypt produced abundantly over the next seven years. Joseph arranged for storage in all the cities of Egypt, and laid back a portion of each year’s crop. Verses 48 and 49 of Genesis 41 tells us the ears of corn put in storage were too numerous to court, like the sands of the sea.
During this time, two sons were born to Joseph and Asenath: Joseph named them Manasseh and Ephraim. (These two sons complete the names for what will eventually be the 12 tribes of Israel. The other ten were Joseph’s brothers, Jacob’s other sons, except for Levi. See Genesis chapter 35).
After the seven good years, there came seven years of famine, as Joseph had interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams. The famine was wide spread, including outside Egypt; but in Egypt there was bread because of the planning of Joseph.
The people of Egypt were hard hit by the famine, and cried out to the Pharaoh for help. The Pharaoh sent all the people to Joseph, telling them to follow Joseph’s instructions.
Joseph opened up the storehouses, sold corn to all, including people coming in from adjoining lands. Joseph’s planning and storage was of great relief to the people of Egypt, and word quickly spread to other nations of the extra corn held in Egypt.
Jacob (who still believed Joseph had been killed, based on the lie told to him by Joseph’s brothers in chapter 37) and his other sons soon heard of the abundance of corn in Egypt to help fight the famine. Little did Jacob know that this event was about to reunite him with his missing son.