Lesson 84 Joseph is Finally Remembered, Genesis 41.

Joseph interprets Pharaoh’ Dreams 41:1- 8

English Standard Version (Chapter 41)

41 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, 2 and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass.

3 And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke.

5 And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. 6 And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind.

7 And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8 So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.

I don’t think we see a distinct pattern of the dreams in chapters 40 and 41. The only things are are certain to the casual reader is that they are life and death related and that the interpretation comes from God. There are some numerical references that are more prevalent in 41 with the number 7. In each chapter, the dream is shielded from the dreamer and it is for the purpose of bringing Joseph into a new season of favor.

The time lapse between the promise from the cupbearer and Pharaoh’s dream is two years! Two more years of waiting! Waiting on God can seem to take a long, long time, but He does move in mysterious ways:

Romans 11:33 (KJV 1900)

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Ephesians 1:9 (KJV 1900)

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Daniel 2:22 (KJV 1900)

He revealeth the deep and secret things:

He knoweth what is in the darkness,

And the light dwelleth with him.

These are just three of a multitude of references that point to the fact that there is a special treat involved for those who wait on God’s timing. Joseph is about to the the recipient of that gift from waiting on God. The dream of Pharoah is unusual. Seven thin cows enjoy BBQ of seven of their fat family. That is the first dream. The second dream is seven ears, or the fruit part of the grain plant, including the husk, begins the dream. It does not have to be corn, but could be that along with any other grain. After the 7 fat ears came 7 ears that were blighted by an east wind. You guessed it! The seven thin ears ate up the 7 fat ones. This dream puzzled Pharaoh greatly and he demanded all of the wise men in Egypt to interpret the dream, but no one could be found to tell him what they meant. But God...

The Drama Unfolds 41:9-14

English Standard Version (Chapter 41)

9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. 10 When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard,

11 we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. 12 A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream.

13 And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh.

The chief cupbearer remembers and apologizes to Pharaoh about his forgetting about Joseph in prison. Joseph was extremely accurate to the point of the matter of life and death regarding him and the chief baker. Pharaoh quickly calls for Joseph. He is hustled out of the pit. Interesting in that it appears to us that this is not a multiple story above ground prison. It is underground. He is shaved, cleaned up, given a change of clothes and Joseph stands before Pharaoh. 13 years of slavery ends in a moment of time and Joseph is elevated quickly. Hang on for the action.

English Standard Version (Chapter 41)

15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. 18 Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass.

19 Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. 20 And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows,

21 but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. 22 I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good.

23 Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, 24 and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

This is a retelling of the dreams with the added conversation between Pharoah and Joseph. No one tells Joseph the dream, but Pharaoh himself. Joseph proclaims “ It is not in me, But God will, give you a favorable answer. This is serious business. It is a life and death struggle for Egypt, contained in this dream. No one could explain it but Joseph is about to speak.

English Standard Version (Chapter 41)

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one.

27 The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. 28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do.

29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, 30 but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land,

31 and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. 32 And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.

Some thoughts about the similarities between Daniel’s interpretation of dreams and Joseph’s:

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 2: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers (G. Joseph’s Interpretation of Pharaoh’s Dreams (41:1–36))

Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams differed from Daniel’s in that not only did he have to forecast from the dreams what was to happen, but, more importantly, he advised Pharaoh how to prepare for what was to come. Thus Joseph’s wisdom in dealing with the situation forecast in the dreams is portrayed as of equal importance to the interpretation of the dreams. His was a wisdom that consisted more in planning and administration than in a knowledge of secret mysteries.

This was not only a dream interpretation but he unknowingly gave the Pharaoh his resume. He got the job! Bingo! The ability to stand and speak before kings and Pharaohs is a regular occurence for God’s servants. We have the message that the people of this age need. That is the message of Jesus and His cross. It will mean the difference between life and death. You must choose today that very thing if you have not.