Joseph and Pharaoh's Dream
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Pharaoh’s Dream
Pharaoh’s Dream
Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.
It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while.
Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream, both of them, each man’s dream in one night and each man’s dream with its own interpretation. And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in the custody of his lord’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”
And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.”
So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”
Then the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “Behold, in my dream a vine was before me, and in the vine were three branches; it was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. Then Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”
And Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days. Now within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your place, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand according to the former manner, when you were his butler. But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon.”
When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was in my dream, and there were three white baskets on my head. In the uppermost basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.”
So Joseph answered and said, “This is the interpretation of it: The three baskets are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head from you and hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from you.”
Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river.
Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river.
gen 39
Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river.
When we last left Joseph, he had interpreted the dreams of the butler & baker.
And those dreams have just come true.
Joseph had asked the butler to remember him and mention him to Pharaoh.
But the butler forgot Joseph.
Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river.
Now it is two years later.
Two more years of Joseph in a prison for something he did not do.
And now, Pharaoh is having dreams.
Suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. Then behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and gaunt, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the river. And the ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven fine looking and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke.
Suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow.
gen 41 2-
gen 41
OK, I’ve had some weird dreams, but this one is a doozie.
Seven good looking cows come up out of the river.
Then, seven ugly cows come up out of the river.
THEN, the ugly cows eat the good looking cows.
We know these are metaphors,
Cows don’t eat other cows.
This has to mean something, but what?
But wait, there’s more.
gen 41 5-
He slept and dreamed a second time; and suddenly seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, plump and good. Then behold, seven thin heads, blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them. And the seven thin heads devoured the seven plump and full heads. So Pharaoh awoke, and indeed, it was a dream.
OK, cows eating cows was weird, but grain eating grain?
But we see a pattern.
Seven fat cows, seven ugly ones.
Seven plump heads of grain, seven blighted ones.
And the ugly eats the good.
We know the story, so we know what’s going to happen.
But if we think about this from Pharaoh’s point of view, we should see a pattern.
But without hindsight, he has no idea what the dreams mean.
So put yourself in Pharaoh’s place.
Why?
Ask yourself, has God ever given you a message in a dream?
How would you know?
Joseph had two dreams, now Pharaoh has had two dreams.
Do you think that’s an accident?
Maybe that weird dream that you brushed off as too much pepperoni pizza was actually God trying to tell you something.
Now Pharaoh has had two dreams, and although he probably sees a pattern, he doesn’t know what they mean.
What is a supreme ruler to do?
Now it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh.
Pharaoh calls for the “magicians and wise men”.
These magicians aren’t the guys you hire for some kids birthday party.
These are the same type of people that will try to show up Moses in a little over 400 years.
Pharaoh wants them to use their magic to tell him what’s going on.
And these wise men
These are Pharaoh’s trusted advisors.
We probably wouldn’t go to magicians for advice,
But how many people look towards horoscopes, taro cards, and spiritualists for advice?
We all probably have at least one or two people whose advice we trust.
Don’t you think you’d go to them in Pharaoh’s situation?
Uh oh Pharaoh, no body has a clue what your dreams mean.
Now, the butler speaks up.
gen 41 9
Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: “I remember my faults this day. When Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker, we each had a dream in one night, he and I. Each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream.
Hey Pharaoh, remember when you threw the baker and me in jail?
(I can just imagine the butler saying under his breath, “and thank for that by the way.”)
We each had a dream.
And guess what, things turned out exactly like the interpretation of that dream.
Even better, you’ll never guess who it was who interpreted our dreams.
Now there was a young Hebrew man with us there, a servant of the captain of the guard. And we told him, and he interpreted our dreams for us; to each man he interpreted according to his own dream. And it came to pass, just as he interpreted for us, so it happened. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him.”
2
It was this young Hebrew guy.
He was the servant of the guard captain.
Can you imagine that?
Getting advice from a slave, thrown in prison and servant to the chief jailer.
He interpreted our dreams for us.
And it happened just as he said.
You put me back in my office, (thank you very much),
And you hanged the baker.
Now if someone you knew needed advice, and you “knew a guy”, wouldn’t you make introductions?
In fact, you’d probably say something like, “let me give you my guys number.”
But this is Pharaoh.
It kinda has to be his idea.
Or you may end up like the baker.
gen 41 14-
Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.”
OK Joseph, here’s your chance.
Finally, you’re getting a chance to talk to Pharaoh,
Sure, it took two years, but here’s your chance.
I’m sure Joseph needed more than a shave and clean set of clothes.
It’s been two years since the butler left,
We have no idea how long Joseph was in there before he showed up.
They clean Joseph up and bring him to Pharaoh.
Pharaoh tells Joseph what’s up.
I’ve had a dream, none of my guys can interpret.
But I’ve heard you’re the man when it comes to interpreting dreams, so that’s why you’re here.
gen 41
So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”
Umm, Mr. Pharaoh, sorry but I can’t interpret dreams.
God will give you an answer though.
Joseph is not exactly polishing his brand here.
Most of us would be touting our record of dream interpretations.
Joseph recognizes that he can do nothing to help Pharaoh.
He also trusts that God can, and will.
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Behold, in my dream I stood on the bank of the river. Suddenly seven cows came up out of the river, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such ugliness as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt. And the gaunt and ugly cows ate up the first seven, the fat cows. When they had eaten them up, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were just as ugly as at the beginning. So I awoke. Also I saw in my dream, and suddenly seven heads came up on one stalk, full and good. Then behold, seven heads, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them. And the thin heads devoured the seven good heads. So I told this to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”
Pharaoh goes through the dreams for Joseph.
14 cows, 14 heads of grain, the bad eating the good.
Then he says he’s already told his magicians, but nobody can figure this out.
OK, Joseph, GO.
gen 41 25-32
Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years; the dreams are one. And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land. So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
Now Joseph tells Pharaoh what God has shown him.
Seven cows and seven heads of grain equal seven years.
The good cows and grain are seven good years,
The bad cows and grain are seven bad years.
When the bad eats the good, that means the bad years will wipe out the good ones.
The famine will be so bad, you won’t even remember the good years.
And God showed it to you twice because it’s a done deal.
Pharaoh, there’s nothing you can do to stop it.
So hold onto your sphinx, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
You know Pharaoh, what you REALLY need, is someone to guide you through this time.
“Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine.”
gen 41 33-
That’s the plan.
That is why God gave you the dreams.
Store up from the good times so you can survive the bad.
And Pharaoh, sure you could do this yourself, but you really need a wise guy to make it work.
So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
Joseph, your my guy!
No one is as wise as you,
Notice he doesn’t mention God is all this.
I’m putting you over my house and all my people.
You will be second only to me.
Joseph, you are over all of Egypt.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Quite a turn of events.
In one day Joseph went from being a slave to interpreting dreams for Pharaoh.
And while Pharaoh didn’t acknowledge it, it’s all because Joseph trusted God.
Joseph trusted Him when he dreamed.
Joseph trusted Him when he refused Potiphar’s wife.
Joseph trusted God when he stood before Pharaoh to interpret dreams no one else could.
Compare that to what God asks us to trust Him in.
For most of us, it probably doesn’t take nearly as much trust as Joseph showed.
But then, God’s plans for most of us don’t involve running a whole a country heading for a massive famine.
Do we listen when God talks to us?
Can we trust God with what we have?
Will we follow God’s lead, even if it seems as impossible as interpreting dreams no one else can?