Free At Last

Genesis 41:1-38

Joseph had been in Egypt eleven years, part of the time as a slave and part of it as a prisoner when he revealed the butler or taster’s dream and asked him to use his influence to get him out. Caught up in regaining his old life, the butler forgot his request.

“And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river. And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.” (Genesis 41:1-4)

Two full years after interpreting the butler’s dream, Joseph was still in prison. Unless a miracle happened, he’d probably never be released. Undoubtedly, he began to doubt the dreams he’d had of his brothers bowing to him, and his pride and arrogance had been shaken.

Pharaoh had a dream, and like the baker and butler, was sure it was important. Unfortunately he didn’t know what it meant, but he remembered it vividly. It was nightmare seeing sickly skinny cows eating up healthy fat cows, and woke him up. After a fretting about it for a while, he went back to sleep.

“And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.” (Genesis 41:5-7)

If he thought skinny cows eating fat ones was troubling, seeing unhealthy and deformed ears of corn eating other ears was even worse. It was so vivid and real it woke him up again, with all the details firmly planted in his mind.

“And 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 the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.” (Genesis 41:8)

When morning finally came Pharaoh consulted with the magicians or shamans and educated men of Egypt about his dreams. While most modern psychics and fortunetellers would not hesitate to make something up, the Egyptian ones knew that they would be killed or imprisoned if their interpretation turned out to be false. They were afraid to guess.

“Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day: Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker: And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream. And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret. And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.” (Genesis 41:9-13)

As one of the ones entrusted with guarding Pharaoh, the butler was present and heard the magicians admit they didn’t know what the dream meant. Suddenly he remembered what had happened in prison and how accurately Joseph had interpreted his and the baker’s dreams. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to give Joseph a chance.

“Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.” (Genesis 41:14-15)

Desperate, Pharaoh called for Joseph and he was brought out. Before bringing him to Pharaoh, they gave him a chance to clean himself up and change into something other than his prison suit. It was probably the first chance to shave and new clothes he’d had since going to prison several years before. Pharaoh explained what he wanted and that he understood Joseph could interpret dreams.

“And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” (Genesis 41:16)

Joseph was very clear. He didn’t have the ability to interpret the dreams. It was God who would interpret the dream for Pharaoh. Joseph would just be the tool he used.

“And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river: And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow: Ge 41:19 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness: And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine: And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke.

And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good: And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them: And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.” (Genesis 41:17-24)

Pharaoh then described the details of his dreams to Joseph, recounting how upsetting they had been, and how troubled he was that no one could give him a valid explanation of what they meant.

“And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath showed Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.”

This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he showeth unto Pharaoh. 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. And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.” (Genesis 41:25-32)

As Joseph explained the Pharaoh, the two dreams had the same meaning, that in both cases the seven healthy objects represented seven years of abundance, that would be followed by a seven year famine that would devastate the land, consuming everything that had been saved up before. God had given the dream so pharaoh and his people could make preparation to survive. That Pharaoh got the same message twice was a clear indication that there was no way to avoid the famine. Joseph then gave some suggestions as to how to prepare for the famine.

“Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.” (Genesis 41:33-36)

There should be a surplus of grain during the seven good years. If they put twenty percent of it in storage each year, they would have at nearly enough to live for two years if they produced nothing. With their irrigations systems, they should be able to produce some food as well, and even half a normal would provide enough to survive by cutting back.

“And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” (Genesis 41:37-38)

The idea of stockpiling the food appealed to Pharaoh. Joseph had demonstrated a Godly spirit, far beyond any of the other counselors, and he couldn’t imagine any one better qualified to administer such a program.

“And Pharaoh said unto 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, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:39-43)

Thirteen years after being brought Egypt, Joseph was a finally a free man. In fact he went from being a convict to being the prime minister in a single day. He was charged with seeing that enough food was stockpiled to see them through the coming famine. He was given almost unlimited authority to accomplish his mission. What a major change.