Genesis 41:1–36 (ESV)
After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. 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. And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 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.
Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. 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, we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. 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. And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”
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. 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.” Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. 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. And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows, 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. I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good. Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, 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.”
Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. 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. It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, 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, and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.
Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”
Now two years have passed since Joseph interpreted the cupbearer’s dream. Two long years of silence. And then, suddenly, Pharaoh has a dream that no one can explain. The cupbearer finally remembers Joseph and the scene is finally set for Joseph to play his part in God’s plan of salvation. It seems that these two years of being in prison have finally shaved off the rough edges of Joseph’s character. The dreamer who boasted to his brothers that they would all bow down to him, now spurns attention and gives glory to God instead.
Now notice Joseph’s response when Pharaoh gives him credit: “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” Joseph doesn’t claim power for himself. Even though this is his big moment, he points straight to God. How often it is true that God uses our terrible circumstances to make us into the people he wants us to become.
But this story is not primarily about Joseph and how he changed. Instead, God uses Joseph to give Pharaoh a warning that would ultimately save both Egypt and Israel: seven years of plenty will be followed by seven years of famine. Joseph provides good advice too he tells Pharoah to store up grain now, so the people will survive later. Remember the Covenant blessing God gave to Abraham? I will make you into a great nation, I will give you a land, and I will bless all the nations through you. It seems that this promise is finally finding its fulfilment. Egypt and the nations around her will be blessed because of Abraham’s offspring.
But this story also reminds us of Jesus and points us to him, just like Joseph pointed and gave glory to God. Just as Joseph is lifted up from prison to give life-saving wisdom, Jesus was lifted up from death itself to bring salvation to the world. Joseph points Pharaoh to God, but Jesus Himself is the very wisdom of God for us. He is the one who provides not just bread for a famine, but the bread of life for our souls.
Prayer
Father, thank You for showing Your sovereignty over history and Your wisdom through Joseph. Thank You most of all for Jesus, who gives us the bread of life. Teach us to wait on You, to honor You when opportunities come, and to rest in the salvation You provide in Christ. In His name, Amen.