Genesis 41:1
Two years had passed since the chief cupbearer has been restored to his position. Joseph spent that time in prison serving time for a crime he didn't commit. It must have felt like the cupbearer, the captain of the guard and God, all three, had forgotten Joseph. Until then, he was learning faithfulness, patience and perseverance.
Genesis 41:2-8
We've all had strange dreams at times. Sometimes we wake up and the dream is so real and so powerful we just can't shake it off and get our mind back in the real world. Pharaoh dreamed of the seven healthy cows coming up out of the river. The river Nile was a major part of life to these folks. Cows were associated with their gods. From that river came either prosperity or, in this case, famine. In the second part of the dream, the ugly and gaunt cows came up out of the river and ate the seven healthy ones. The pharaoh was awakened by the powerful dream.
The king fell back asleep and dreamed again. He saw seven heads of good grain on one stalk. Then seven thin heads devoured the full ones. Again, the Pharaoh woke up and realized it was just a dream.
Pharaoh couldn't shake the effects of the dream and he was troubled. He sent for his magicians and wise men who were experts in these types of things. The magicians is the same group who will oppose Moses in 430 years. The wise men were those who explained the meaning of the ritual books. These were the experts in these mysterious crafts, yet none of them were able to help interpret the dream.
Genesis 41:9-13
Suddenly the chief cupbearer has a moment, a flash, a memory. He recalled his experience in the prison and he remembered. How could he have forgotten all this time about Joseph. He couldn't believe it. Now, by God's plan and timing, the chief butler told Pharaoh that Joseph could interpret his dreams.
As he speaks to the Pharaoh it seems clear, this is a different Pharaoh from the one who restored the cupbearer.
Genesis 41:14-15
Joseph probably thought it was just another day in prison. I wonder if he was scratching lines on the wall to mark the days. He was well past seven hundred days when out of nowhere he was plucked out of prison. He was quickly brought out and made presentable with shave and new clothes. In no time at all he found himself standing before the Pharaoh.
It is amazing sometimes how fast life can change. We are plodding along through life doing our best to be faithful and walk with God. Sometimes we find ourselves praying for relief from some situation, illness or some thorn in our life. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, the situation changes. It hits like a whirlwind sometimes. When you finally have time to look back you see that it was in God's perfect timing. All those months or years of waiting were to grow you in faithfulness, patience and perseverance. God's timing is perfect; His ways are right and holy. We can all relate to Joseph is some way.
Genesis 41:16
If Joseph had any pride at all it surely would have surfaced here. How easy it would have been for him to puff out his chest and take the glory as the great dream interpreter. But Joseph gives all the glory to God. He said again that only God can interpret dreams. This was the same message delivered in the dungeon. God's word in the mouth of God's people is the same regardless of the audience or location.
Joseph declared that God (ha Elohim) would give Pharaoh an answer. In saying this, he declared the Lord to be greater than all the gods of Egypt. This would have even included Pharaoh, who considered himself god.
This seems to be a little bit different attitude than Joseph had when he flaunted his dreams before his brothers and parents. Maybe the years in prison had a humbling effect on Joseph. He was now ready to serve God and give Him all the glory.
Genesis 41:17-24
Pharaoh repeated his dream to Joseph. He added a little commentary on just how ugly the cows were. He also said they were just as ugly after they ate the fine-looking cows. You can hear Pharaoh's frustration in that no one could explain the dream.
Genesis 41:25
Joseph is merely a mouthpiece for God. He said God had shown the Pharaoh what He is about to do. It has nothing to do with Joseph.
Genesis 41:26-32
The seven good cows and seven good heads are the seven years of prosperity. Then they will be followed by seven years of famine. The famine will be so severe that the good years will be forgotten. The fatness of those 7 years won't have a noticeable effect on the 7 lean years
The second dream is confirmation of the first. The dream was from God to show Pharaoh what he was going to do. Deuteronomy 19:15 says "By the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established."
Genesis 41:33-36
Joseph brought a word from the Lord to Pharaoh. The bad news was that a famine was coming; the good news is they had time to prepare. Famines happened frequently and everyone knew what it was like to live through a famine. So, Joseph also brought to the king a plan or remedy to help through this time. The Pharaoh needed to select someone to administer this plan. They needed to lay up some food from the plentiful years so they could survive the lean years. Joseph gave the king a lesson in stewardship.
We see presidents come and go. And in the last twenty years there have been predictions of financial ruin from national debt. People have been warned about how they live and that we were mortgaging the futures of our children. Every campaign uses the children of this generation and of future generations as a campaign tool to play on people's emotions. But, no one has had the backbone to do anything about the problems. Most would say, 'it's not that easy.' Maybe it isn't, but it starts with courage and conviction. Even the Pharaoh recognized that they had to put aside some their blessings today for a time when they wouldn't have as much. These folks were looking 14 years down the road. Most Americans today live paycheck to paycheck and don't look 14 days down the road.
Genesis 41:37-40
The plan was the best plan that Pharaoh had heard (probably the only one). The plan made sense, Joseph sounded wise (because he was speaking God's word), Pharaoh made the decision the Lord knew all along he would make. The one who explained the dream and presented the plan seemed to be a step ahead of everyone. Joseph was the one who brought God's word, wisdom and ways as the Lord brought Joseph to this place and time in his life.
Joseph still had the dirt of the prison under his fingernails and now he was over all the land of Egypt and answered only to the Pharaoh. This is not a set of strange coincidences or fate; it is a move of God. Even in the dark times in prison, God was still working His purpose for Joseph's life. But don't forget, this isn't just about Joseph and His life. Remember, this is the story of Jacob. Joseph was a forerunner for the arrival of his family, the seeds of a nation. He just arrived 22 years earlier than the others.
We are left with the thought that Joseph, the former inmate in the Potiphar prison was more important to the future of Egypt than the Pharaoh. God is indeed calling the shots. After interpreting Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Daniel said:
"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.
21 He changes times and seasons;
he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
22 He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him. (Daniel 2:20-22)
Pilate thought he held power and control over the fate of Jesus.
You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. (John 19:11)
We don't have to look at the kings, rulers, presidents and authorities of this world and wring our hands in fear. God remains on the throne.
Genesis 41:41-45
Pharaoh recognized Joseph as the one most suited to lead his nation through these difficult times that lay ahead. The headlines that day would have read, "Pharaoh reaches into prison to find 2nd in command!!" This was beyond what Joseph knew of his dream. This was far beyond what anyone could have imagined as he sat in prison for years.
It must have a ceremony of sorts, a coronation of the vizier of the land. Joseph was given Pharaohs signet ring. This was a sign of authority and trust. When Joseph used the ring to put Pharaoh's mark on something, it was like signing the king's name for him. In addition, Joseph was dressed in fine linen. This was a specific, expensive, soft linen made from flax. It was only worn by Egyptian royalty. Joseph had gone from a coat of many colors, to prison clothes to the robe of a prince. To go with the robe was a gold chain that may have a gift of thanks, however there is some thought it identified him as the vizier. He was given the wheels that went with the job, a chariot. This would have been a 2-wheel, ornamental ride. As he made his way around, people shouted, 'make way'. Most other translations render this 'bow the knee'.
The first time someone bowed before him, he must have had a sense that he was moving towards the fulfillment of his dream. I wonder if Mrs. Potiphar was one of those bowing to him.
This is where it gets touchy. Joseph, now clothed as an Egyptian, was given an Egyptian name, a new identity. Scholars don't know for sure what the new name means. Some popular educated guesses include 'God Speaks and He Lives'; 'hiding discoverer' or 'the god has said he will live'. Jewish legend said that the letters all stood for something, making an acronym of titles or character traits; seer, redeemer, prophet, supporter, interpreter of dreams, clever, discreet and wise. In addition, he was also given an Egyptian wife; a political marriage. Asenath means 'she who belongs to Neith, who was an Egyptian goddess. Asenath was the daughter of Potipher, though probably not the same was Joseph's previous dealings. But what irony if it were! On was the center of worship for Ra, the sun god. Joseph looks like an Egyptian, acts like an Egyptian, speaks like one. How hard it must have been to remain faithful to the Lord and not get caught up glitz of royalty. The Lord had trained Joseph for this very thing. The Puritan Cotton Mather said:
"Religion begat prosperity and the daughter devoured the mother."
The has been proven to be true over and over again throughout history and would it not be so for you and I if we did not guard our hearts and minds. It seems Joseph kept his eyes on the Lord instead of himself; perhaps seeing in his mind's eye that ladder to heaven his father had seen, with angels ascending and descending as the Lord oversaw the affairs of man. Joseph was the same as he went from Potiphar's servant to the pit and from pit to prince.
Genesis 41:46-49
Joseph was thirty years old. After all the hoopla of rising to power, it was time to get to work. He had much to do to be ready for the difficult times to come in seven years. The dream was confirmed by the abundance of the first seven years, this must have served as a constant reminder of the lean years to come. Grain was stored near the cities it was grown. Those who grew it, stored it and protected it would also benefit from it. Without the administration by the right person, this grain would have been wasted and lost. There was too much to document so Joseph stopped trying. This great abundance of grain speaks the severity of the lean years. The great abundance is the fat cows that will be eaten by the thin and gaunt cows with no change to their appearance.
Genesis 41:50-52
Manasseh and Ephraim were born in Egypt. What a great joy this must have been for a man who once was stuck in prison and saw no evidence he would have a productive life. God allowed Joseph to forget the pain of his father's house by giving him a household of his own with children. He was relieved of the years of suffering in a pit. This led to the name Manasseh, meaning 'he who causes me to forget'. The Lord had brought him to a place where he was once again fruitful in this place where he had been afflicted. It was reversal only God could pull off. This led to the name Ephraim; meaning fruitful. The names of his children are memorials to the work of the Lord. Don't miss the fact that everything about Joseph appeared to be Egyptian, yet he gave his sons Hebrew names. Joseph was a Jew, he had not and would not forget that.
Genesis 41:53-57
The seven good years ended and the seven years of famine began. Egyptian records record famines to the extent. Crops in Egypt didn't rely on rain, but the cycles of flooding of the Nile. However, there was famine in all the other lands as well. This may have been a widespread drought. The response to famine in the other lands was to go to Egypt where food was nearly always available. That seems to be the case, food was plentiful at the beginning. Then the people began to feel the effects. Joseph opened the storehouses and began to sell the grain to them. Regardless, of the famine, Egypt had food because they were prepared.
Egypt became the supermarket for the world. We get a foreshadow of all the world being blessed by this representative of the covenant people, the children of God.
©2019 Doug Ford
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