Pharaoh's Dream and Joseph's Reward

Good morning from the Panhandle. Revival - restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, etc., an awakening, in a church or community, of interest in and care for matters relating to personal religion; an evangelistic service or a series of services for the purpose of effecting a religious awakening: to hold a revival. We had our first revival services of our Spring Revival yesterday. It was great. I am looking forward to the rest of the services. We will be holding services through Thursday.

Joseph is about to experience a revival of sorts. Remember he has languished in prison two more years after telling the head baker and cup-bearer the meaning of their dreams. The baker couldn't do anything to help Joseph, but the cup-bearer said he would remember Joseph to those who mattered. But I guess he got to busy and he forgot about Joseph until the Pharaoh said something about a troubling dream. The Pharaoh listened to the cup-bearer and sent for Joseph and that is where we take up our study today.

Genesis 41:14

14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.

1. Pharaoh Calls for Joseph

Pharaoh immediately sent for Joseph. As quickly as possible he was brought out from the prison he was cleaned up. It was only after shaving the hair of his head and beard, and they probably gave Joseph a quick bath. Then changing his clothes, as the customs of Egypt required that he went in to the king.

NOTE: "He shaved." The Egyptians were accustomed to shave the head and beard, except in times of mourning (Herod. 2:32). (from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)

Genesis 41:15-16

15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."

16 "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."

2. The Pharaoh Meets Joseph

I think the Pharaoh must have been confused when he first met Joseph. After all here is the young man who is suppose to be able to interpret his dream, but Joseph said he can't do it. The Paraoh had to be saying to himself, “Then why are you here wasting my time?”

But then Joseph explains himself. “Not me, but God will interpret Pharaoh's dream" This was a bold move by Joseph, remember in the eyes of the Egyptians Pharaoh was a god and had direct communication with the other gods. Now Joseph whether he meant to or not was saying and correctly so that God was greater than the Pharaoh and all the Egyptian gods.

Genesis 41:17-32

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. 19 After them, seven other cows came up--scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. 20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 21 But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.

22 "In my dreams I also saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23 After them, seven other heads sprouted--withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none could explain it to me." 25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.

28 "It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.

3. The Dream

Satisfied with Joseph's answer Pharaoh tells Joseph his strange and troubling dream. Seven heads of good grain swallowed by seven withered heads of grain. Seven fat cows swallowed by seven scrawny cows. This was the basic gist of Pharaoh's dream, the dream that stumped all his wise men and magicians.

Joseph gave the interpretation (vs. 25-32): "The dream of Pharaoh is one” (the two dreams had the same meaning); God had showed Pharaoh what He is about to do." The seven cows and seven ears of corn were seven years, the fat ones very fertile years of superabundance, the lean ones very barren years of famine; the latter would follow the former over the whole land of Egypt, so that the years of famine would leave no trace of the seven fruitful years.

The dream was doubled to show Pharaoh the urgency of the dream. "that the thing is firmly resolved by God, and God will quickly carry it out." Joseph was confidence of this interpretation which looked forward over fourteen years, God had divinely enlightened him with a glance into a future, a future that was clearly going to come to pass. This did not fail to make an impression on the king, when contrasted with the perplexity of the Egyptian magicians and wise men.

NOTE: The dreams were purely Egyptian-founded on the productions of that country, and the experience of a native. The fertility of Egypt being wholly dependent on the Nile, the scene is laid on the banks of that river; and oxen being in the ancient hieroglyphics symbolical of the earth and of food, animals of that species were introduced in the first dream.

(from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)

Genesis 41:33-36

33 "And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine."

4. Joseph Gave the Pharaoh Some Advice

After interpreting the dream Joseph followed up with some advice (vv. 33-36). He suggested that Pharaoh should "look out a man discreet and wise, and set over the land of Egypt;" and have him in the seven years of superabundance he should require a fifth of the nation's produce. That is the fifth part of the harvest, through overseers, and have the corn, or the stores of food, laid up in the cities "under the authority of Pharaoh” by royal authority and direction, as food for the land for the seven years of famine, so that it would not perish during the famine. (from Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament: New Updated Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.)

Genesis 41:37-43

37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?"

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you."

41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, "Make way!" Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

5. The Rest Of The Story

Fortunately, Pharaoh was a wise man, and he recognized that Joseph was a man in whom the spirit of God resided (v. 38). He made him the food administrator of Egypt, and appointed him the grand vizier or prime minister. He set him in command over the entire kingdom, next to himself. He had his own signet ring placed on Joseph's hand, as a badge of authority, empowering him to issue official edicts. He had him clothed in special garments reserved for Egypt's mightiest men, and a special distinguished-service chain placed about his neck.

NOTE: In this ring was probably set the king's signet, by which the royal instruments were sealed, and thus Joseph was constituted what we would call Lord Chancellor, or Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. (from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Biblesoft)

Genesis 41:44-49

44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt." 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.

46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh's presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

6. Pharaoh Made It Offical

Joseph was to ride in a chariot and be regarded as second only to the king. A special official would call out to the people, ("'Abrek)!" This probably meant, "Pay attention!" or Bow the knee. (AV), or something similar. It was to be made clear to all the people that an outstanding man of ability, character, and authority was before them. He was to be in complete control of affairs that meant life or death to multitudes. Privilege and responsibility vied with each other in that moment of recognition and investment. (from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press)

The Pharaoh who promoted Joseph was one of those rare specimens of an absolute prince who had the discernment to discover merit, as well as the wisdom to patronize it; and had all who are invested with despotic power displayed the same amiable and patriotic spirit, there would have been fewer objections to admit the principle of the `right divine.' But the special providence of God had determined to make Joseph governor of Egypt; and the way was paved for it by the deep and universal conviction produced in the minds both of the king and his counselors, that a divine spirit animated his mind, and had given him such extraordinary knowledge. (from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)

Heliopolis was the Oxford of ancient Egypt;' or rather, perhaps, the college, gathered round the temple of the Sun, as Christ Church round the old cathedral or shrine of Frideswide' (Stanley, `Jewish Church,' p. 87). It stood on the eastern bank of the Nile, a little north of Memphis, and is identified with the modern town Keliub, the same as Heliopolis. `The province in which it stands is also named Keliubie (Kelyubiyah), and answers to the ancient nomos (prefecture) of Heliopolis; bounded by the Nile and its Pelusiac branch on the west and north' (Rennell's `Geography of Herodotus,' p. 495). (from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)

Genesis 41:50-57

50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." 52 The second son he named Ephraim and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering."

53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph and do what he tells you."

56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. 57 And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world.

7. Life for Joseph was Good

When the years of scarcity commenced, at the close of the years of plenty, the famine spread over all (the neighbouring) lands; only in Egypt was there bread. As the famine increased in the land, and the people cried to Pharaoh for bread, he directed them to Joseph, who "opened all in which was" (bread), i.e., all the granaries, and sold corn denom. from sheber signifies to trade in corn, to buy and sell corn) to the Egyptians, and (as the writer adds, with a view to what follows) to all the world that came to Egypt to buy corn, because the famine was great on every where.

Years of famine have frequently fallen, like this one, upon Egypt, and the neighboring countries to the north. The cause of this is to be seen in the fact, that the overflowing of the Nile, to which Egypt is indebted for its fertility, is produced by torrents of rain falling in the alpine regions of Abyssinia, which proceed from clouds formed in the Mediterranean and carried thither by the wind; consequently it has a common origin with the rains of Palestine (see the proofs in Hengst. pp. 37 ff.). (from Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament: New Updated Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.)

During the fruitful years two sons were born to Joseph. The first-born he named Manasseh, i.e., causing to forget; "for, he said, God hath made me forget all my toil and all my father's house.

The second son he named Ephraim, i.e., double-fruitfulness; "for God hath made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." Even after his elevation Egypt still continued the land of affliction, so that in this word we may see one trace of a longing for the promised land. (from Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament: New Updated Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.)