5d Joseph and Pharaoh [Genesis 41]
The Bible passage: [Genesis 41]
The Story:
Two full years later, Pharaoh had a dream. He was standing by the Nile, when seven sleek, fat cows came up out of the river and grazed among the reeds. After them, seven ugly, bony cows came up out of the river and ate the sleek fat cows.
Then Pharaoh woke up.
He fell asleep and had a second dream. He saw seven heads of grain, good and healthy, growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted. These were thin and scorched by the wind. The thin heads swallowed up the healthy heads.
Again Pharaoh woke up.
That morning, he sent for all of the wise men of Egypt, but none could explain his dream.
Suddenly, the cupbearer remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh about what had happened when he was in prison.
Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was brought from the dungeon. He shaved and changed his clothes and was taken to Pharaoh.
Pharaoh said, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. I have heard that you can interpret dreams.
Joseph told Pharaoh, “I cannot do it, but God can give you the answers.”
Pharaoh told Joseph his two dreams.
Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Your two dreams are the same. God has shown you what He is about to do. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout Egypt. Seven years of famine will follow them. The abundance will be forgotten, because the famine that follows will be so severe. God gave you the dream in two forms to show that this has been firmly decided by God and it will happen soon. Pharaoh should find a discerning and wise man to put in charge of the land of Egypt. He should appoint commissioners over the land during the years of abundance to store the extra food for the bad years that will come.”
The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and his officials.
Pharaoh said, “We won’t find another man like this one, who is wise and discerning and has the spirit of God.”
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God gave you this knowledge and wisdom, I will put you in charge of my palace, and all my people will follow your orders.”
Pharaoh put his signet ring on Joseph’s finger and dressed him in the finest clothes. Joseph was paraded throughout the city in a chariot and honored before all the people. Pharaoh also gave Joseph a wife.
Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of the king. During the seven years of abundance, Joseph collected all of the excess food produced in the land and stored it in the cities.
During the seven years of abundance, Joseph and his wife had two sons.
The years of abundance came to an end and the years of famine began, just as Joseph had said.
The stored grain was sold to the people to keep them alive during the famine.
All the world came to Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe everywhere.
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