Joseph Interprets Pharoah’s Dreams
May 5, 2024
Commentary
Pharaoh told how in his dream seven skinny cows ate seven healthy cows (vv. 17-21). In another dream seven thin heads of grain swallowed seven good heads of grain (vv. 22-24). His magicians could not tell him the meaning. After hearing the dreams Joseph immediately interprets them. Both dreams meant the same thing (v. 25). There would be seven years of plenty throughout the land, when everything would grow in abundance (v.26). Then after that there would be seven years of famine when nothing would grow (v. 27). As the seven thin cows ate up the fat ones, and the seven thin ears of corn ate up the good ones, so the seven years of famine would eat up the grain of the seven good years. God has shown you what He intends to do (v. 28). The seven years of famine would be so bad that the seven years of plenty would be forgotten (vv. 29-31). The reason Pharaoh dreamed the same thing twice was because God was going to bring it to pass very soon (v. 32). Joseph then advises Pharaoh to appoint a capable administrator over a nationwide farm program for all of Egypt (v. 33). Other people should be appointed to collect one-fifth of all crops during the good years to be used in the bad years (vv. 34-35). They should gather into the government storehouses the excess crops of the next seven years to be used when needed (v. 36).
Application
Joseph was sharing with Pharaoh a basic principle of practical living. I should not spend everything as God provides it but have some type of savings plan for tomorrow?
Genesis 41:17– 36 (NET)
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing by the edge of the Nile. 18 Then seven fat and fine-looking cows were coming up out of the Nile, and they grazed in the reeds. 19 Then seven other cows came up after them; they were scrawny, very bad looking, and lean. I had never seen such bad-looking cows as these in all the land of Egypt! 20 The lean, bad-looking cows ate up the seven fat cows. 21 When they had eaten them, no one would have known that they had done so, for they were just as bad-looking as before. Then I woke up. 22 I also saw in my dream seven heads of grain growing on one stalk, full and good. 23 Then seven heads of grain, withered and thin and burned with the east wind, were sprouting up after them. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads of grain. So I told all this to the diviner-priests, but no one could tell me its meaning.”
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Both dreams of Pharaoh have the same meaning. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows represent seven years, and the seven good heads of grain represent seven years. Both dreams have the same meaning. 27 The seven lean, bad-looking cows that came up after them represent seven years, as do the seven empty heads of grain burned with the east wind. They represent seven years of famine. 28 This is just what I told Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the whole land of Egypt. 30 But seven years of famine will occur after them, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will devastate the land. 31 The previous abundance of the land will not be remembered because of the famine that follows, for the famine will be very severe. 32 The dream was repeated to Pharaoh because the matter has been decreed by God, and God will make it happen soon.
33 “So now Pharaoh should look for a wise and discerning man and give him authority over all the land of Egypt. 34 Pharaoh should do this—he should appoint officials throughout the land to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should gather all the excess food during these good years that are coming. By Pharaoh’s authority they should store up grain so the cities will have food, and they should preserve it. 36 This food should be held in storage for the land in preparation for the seven years of famine that will occur throughout the land of Egypt. In this way the land will survive the famine.”
Illustration: Story of Missionary Ben Weir Kidnapped by Shiite Muslims
While serving as missionaries in Lebanon Ben and Carol Weir learned a great deal about prayer when Ben was suddenly kidnapped by Shiite Muslim extremists in 1984. He was held in solitary confinement, in cramped quarters for sixteen months. Carol wondered whether she would ever see him again. Carol wrote of her ordeal: The months dragged on. There had been so many meetings, so much discussion without any change. I became more aware of what seemed to me to be the silence of God. What was happening to Ben during these long months? When would this nightmare end? We ourselves had tried to stir the Reagan Administration to take new initiatives. We had made many private and personal appeals. I remembered the story in scripture of the widow who had knocked and knocked on the door of the unjust judge, the judge who cared nothing for God or man. Finally, because of her persistence, the judge responded. I felt like that widow, whose story had been told over and over for two thousand years. I was knocking on many doors in Washington. Would one door finally open for Ben’s release? Later I was to learn from Ben that he, too, had read that same Bible story during his captivity. He had interpreted it to mean that God does not object to our repeated petitions. Perhaps God does not speak, but remains silent to listen for something in us. Perhaps God listens for openness and receptivity on our part to the creation of a new, fresh spirit. (SOURCE: From “Hostage Bound, Hostage Free.” p.164).