The chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.” So, Pharaoh sent for Joseph. (Genesis 41:9–14, NIV).
My Musings – Pharaoh, the ruler of all of Egypt, had a troubling dream that needed an interpretation. But none of the magicians or wise men in his kingdom could give him one. “So, Pharaoh sent for Joseph.” What was Joseph doing in Egypt, so far from home? For that matter, what was he doing in prison in Egypt? That is a story for another time. Today, the story is about dreams.
Joseph had correctly interpreted the dreams of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. This is why Pharoah, perhaps the most powerful man in the world at that time, sent for Joseph. A foreigner he held in his own prison. But these were not Joseph’s first encounters with dreams.
“Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, ‘Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.’ His brothers said to him, ‘Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?’ And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. ‘Listen,’ he said, ‘I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.'” (Genesis 37:5–9, NIV 1984).
His brothers “ hated him all the more because of his dream[s].” And his father Israel, what was his reaction? “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.” (Genesis 37:10–11, NIV 1984). Something for you too to keep in mind, for that is another story for another time.
Pharaoh’s dream? “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. 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. The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 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. In my dreams I also saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none could explain it to me.” (Genesis 41:17–24, NIV 1984).
Could Joseph interpret these dreams? His freedom, perhaps even his life depended on him being able to provide an interpretation. “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.’ ‘I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.'” (Genesis 41:15–16, NIV 1984).
And here is the interpretation that God gave to Joseph. “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. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 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. It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 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.” (Genesis 41:25-28, 31–32, NIV 1984).
A warning to prepare for famine during the years of plenty and for someone to oversee it. “Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 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.’ So, Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.'” (Genesis 41:39–41, NIV 1984). What an amazing change of fortune for Joseph.
My Advice – “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways [like dreams], but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:1–3, NIV 1984).
A spiritual hunger and thirst afflict mankind. A famine of the soul caused by sin. God needed someone to put an end to this famine so, God put Jesus in charge of “[providing] purification for sins.” A “dream” come true. What an amazing change of fortune for all who believe. So, why not believe?
The Brew Is A Musing 