READ: Gen. 41:1-36
Moreover He called for a famine in the land; He destroyed all the provision of bread. He sent a man before them—Joseph—who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, He was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him. The king sent and released him, The ruler of the people let him go free. – Ps. 105:16-20
Two full years later, Pharaoh also has two dreams. He saw cows coming up out of the Nile: first, seven healthy and fat cows, followed by seven ugly and thin cows. The latter seven devoured the first seven.
In the second dream, he saw seven plump, full ears of grain growing on one stalk, followed by seven thin, scorched ears. The thin ears swallowed the plump ones. Pharaoh was alarmed by these visions and sought their meaning. However, none of his wise men could interpret the dreams.
Then the chief butler remembered Joseph, who had accurately interpreted his dream while in prison. Joseph was summoned, groomed, and dressed in proper attire before meeting Pharaoh. It was now God’s time to set Joseph free from prison (Ps. 105:19).
Joseph first emphasized to Pharaoh that only God could interpret the dreams. This was the same message Joseph had conveyed to the butler and baker previously. Joseph made it clear that God, and God alone, could provide Pharaoh with an answer for his well-being.
After Pharaoh recounted his dreams in detail, Joseph provided the interpretation: the two dreams were one and the same, shown twice to confirm that the matter was firmly established by God and would soon take place (v.32).
God was revealing to Pharaoh what He intended to do (v.28). There would be seven years of abundant harvest, followed by seven years of severe famine that would erase the memory of the abundance.
Joseph then offered wise counsel: appoint a discerning and wise man to oversee preparations during the years of abundance to save the nation from perishing in the years of famine.
What does this story teach about perseverance in faith?
Sing: Ps. 105:7