Here is a link to last week’s continuing Old Testament story of Joseph, A Bum Rap.
Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”
Genesis 40:8 (CSB)
Think of a season in your life that encapsulated thirteen years of time. That sounds like a long time, doesn’t it? For those of us who have lived a while, we know that it is as fleeting as a breath.
I wonder how Joseph felt. After all, he was seventeen when his brothers sold him into slavery but thirty years old by the time he was released from an Egyptian prison.
In today’s story, we find him still in prison but about to be released and meeting Pharoah.
Thirteen years behind him.
But not wasted.
God was at work.
Joseph found his story unfolding in Egypt, partly because of his own dreams. Remember? He bragged about those dreams from God, and they angered his brothers.
But it wasn’t his dreams that had led him to Pharoah’s court.
Let’s see how God’s mysterious ways enabled His young and willing servant to trust Him and impressed a mighty king.
Trust in the Lord forever, because in the Lord, the Lord himself, is an everlasting rock!
Isaiah 26:4 (CSB)
In Joseph’s story, you may recall, he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and wrongfully imprisoned. He is joined there by the king’s cupbearer and baker. The scripture states they had angered the king.
Let’s deconstruct the story but be sure to click the link to read it in context. Genesis 40:1-23 (CSB)
- The king of Egypt’s cupbearer and baker were in the prison.
- Both had a dream with its own meaning.
- In the morning, Joseph saw that they looked distraught.
- So he asked “Why do you look so sad today?”
- “We had dreams,” they said to him, “but there is no one to interpret them.”
- “Interpretations belong to God. Tell me your dreams.”
- The cupbearer told his dream to Joseph:
- In just three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position. You will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand the way you used to when you were his cupbearer.
- Remember that I was with you… by mentioning me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison.
- When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was positive, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream.
- Joseph replied. “In just three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from off you—and hang you on a tree..”
- On the third day Pharaoh restored the chief cupbearer to his position as cupbearer, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.
- But Pharaoh hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had explained to them.
- Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
But then came the dreams that would lead directly to Joseph’s freedom.
The dreamer – The King of Egypt.
God’s plan – To save many people, including Joseph’s family, and eventually – Israel.
At the end of two years Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile,
Genesis 41:1 (CSB)
The King of Egypt had two dreams. They were perplexing and disturbing about cows grazing on reeds along the Nile River. Some of the cattle were healthy and sleek and others were sickly and bony. Then he dreamed about stalks of grain that were plump and good and then others that were thin and scorched by the hot winds.
At first, the pagan king called on magicians and educated men to tell him what the dreams meant. But, of course, none of them could. It was then that the forgetful cupbearer remembered his promise to Joseph.
Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I remember my faults. Now a young Hebrew, a slave of the captain of the guards, was with us there.
We told him our dreams, he interpreted our dreams for us, …Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and they quickly brought him from the dungeon.
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said about you that you can hear a dream and interpret it.”
“I am not able to,” Joseph answered Pharaoh. “It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”
Genesis 41:9-16 (CSB)
If you were the pagan King of Egypt, would you accept that answer?
Probably not. But as we have already seen, “The wise of the world understand not God’s secrets, but to His servants His will is revealed.” Geneva Bible Ca. 1599
And so, Joseph tells Pharaoh what God is about to do. Remarkably, the king listens to the wise advice that Joseph gives.
“Let Pharaoh do this: …appoint overseers over the land and take a fifth of the harvest of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. … gather all the excess food during these good years …. store the grain, …preserve it as food as a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine…Then the country will not be wiped out.”
Genesis 41:34-36 (CSB)
Wiped out? Do you believe after all of the suffering that Joseph has endured that it was simply to keep Egypt from being destroyed by a famine?
Not simply for the sake of Egypt alone. Actually, God’s full purpose is still not fully revealed by the end of chapter forty-one. But did you read about the blessings that God provided?
You should always verify that these thrilling tales are really in the Bible. I only gave you part of the story.
Here is one final word from the appreciative king. He had the wisdom to honor Joseph’s God.
and he said to them, “Can we find anyone like this, a man who has God’s spirit in him?” So, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you are. Genesis 41:38 & 39
Why not explore the rest of this chapter with your children? Joseph’s story is a great story for kids. It is a meaningful way to demonstrate the goodness of our God.
Then come back next week. Joseph’s brothers will face their brother in an act of desperation.
Genesis 41 CSB
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
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