“The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.” (Proverbs 23:24 ESV)
Dreams
•Dream interpretation was big business in ancient Egypt- every Pharaoh had multiple court magicians and seers who claimed to have “special” occult insight into dreams and their meanings.
•It is only from the Bible that we get a true grasp on dreams and their proper interpretation, but the question is “how do we interpret dreams?”
•Joseph gives us the answer to how he does it when he says, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” (Genesis 40:8 ESV)
•It is only from the Bible that we get a true grasp on dreams and their proper interpretation, but the question is “how do we interpret dreams?”
•Joseph gives us the answer to how he does it when he says, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” (Genesis 40:8 ESV)
Genesis 41:1-24
•Two years have passed since Joseph interpreted the dreams of the Cupbearer and the Baker. Remember that Joseph has been in Egypt for longer than that though- he spent time in Potiphar’s house and we aren’t told how long he spent there before the “desperate housewife” accused him of molesting her.
•Then Joseph went to prison and we don’t know how long he was incarcerated before the Cupbearer and Baker were locked up. The Bible tells us that Joseph was in charge of them for several months before they had their dreams and Joseph interpreted them.
•Now Pharaoh has a pair of dreams that each involve seven items that are plump and good looking being eaten by seven items that are thin and ugly looking.
•Then Joseph went to prison and we don’t know how long he was incarcerated before the Cupbearer and Baker were locked up. The Bible tells us that Joseph was in charge of them for several months before they had their dreams and Joseph interpreted them.
•Now Pharaoh has a pair of dreams that each involve seven items that are plump and good looking being eaten by seven items that are thin and ugly looking.
Pharaoh Seeks Joseph
•The first dream involves seven fat and healthy cows being eaten by seven thin and ugly cows and the second dream involves seven plump ears of grain being eaten by seven thin ears of grain.
•Pharaoh calls all of the wise men and magicians into his presence and tells them his dreams but there isn’t anyone who can interpret the dream to him. This is when the Cupbearer remembers his experience in prison and that Hebrew guy, Joseph and he tells the Pharaoh about Joseph.
•When Pharaoh summons Joseph to come in and listen to his dreams Joseph takes enough time to clean up. Notice that Joseph changed his clothes and shaved before he met with Pharaoh- it was important to Joseph to make a good first impression because he was going in to represent God Almighty to Pharaoh.
•Pharaoh calls all of the wise men and magicians into his presence and tells them his dreams but there isn’t anyone who can interpret the dream to him. This is when the Cupbearer remembers his experience in prison and that Hebrew guy, Joseph and he tells the Pharaoh about Joseph.
•When Pharaoh summons Joseph to come in and listen to his dreams Joseph takes enough time to clean up. Notice that Joseph changed his clothes and shaved before he met with Pharaoh- it was important to Joseph to make a good first impression because he was going in to represent God Almighty to Pharaoh.
Genesis 41:25-36
•Seven is an important number in Biblical history: seven days in a week come from the six days of creation and one day of rest. When Pharaoh dreamt that there would be seven years of plenty try to imagine seven full years of great fortune- good wages, plenty of food, you even have enough to buy extra things that you normally wouldn’t buy.
•But then imagine that things abruptly change. Seven years into the plentiful times there’s a massive famine (or a great recession maybe) and things get hard. No more double portions at dinner, you can’t afford to eat and buy clothes too- and why don’t you just forget about that vacation.
•God Almighty was setting the stage to help save his chosen people by taking the most powerful ruler in that geographical region and letting him know that times would get tough. Pharaoh was in the position of having enough wealth and power over a big enough country to be able to save enough through the good times so that his people would be fine during the tough times. It would be through this planning that the Lord God would save his people.
•But then imagine that things abruptly change. Seven years into the plentiful times there’s a massive famine (or a great recession maybe) and things get hard. No more double portions at dinner, you can’t afford to eat and buy clothes too- and why don’t you just forget about that vacation.
•God Almighty was setting the stage to help save his chosen people by taking the most powerful ruler in that geographical region and letting him know that times would get tough. Pharaoh was in the position of having enough wealth and power over a big enough country to be able to save enough through the good times so that his people would be fine during the tough times. It would be through this planning that the Lord God would save his people.
The Interpretation
•Joseph tells Pharaoh that because the dreams are repeated that the event is an absolute surefire guarantee. Pharaoh you’d better find someone to manage Egypt’s storehouses during this time or else we will all be doomed.
•The system that Joseph describes is exactly what was needed in Egypt in that time to help them save not only the Egyptian nation during the famine but the entire nation of the chosen people.
•In verse 34 Joseph tells Pharaoh that one-fifth of the produce during the plenty years would be stored in granaries and saved for the famine.
•The system that Joseph describes is exactly what was needed in Egypt in that time to help them save not only the Egyptian nation during the famine but the entire nation of the chosen people.
•In verse 34 Joseph tells Pharaoh that one-fifth of the produce during the plenty years would be stored in granaries and saved for the famine.
Genesis 41:37-57
•That brings us to our target verse:
•I rzekł Farao do sług swoich: Izaż znajdziemy podobnego mężowi temu, w którym by był Duch Boży? (Rodzaju 41:38)
•And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” (Genesis 41:38 ESV)
•After being thrown into the pit by his brothers at 17 years old, Joseph assumes the Executive Officer’s position at 30 years old.
•The final verse of this passage is important: “Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.”
•I rzekł Farao do sług swoich: Izaż znajdziemy podobnego mężowi temu, w którym by był Duch Boży? (Rodzaju 41:38)
•And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” (Genesis 41:38 ESV)
•After being thrown into the pit by his brothers at 17 years old, Joseph assumes the Executive Officer’s position at 30 years old.
•The final verse of this passage is important: “Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.”