Pharaoh’s Dream
“Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the spirit of God is?” (Genesis 41:38)
“And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.” (Genesis 41:1) The chief butler has forgotten Joseph. God has not. One night, Pharaoh dreamed about seven healthy cows feeding in a meadow. Seven sickly cows came and ate them. He also dreamed about seven healthy ears of corn on one stalk. Ordinarily, each stalk of corn only grows one ear, maybe two, but not seven. Then seven sickly ears of corn grew and ate the seven healthy ears.
Pharaoh was deeply troubled. He called for all the magicians and wise men, spiritual advisers in Egypt, but they could not help him. Then the chief butler spoke up. He said, “I do remember my faults this day:” (Genesis 41:9) He told how he and the chief baker had been imprisoned. Each had dreamed a dream. A young Hebrew told them the dreams meant the chief butler would get his job back but the chief baker would be hanged. Both interpretations came true.
Pharaoh was excited. Finally, someone could help him with this dream! He called for Joseph and told him, “…I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.” (Genesis 41:15) Joseph replied, “It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” (Genesis 41:16) Joseph made it clear that God deserved the glory. He was the source of wisdom, not Joseph.
Pharaoh told Joseph the two-part dream about the cows and the corn. Joseph told Pharaoh, “What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.” (Genesis 41:28) Again, Joseph made it clear that this was God dealing with Pharaoh. He explained that Egypt would enjoy seven years of plenty, followed by seven years of famine. The famine would be so bad that the years of plenty would be forgotten. Joseph also gave Pharaoh detailed instructions on how to prepare, so Egypt would survive.
Joseph not only gave Pharaoh the interpretation of the dream, he also gave him something he may have never heard before: a lesson about the true God. Pharaoh would have never known a seven-year famine was coming, but he listened and took Joseph seriously. Then he said, “Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the spirit of God is?” (Genesis 41:38) Egypt was a land of false gods, but Pharaoh didn’t say “the gods” gave Joseph wisdom. He recognized the ONE TRUE GOD, and He listened and obeyed.
Pharaoh made Joseph the governor of Egypt and put him in charge of storing food for the famine. The seven years of plenty came, then the famine. If Pharaoh had ignored Joseph’s advice, Egypt and other nations would have perished. Yet because Pharaoh believed in God and obeyed God’s Word, Egypt became the breadbasket of survival for herself and the surrounding nations.
Everyone needs to hear the truth from God’s Word. It is not always what we want to hear, but we need to hear it for our own good. God always has our best interests at heart. If you are a leader, you especially need God’s Word to guide you in your decisions. Egypt’s survival depended on how Pharaoh responded to God’s Word. Likewise, your nation’s survival depends on how you respond to God’s Word.
Joseph shared bad news with Pharaoh that the famine was coming. Then he shared the good news that Egypt could be saved. The Bible also tells us the bad news that our sins have separated us from God and condemned us to death and hell. It also tells good news: that Jesus, God the Son, died for us, was buried, and rose again; and by receiving Him as Saviour, we can be saved. If you want to see from the Bible how to receive Jesus as your personal Saviour, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org
Brian Miller 12/9/2022
Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822