Thursday: The Dreams of Pharaoh
Read Genesis 40:1-41:36. How are the dreams of Pharaoh related to the dreams of the officers? What is the significance of this parallel?
The providential character of the events continues. Over time, Joseph is put in charge of the prisoners, two of whom happen to be former officers of Pharaoh, a butler and a baker (Genesis 41:9-11).
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They are both troubled by dreams that they cannot understand, because “there is no interpreter” (Genesis 40:8). Joseph, then, interprets their respective dreams.
In parallel to the two officers’ dreams, Pharaoh also has two dreams, which no one can interpret (Genesis 41:1-8). At that moment the butler providentially remembers Joseph and recommends him to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:9-13).
In parallel to the other dreams, Pharaoh, like the officers, is troubled, and like them reveals his dreams (Genesis 41:14-24), and Joseph interprets them. Like the officers’ dreams, Pharaoh’s dreams display parallels of symbols: the two series of seven cows (fat and gaunt) just as the two series of heads of grain (plump and thin) represent two series years, one good and one bad. The seven cows parallel the seven heads of grain, repeating the same message, an evidence of their divine origin, just like Joseph’s dreams (Genesis 41:32; compare with Genesis 37:9).
Though Joseph is the one who interpreted the dream for Pharaoh, Joseph makes certain that Pharaoh knows that it was God, Elohim, who showed the king the things that He, God, was going to do (Genesis 41:25, Genesis 41:28). It seems, too, that Pharaoh got the message because, when he decided to appoint someone to be over the land, his argument was as follows:
“Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word” (Genesis 41:39-40, , NKJV).
How fascinating: thanks to God, Joseph goes from ruler over Potiphar’s house to ruler over the prison to ruler over all of Egypt. What a powerful story about how, even amid what looks like terrible circumstances, God’s providences are revealed.
| How can we learn to trust God and cling to His promises when events don’t appear providential at all, and indeed, God seems silent? |
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Australia is no stranger to drought/flood weather cycles. About 3 years ago we were in a dire drought situation. Our city water supplies were critically low; we had bushfires that were so bad that they seriously depleted our Koala habitat; farmers had had to sell off their stock to the bare minimum. This year we have been ravished by floods that have done their best to wipe out towns and even cities. Both of these extreme weather events have caused a lot of human suffering and death as well.
We know about weather cycles. We have our own prophets, massive multiprocessor computers predicting the Southern Oscillation Index and the Indian Ocean Dipole. Interestingly enough, while we are getting better at predicting these events we have no control over them. And further, we do not seem to have learned to prepare for them any better.
Egypt does not have a lot of rain. The flow of the Nile river is determined by weather events in distant places like Ethiopia and central Africa. They depended on their annual floods to bring fertile silt for their crops to grow. Quite simply, if the floods failed, there was no food. And there was no logistical supply chain to truck in food from elsewhere.
Pharoh's dream was interpreted by Joseph to mean that the annual cycle of floods was going to be broken - no fertilizer laden floods for 7 years. The upside was that they had 7 years to prepare for it. This required strategic planning and Joseph was up to it. The really interesting thing is that looking back over Joseph's career path up to this point, you can see he had the sort of preparation that made him the man for the task. God has a long-term plan in mind and it is not all success at every turn. Sometimes the hard bits are the learning bits.
I’m watching Joseph keenly in this chapter. Knowing how Joseph’s story ends, what is brought sharply to my attention here is a lesson on what forgiveness is. We know that Joseph later forgives his brothers. I have often heard people talk about the need to “forgive and forget”. It seems to me that Joseph did not forgive because he had forgotten. Forgiveness, like love, is not a feeling. It is a choice; it is a commitment.
Verse 14 says, “But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. 15 For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon.”
Remember me: the footnotes given for this text are the same phrase as Abigail pleading with David for her life and the life of her household when he threatens to destroy them because of her husband’s disrespect. The second is used by the man hanging on the cross pleading with Jesus to be remembered in His kingdom.
Please show kindness to me: These are weighty words, used to plead for the consideration of something of great importance – Jacob uses this phrase on his deathbed to plead that his body be buried with his fathers, Rahab uses it to beg the Israelite spies to spare her family when they conquer Jericho, Jonathan uses it to beg David to show kindness to his family when God gives him the throne.
I was stolen away: Joseph remembers vividly the treachery of his brothers.
Also, I have done nothing here: He feels the injustice of his imprisonment in Egypt.
The years waiting for justice drag by for Joseph. While Jacob worked for Rachel for seven years and they felt like a day to him, Joseph waits for “two full years” before the chief butler remembered him. The descriptive adjective makes me feel that each year was long and full of the anguish at the injustice of Joseph’s situation.
And yet Joseph stayed faithful to God. He remained interested in the welfare of others (including prisoners). We think it is because he had forgotten, that the pain had gone away. This would make forgiveness easy. We can wait for the pain to ease so we can forgive. Maybe for some people God erases the pain completely. But what if the memories don’t go? What if the pain still sneaks up on us many years down the road?
I don’t think it was easy for Joseph. He struggled with the ache of what had happened to him. Many years later Joseph weeps privately when his brothers first come to Egypt. He weeps again privately when they bring Benjamin to him, and he weeps publicly before his brothers when he finally reveals his identity. He had not forgotten. The pain had not been erased. But he chose, maybe daily, maybe minute by minute, that he would not allow it to destroy his faith in God. He chose not to let bitterness take root in his heart. He chose to let go of the need for revenge or even for justice and chose instead to give grace and mercy.
Lord, teach us the true meaning of forgiveness, and give us the ability to forgive.
At times I struggled with the forgiveness issue because of my work with those who are abused. But I have come to the conclusion that although forgiveness is a requirement (Matt 6:12), we are not to forget.
We shouldn’t dwell on the wrongs done to us or there can be no healing - just as a sore can’t heal if you keep picking at the scab.
But do not forget - to make sure it doesn’t happen again to others.
God gives forgiveness for those who want it. Jesus was so gentle with the women at the well but not so with some of the Pharassies, since Jesus could read hearts and minds aka motivations and acted appropriately.
E.G. An unrepentant pedophile should be reported to the authorities to get help, NOT a pat on the back, and we might say, "God loves and forgives you" ... No, we say, "you need professional help to stop this addiction and God will help you to change your ways" and will forgive you !
May God continue to give you insight to judge correctly, in your important work for change !
Shalom in Christ
🙏
A person will never be truly free until they truly forgive. Rather, they will remain tied to the other in resentment, bitterness, revenge, or similar - all of which are highly 'toxic'.
But forgiveness does not mean forgetting. Forgiveness involves using the remembering differently - remembering in a 'non-toxic' way.
Consequently, forgiveness is not a requirement - it as an inherent necessity.
Thank you for this Jocelyn. It has helped me.
I had never thought that deeply about the request - Remember me! "and the Lord Remembered Sarah, Rachel, Hannah, Joseph, Noah, and on and on... Did our everpresent, all-seeing, and all-knowing God forget? This last sentence is inconceivable and complete nonsense - much more to consider answering. He watches the sparrow and He watches me.
I pray I dont lose sight of what is important, that I remember to honor God and show kindness to people who need God to remember them.
Sam, the Hebrew concept of "remember" involves action, not merely thought. So to say "God remembered" means that God acted on that person's behalf. It's also what "remember the Sabbath" means; not just thinking about Sabbath, but acting in accordance with God's standards for Sabbath.
It‘s amazing to know that although Joseph had no background in economics and finance, yet he submitted a perfect plan to save the nation from the coming years of famine, after having interpreted Pharaos‘ dreams.
This plan shows how well Joseph had learned from God‘s training program during his imprisonment and service at Potiphar‘s house. He never lost sight of God‘s perspective of faith.
God‘s sovereignty will also work individually in our lives too because His plans are for our ultimate good.
Even Pharaoh confirms that in Genesis 41:38
Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?
How can we learn to trust God and cling to His promises when events don’t appear providential at all, and indeed, God seems silent?
I have learned to trust/have faith in God to fulfill His promises by personal experience and by the many events in the Word of the LORD plus hearing testimonies from people living today.
My daily MAP for my life is - Meditation and Prayer.
I daily spend time meditating on portions of scripture and then communicating with the LORD as with a friend.
What was Joseph's prayer? Was it to be set free? What did he say to the cupbearer - Gen 40:14-15 MKJV But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house. (15) For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.
Joseph was 17 when he was sold and only 13 years later at the age of 30 was he set free.
Thank you so much Shirley. Your words are just what I needed this morning.
The story seems short, but if we pay attention to details, Joseph spend some long time of hardships. He was sold as a slave, got a good job, but was unjustly placed in jail and stayed there for more than 2 years (and we complaint of troubles in life!).
At the same time that God has plans for His people He is concerned with every individual creature!
For sure, Joseph had something to learn with his troubles. But he never appeared to complain (at least the Bible does not say anything about it). And God prepared him to be the governor of an empire, with a future purpose.
How can you and I relate to this whole story?
2 dreams, parallel prophecies about historic events. Foretelling that easier times will turn into difficult times, economically and in many ways. 2 dreams which affect multiple nations and peoples from everywhere. 2 dreams which are a call to action.
Sound familiar? Yes, to me too. Daniel 7 and Revelation 13-14. Two dreams/ visions (this time given several hundred years apart) , parallel symbolism and messages. Two prophecies given so we can prepare.
“The 3 angels of Revelation 14 represent the people who accept the light of God's messages and go forth as His agents to sound the warning throughout the length and breadth of the earth."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, pp. 455-456.
With the gift of dream interpretation comes the responsibility to be a part of God’s rescue plan . Now is our time to prepare for Jesus’s return. Now is our time to pray for oil (God’s Spirit)in our lamps (vessels/bodies) and encourage others to seek oil for their lamps as well. Joseph had seven years to ready, how much time do we have? The sentence from our lesson applies to both Joseph’s time and ours: “What a powerful story about how, even amid what looks like terrible circumstances, God’s providences are revealed.”
There is one lesson that comes out from Joseph's recorded life that seems so important. It is inevitable that bad things are going to happen to those who love God; but all through those trials God is always there taking care of us. He always had Joseph prosper no matter what position he was in, even in jail, so we have no worries no matter what's happening in the world that affects us. We can always know that God is with us and will take care of us in each every situation. God bless you.
I can’t help but think that the time Joseph spent in prison was not preparation for becoming the de facto ruler of Egypt and for the eventual visit from his brothers. Even though he did the right thing ( resisting Potiphar’s wife ) , he likely needed a little burnishing in God’s fire to remain humble and forgiving when his time came to rule and forgive his brothers. God’s plan often leaves us wondering why but often looking back in wonder at His lessons.
Joseph when from the wilderness to the place to fulfill God's plans and Moses went the other way, from the Palace to the wilderness... Just an interesting contrast. Our fields of preparation will be very different, but the mission remains the same!