"And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river. And behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. And behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dreams; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh. Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day: Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker: and we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream. And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard, and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret. And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged. Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying it is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace." (Genesis 41:1-16)
Because the King James version of the bible is used for these passages, it might be best to begin with a definition or two to help our understanding. For example, the term well favoured means "beautiful in appearance" while ill favoured means just the opposite of course; the word rank means "fat," and the word kine means "a young cow or heifer." And the term Pharaoh (according to Strong's Concordance) means "great house" and is the title given to the Egyptian kings. The Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary supplies for us the real name of this particular Pharaoh which was "Aphophis, one of the Memphite kings, whose capital was On or Heliopolis, and who is universally acknowledged to have been a patriot king."
We will save the interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams, both occurring in the same night, for the next posting where the interpretations appear in the scriptures, but for now we should note that Pharaoh has had what can be called a "double dream." We have already seen that Joseph himself, in earlier years, was also given a "double dream." [See Genesis 37:1-11] A double dream is one in which two dreams occur, both slightly different from the other but still having the same content or meaning. There is a significance to "double dreams" which will be defined for us in scripture as we continue. Meanwhile, isn't it interesting that it is because of Pharaoh's double dreams that Joseph is called up out of his long confinement in prison, since it was Joseph's own double dreams that caused his brothers to sell him off into slavery in the first place?
Pharaoh dreams that seven fat and handsome cows are feeding in a meadow, a scene of serenity that says "all is as it should be." But then, in his dream, seven other ugly and skinny cows come alongside the fat cows and devour them. All serenity is suddenly gone as something bizarre has occurred in what began as a pleasant dream. Understandably, Pharaoh wakes up, most likely trying to rid himself of the nightmarish feeling of evil that overcomes him; something we have all experienced at one time or another in our own lives.
But he eventually falls back to sleep and dreams a second dream in which he sees a nice green corn stalk filled with fat ears of corn. Again all is well with the world and the scene is pastoral and serene. Until, that is, a second corn stalk appears; the second one being so badly battered by a wind from the east, that the ears it has produced are thin and terrible. And yet, these weak and ill looking ears of corn are able to devour the fat healthy ears of corn. And once more Pharaoh wakes with a start.
In the morning, the dreams are still so real to Pharaoh that he can recall every detail and can still feel the evil that came upon him with the dreams; all of which leaves him troubled enough to call for his magicians and wise men, hoping one of them can make some sense out of his dreams and calm his disquieted spirit. But none of these men trust in God, so any "interpretations" they might have given in the past are either scientific, occultic (from Satan), or of their own imaginations. Why can't they now come up with something to satisfy the Pharaoh? I believe it is because God is orchestrating things, as He is known to do, and has caused them to be completely baffled and at a loss, making way for the introduction of Joseph to the Pharaoh.
The butler, not at all sincere in "remembering" his faults, tries to get in on the good side of Pharaoh by mentioning Joseph, whom he has deliberately forgotten for two long years.
When the Pharaoh calls for Joseph, Joseph changes his clothes and completely shaves his beard and most likely his head as well, as the Egyptians preferred a completely hairless look, and is presented to the Pharaoh wherein he immediately glorifies God by telling the Pharaoh that the interpretations of the butler's and baker's dreams back in prison two years ago did not come from himself, but from God. And Joseph tells Pharaoh that God is willing to give Pharaoh the interpretation that will bring peace to Pharaoh's troubled spirit.
Now, there is a lot being said in Joseph's simple statement to Pharaoh: "It is not in me; God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace."
Joseph has glorified God, rather than himself, indicating that he is still, after all these years of suffering, a humble man.
Joseph is testifying that his God is great and able to give Pharaoh the proper interpretation, and that God cares enough about Pharaoh to want to calm his disquieted spirit.
Joseph is stating that even though he has been held in Pharaoh's own prison for many years, he is not filled with bitterness and resentment towards Pharaoh, showing Joseph's heart to be not only humble but one easily able to forgive wrongs done to him. Joseph himself is willing to help Pharaoh.
And finally, Joseph is speaking in FAITH; trusting that God will do all that Joseph has said He will do. This is confidence that can come only when a man has such a close relationship to God that he can speak on behalf of God and know that God will not forsake him nor deny that which has been promised on God's behalf.
(To be continued tomorrow…)
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