Genesis 41:1-57
41:1 There is a time jump of two years: Pharaoh now has a dream of himself standing by the river. God has already gifted Joseph with the ability of interpreting spiritual-dreams and He now presents Joseph with an opportunity.
41:2 In the dream by the river, seven healthy cows suddenly come up from the water. They ate in the meadow.
41:3 Then, seven other cows come from out of the water but this time looking weak and unhealthy. These seven come to stand by the other seven healthy looking cows.
41:4 The unhealthy cows ate up the healthy cows. And Pharaoh awakes from his dream.
41:5 Pharaoh falls back asleep and dreams for a second time. This time, seven heads of grain grew up healthily.
41:6-7 Afterward, seven unhealthy head of grain grew and ate up the healthy grain.
41:8 Pharaoh is disturbed by his vivid dream; his intuition tells him that it is an important dream and needs to be deciphered. In desperation, Pharaoh calls all of the magicians and sages of the area to come to him to interpret the dream.
God has already laid the pieces down to orchestrate Joseph's vital role in this circumstance.
41:9-13 Although the butler had not remembered to tell the Pharaoh of Joseph's ability to interpret dreams when Joseph requested him to, he remembered to do so now. He recounts to Pharaoh that he and the baker each had vivid dreams in need of interpretation and Joseph was able to tell them what they meant. Moreover, he explains to Pharaoh that everything Joseph predicted came true.
41:14 So Pharaoh calls for Joseph to be brought to him quickly. Joseph cleans himself up and comes to Pharaoh.
41:15 Pharaoh explains to Joseph his dream situation: nobody has been able to interpret this important dream but rumor has reached him that Joseph is capable of doing so.
41:16 Joseph beautifully gives credit to God. Joseph explains that it is not his own ability to interpret dreams but is actually an ability given to him by God.
41:17-23 Pharaoh tells Joseph about his dreams in detail (the cows and the grain and the east wind).
41:24 He then reveals to Joseph that nobody has been able to explain the dream.
41:25 Immediately Joseph is able to interpret the dream; God has already downloaded him with the information. Joseph explains that the two dreams are actually united. He explains that the dreams are a forewarning to Pharaoh of what is about to happen to him.
41:26 God uses symbols in our time and context to explain bigger concepts, for Pharaoh that meant cows and grain. The seven cows and seven heads of gain represent seven years.
41:27 Joseph explains that the seven empty heads caused by an east wind represents seven years of famine.
41:28 In the dream, God is showing Pharaoh what is about to happen:
41:29-30 Egypt will experience seven years of abundance and afterward, a famine will deplete the land.
41:31 The famine will be so severe that there will not even be remembrance of the good times. Even now we do not understand why famines and other tribulations occur around us. Sometimes it is due to human error or negligence and sometimes it is the cause of nature. What we do know is that in Spirit, we are not vulnerable to such tribulations. On Earth, certain circumstances arise to change events and people: to challenge them to learn and grow. Life on this planet is a classroom, we can develop ourselves if we utilize our circumstances for growth.
41:32 The dream was reiterated by God because it was so close to happening and He wanted to prepare Pharaoh.
41:33 God prepares His children. Although the dream was foreboding, warning of a time of tribulation, God had a plan to prepare Egypt to survive the famine. He places Joseph exactly where he needs to be to bring about the events that would save multitudes of people. God works with His children; we are the instruments through which his blessings reach humanity.
41:34-36 Joseph tells Pharaoh to appoint a wise man capable of overseeing Egypt. The plan from God is to collect 1/5 of the produce of the land during the years of surplus and store them away for the years of famine. In doing so, the Egyptians could be assured that they would survive the difficult years.
41:37-38 Implementing this plan meant trusting in God. When we trust in God, we allow his plan and preparation to guide us out of all of our figurative famines. Pharaoh accepts and trusts Joseph's interpretation of God and immediately seeks an overseer of the land and produce.
41:39 Ultimately Pharaoh chooses Joseph, who has proved himself time and gain as trustworthy and wise.
41:40-41 Joseph is appointed again into a position of power: the overseer of Pharaoh's house and all of his land. Pharaoh gives Joseph complete power but Pharaoh remains on the throne.
41:42 Once sold as a slave by his brothers, Joseph receives full authority from the Pharaoh of Egypt; in other words: he rules as a king.
41:43-45 The Egyptians accept Joseph's authority and Pharaoh is careful to reiterate his own royalty and power. The truth is that whether Pharaoh realizes it or not, God has placed Joseph in a position of power above all others. Think back on the moment when Joseph's brothers threw him in the pit and then sold him as a slave: his life seemed doomed. Yet from that dire betrayal, God was able to lift Joseph up higher than he would have been even at home.
Never underestimate the power and orchestration of God. He works miracles for His children; He is not bound by any law of man or nature. Your happiness is His intention and His goal and He never fails. The drastic change in Joseph's life might seem incredible, impossible... but for God it is easy. He can easily transform your life in ways that overwhelm and awe you. Trust God's counsel, it will come to you in various ways.
Pharaoh gives Joseph a wife. Her name is Asenath and she is the daughter of a shepherd-king. We know that this union was acceptable to God (otherwise He would have stopped it).
41:46-49 At thirty years of age, Joseph holds the power of Egypt. He does his job of preparing for the famine expertly. There is so much abundance, so much overflow that he even looses count. Joseph, with God, ensures that the Egyptians are completely prepared for the famine.
41:50 Joseph and Asenath have two sons.
41:51-52 In naming his sons, Joseph remembers God's hand in his life. He recounts the incredible journey his life has taken and how God has been with him the entire way.
41:55 When the Egyptians begin asking Pharaoh for food, he directs them to Joseph who has true authority and knowledge of the produce of their preparation.
41:56-57 Joseph, led by God, is prepared for the hungry bellies and hands. He opens the storehouses and is able to offer food to regions all throughout Egypt. We can discern from this experience in Joseph's life that even in dire circumstances, when everyone else is flailing, the children of God thrive. We thrive because we listen. We thrive because we follow our God as He leads us out of tribulation.
41:3 Then, seven other cows come from out of the water but this time looking weak and unhealthy. These seven come to stand by the other seven healthy looking cows.
41:4 The unhealthy cows ate up the healthy cows. And Pharaoh awakes from his dream.
41:5 Pharaoh falls back asleep and dreams for a second time. This time, seven heads of grain grew up healthily.
41:6-7 Afterward, seven unhealthy head of grain grew and ate up the healthy grain.
41:8 Pharaoh is disturbed by his vivid dream; his intuition tells him that it is an important dream and needs to be deciphered. In desperation, Pharaoh calls all of the magicians and sages of the area to come to him to interpret the dream.
God has already laid the pieces down to orchestrate Joseph's vital role in this circumstance.
41:9-13 Although the butler had not remembered to tell the Pharaoh of Joseph's ability to interpret dreams when Joseph requested him to, he remembered to do so now. He recounts to Pharaoh that he and the baker each had vivid dreams in need of interpretation and Joseph was able to tell them what they meant. Moreover, he explains to Pharaoh that everything Joseph predicted came true.
41:14 So Pharaoh calls for Joseph to be brought to him quickly. Joseph cleans himself up and comes to Pharaoh.
41:15 Pharaoh explains to Joseph his dream situation: nobody has been able to interpret this important dream but rumor has reached him that Joseph is capable of doing so.
41:16 Joseph beautifully gives credit to God. Joseph explains that it is not his own ability to interpret dreams but is actually an ability given to him by God.
41:17-23 Pharaoh tells Joseph about his dreams in detail (the cows and the grain and the east wind).
41:24 He then reveals to Joseph that nobody has been able to explain the dream.
41:25 Immediately Joseph is able to interpret the dream; God has already downloaded him with the information. Joseph explains that the two dreams are actually united. He explains that the dreams are a forewarning to Pharaoh of what is about to happen to him.
41:26 God uses symbols in our time and context to explain bigger concepts, for Pharaoh that meant cows and grain. The seven cows and seven heads of gain represent seven years.
41:27 Joseph explains that the seven empty heads caused by an east wind represents seven years of famine.
41:28 In the dream, God is showing Pharaoh what is about to happen:
41:29-30 Egypt will experience seven years of abundance and afterward, a famine will deplete the land.
41:31 The famine will be so severe that there will not even be remembrance of the good times. Even now we do not understand why famines and other tribulations occur around us. Sometimes it is due to human error or negligence and sometimes it is the cause of nature. What we do know is that in Spirit, we are not vulnerable to such tribulations. On Earth, certain circumstances arise to change events and people: to challenge them to learn and grow. Life on this planet is a classroom, we can develop ourselves if we utilize our circumstances for growth.
41:32 The dream was reiterated by God because it was so close to happening and He wanted to prepare Pharaoh.
41:33 God prepares His children. Although the dream was foreboding, warning of a time of tribulation, God had a plan to prepare Egypt to survive the famine. He places Joseph exactly where he needs to be to bring about the events that would save multitudes of people. God works with His children; we are the instruments through which his blessings reach humanity.
41:34-36 Joseph tells Pharaoh to appoint a wise man capable of overseeing Egypt. The plan from God is to collect 1/5 of the produce of the land during the years of surplus and store them away for the years of famine. In doing so, the Egyptians could be assured that they would survive the difficult years.
41:37-38 Implementing this plan meant trusting in God. When we trust in God, we allow his plan and preparation to guide us out of all of our figurative famines. Pharaoh accepts and trusts Joseph's interpretation of God and immediately seeks an overseer of the land and produce.
41:39 Ultimately Pharaoh chooses Joseph, who has proved himself time and gain as trustworthy and wise.
41:40-41 Joseph is appointed again into a position of power: the overseer of Pharaoh's house and all of his land. Pharaoh gives Joseph complete power but Pharaoh remains on the throne.
41:42 Once sold as a slave by his brothers, Joseph receives full authority from the Pharaoh of Egypt; in other words: he rules as a king.
41:43-45 The Egyptians accept Joseph's authority and Pharaoh is careful to reiterate his own royalty and power. The truth is that whether Pharaoh realizes it or not, God has placed Joseph in a position of power above all others. Think back on the moment when Joseph's brothers threw him in the pit and then sold him as a slave: his life seemed doomed. Yet from that dire betrayal, God was able to lift Joseph up higher than he would have been even at home.
Never underestimate the power and orchestration of God. He works miracles for His children; He is not bound by any law of man or nature. Your happiness is His intention and His goal and He never fails. The drastic change in Joseph's life might seem incredible, impossible... but for God it is easy. He can easily transform your life in ways that overwhelm and awe you. Trust God's counsel, it will come to you in various ways.
Pharaoh gives Joseph a wife. Her name is Asenath and she is the daughter of a shepherd-king. We know that this union was acceptable to God (otherwise He would have stopped it).
41:46-49 At thirty years of age, Joseph holds the power of Egypt. He does his job of preparing for the famine expertly. There is so much abundance, so much overflow that he even looses count. Joseph, with God, ensures that the Egyptians are completely prepared for the famine.
41:50 Joseph and Asenath have two sons.
41:51-52 In naming his sons, Joseph remembers God's hand in his life. He recounts the incredible journey his life has taken and how God has been with him the entire way.
- Manasseh, causing to forget: "For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house."
- Ephraim, I shall be doubly fruitful: "For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction."
41:55 When the Egyptians begin asking Pharaoh for food, he directs them to Joseph who has true authority and knowledge of the produce of their preparation.
41:56-57 Joseph, led by God, is prepared for the hungry bellies and hands. He opens the storehouses and is able to offer food to regions all throughout Egypt. We can discern from this experience in Joseph's life that even in dire circumstances, when everyone else is flailing, the children of God thrive. We thrive because we listen. We thrive because we follow our God as He leads us out of tribulation.
