Genesis 41: 1-8
We just saw that Joseph has been in Egypt for some time now, having served Potiphar and wound up in jail for not falling for his wife's seductions. Now more time has passed, and Joseph interpreted the dreams of the Pharaoh's chief cupbearer and chief baker, which both happened just as he said; but the cupbearer clean forgot about him, so he's still sitting in the jail.
(1) Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream,
Now another two years have passed, and Pharaoh is now dreaming. And here's his dream:
and behold, he was standing by the Nile. (2) And lo, from the Nile there came up seven cows, sleek and fat; and they grazed in the marsh grass. (3) Then behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, ugly and gaunt, and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. (4) The ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke.
He woke up right after the dream so that he would remember it.
(5) He fell asleep and dreamed a second time;
Then he rolled over and went back to sleep, and had another dream:
and behold, seven ears of grain came up on a single stalk, plump and good. (6) Then behold, seven ears, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. (7) The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.
He woke up again after this dream, too, so now he will remember both of these dreams. But it was still the middle of the night, so he went back to sleep again.
(8) Now in the morning his spirit was troubled,
When he got up in the morning, he was still thinking about those two dreams; they seemed important somehow.
so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams,
So he asked them for help in understanding what they could mean.
but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
None of his intelligentsia had any idea they could proffer. This will take more than mere intelligence.
Is this why God left Joseph in the prison for so many years? Is this why the chief cupbearer forgot about him? Tune in tomorrow for the next episode in this exciting saga!
O my Father, You know that we like to listen to stories, and You put so many good stories in Your written Word for us to enjoy and learn about You and ourselves.
My Father, You even tell us what to expect down the road where we can't see, so that we will prepare for what is coming. Then when it happens, just as You said it would, then our faith in You is strengthened, and we can trust You with more of the things we try to handle ourselves.
O Father, help Your children to grow up to maturity, so that Your Church will attain the full stature of the Son of God, whose body we are. Send us out into the world, Father, to tell everyone how much You love us all. Let every living person hear and understand that You sent Your own Son to save us from ourselves and from the power sin has over us, and to wash us in His blood, so we can be Your own children! Bring all of Your pre-born babies to the birth into Your family, and fill Your great house with all of Your uncountable progeny.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever. Amen.
Even so, do come quickly, Lord Jesus!
