The Dreams That Troubled Pharaoh

Two years passed after Joseph explained the dreams of Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker.

The cupbearer returned to Pharaoh's palace, just as Joseph had said he would.

Before the cupbearer left the prison, Joseph had asked him for one thing.

“Please remember me,” Joseph had said. “Tell Pharaoh that I was brought here unfairly.”

But once the cupbearer was back in the palace, he forgot about Joseph.

Joseph remained in prison.

Day after day, he continued helping the prison keeper and caring for the other prisoners. He did not know when he would be free, but he knew that God had not forgotten him.

Then, one night, Pharaoh had a strange dream.

In his dream, Pharaoh stood beside the Nile River.

Seven strong, healthy cows came out of the water. They walked onto the riverbank and began eating the green grass.

Then seven other cows came out of the river.

These cows were thin and weak. They looked hungry and sick.

The seven thin cows walked toward the seven healthy cows—and swallowed them!

But even after swallowing the healthy cows, the thin cows still looked weak and hungry.

Pharaoh suddenly woke up.

He wondered what the dream could mean, but after a while, he fell asleep again.

Then Pharaoh had a second dream.

He saw seven full, healthy heads of grain growing on one stalk.

After them, seven thin and dry heads of grain appeared. They had been damaged by the hot desert wind.

The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven healthy ones.

Pharaoh woke up again.

It had only been a dream, but it felt very important.

The next morning, Pharaoh was troubled.

He called for the wise men and dream experts of Egypt.

Pharaoh told them about the seven healthy cows and the seven thin cows. Then he told them about the seven full heads of grain and the seven dry ones.

“What do these dreams mean?” Pharaoh asked.

The wise men thought carefully. They whispered to one another and tried to find an answer.

But no one could explain Pharaoh's dreams.

Then the cupbearer remembered Joseph.

He remembered the young man in prison who had correctly explained his dream and the baker's dream.

“I remember something I should have told you before,” the cupbearer said to Pharaoh.

He explained how he and the baker had each dreamed a strange dream while they were in prison.

“A young Hebrew man named Joseph listened to us,” the cupbearer said. “He explained both dreams, and everything happened exactly as he said.”

At last, the cupbearer had spoken about Joseph. He could not give back the years of waiting, but he could stop being silent and help him now.

Sometimes we forget to do something kind. When we remember, we can still take a step to help. In the palace, the cupbearer’s memory was about to open a door for Joseph.