Joseph and Pharaoh's Dreams

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.”

Pharaoh immediately sent his servants to bring Joseph out of prison.

The prison door opened.

Joseph was given clean clothes, and he prepared himself to stand before Pharaoh.

After spending so much time in prison, Joseph was brought into the great palace.

Pharaoh sat on his throne.

“I had a dream,” Pharaoh told Joseph, “but no one can explain it. I have heard that you understand dreams.”

Joseph answered humbly.

“I cannot understand dreams by myself,” he said. “But God can give Pharaoh the answer he needs.”

Pharaoh told Joseph about the seven healthy cows and the seven thin cows.

Then he described the seven full heads of grain and the seven dry ones.

Joseph listened carefully.

When Pharaoh finished, God helped Joseph understand the dreams.

“The two dreams have the same meaning,” Joseph explained. “God is showing Pharaoh what will happen.”

Joseph told Pharaoh that the seven healthy cows and the seven full heads of grain represented seven years.

During those seven years, Egypt would have plenty of food. The fields would grow more grain than the people needed.

The seven thin cows and the seven dry heads of grain also represented seven years.

But those seven years would be very different.

After the years of plenty, there would be seven years without enough rain or food. The famine would be so severe that people might forget how much food Egypt had once possessed.

Pharaoh listened closely.

Joseph continued speaking.

“Pharaoh should choose a wise and honest man to prepare Egypt,” he said. “During the seven years of plenty, some of the extra grain should be collected and stored. Then there will be food for the people during the seven years of famine.”

Pharaoh looked at his officials.

Joseph's explanation was wise, and his plan was good.

“Can we find anyone like this man?” Pharaoh asked. “God has shown him what these dreams mean.”

Then Pharaoh turned toward Joseph.

“God has helped you understand these things,” Pharaoh said. “There is no one as wise as you.”

Joseph had entered the palace as a prisoner.

But now Pharaoh gave him an enormous responsibility.

“You will be in charge of my palace and my people,” Pharaoh declared. “Only I, as Pharaoh, will have greater authority than you.”

Pharaoh removed his special ring and placed it on Joseph's finger.

He gave Joseph fine clothes and placed a gold chain around his neck.

Then Joseph rode through Egypt in Pharaoh's second chariot. Servants went before him and called for the people to make way.

Everyone could see that Pharaoh had placed Joseph in charge of Egypt.

Joseph could hardly have imagined this moment while sitting inside the dark prison.

He had been betrayed by his brothers.

He had been taken far away from his home.

He had been accused of something he had not done.

He had been forgotten in prison.

But God had never forgotten Joseph.

God had been with him in his father's home, in Potiphar's house, inside the prison, and now in Pharaoh's palace.

Joseph had become a ruler in Egypt.

Soon, he would begin the important work of preparing the land for the difficult years ahead.

And although Joseph did not know it yet, God's plan would one day bring him face to face with his family again.