Genesis 41:1-41

I.               Pharoah’s dreams (Genesis 41:1-8)

a.      Genesis 41:1 - And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

§        Two years after the successful interpretation of the cup-bearer’s dream, more character building for Joseph, demonstrates the patience required when waiting upon the Lord.

o       Luke 21:19 – In your patience posses ye your souls.

o       Lamentations 3:26 – It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

o       Psalm 105:19 - Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

o       Habakkuk 2:3 - For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

b.      Genesis 41:2 – And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.

c.      Genesis 41:3 – 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.

d.      Genesis 41:4 – And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.

§        The end of dream one

§        Obviously unnatural, cows do not eat cows

e.      Genesis 41:5 – And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.

f.       Genesis 41:6 – And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.

g.      Genesis 41:7 – And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, [it was] a dream.

§        Again, obviously unnatural, cornstalks do not devour other cornstalks

§        Isaiah 55:9 – For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

o       We do not understand the ways of God

o       Was this entre scenario devised by God to elevate Joseph? Or

o       Was it to save Israel?

o       God could have saved Israel through a variety of ways including avoiding the famine.  Why this particular method? refer back to Isaiah 55:9...

h.      Genesis 41:8 – 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 dream; but [there was] none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

§        Proverbs 21:1 – The king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

§        1 Corinthians 2:13-14 – Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.

§        Daniel 2:27 – Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise [men], the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;

§        Daniel 4:7 – Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

§        Daniel 5:8 – Then came in all the king's wise [men]: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.

§        Proverbs 25:2 - [It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings [is] to search out a matter.

II.            The cup-bearer remembers and recommends (Genesis 41:9-13) 

a.      Genesis 41:9 – Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:

§        The butler recommended Joseph to Pharaoh to gain the favor of Pharaoh, not to honor his promise to Joseph.

§        God’s timing is perfect, had he been released earlier there would have been no purpose for him to serve and would have possibly been sent back to his father.

b.      Genesis 41:10 – 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:

c.      Genesis 41:11 – And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.

d.      Genesis 41:12 – 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.

III.             Joseph interprets dreams and counsels Pharaoh (Genesis 41:14-36)

a.      Genesis 41:13 – And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.

b.      Genesis 41:14 – 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.

§        Third time his raiment is removed, this time it is restored with new raiment.  The others, he was stripped (his brothers and Potiphar’s wife)

§        Could have been an intimidating experience

c.      Genesis 41:15 – 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.

§        When we are serving the Lord others take note.  God blesses those who serve Him.

§        When we serve the Lord uncompromisingly we develop a reputation of integrity and reliability that others will turn to in times of trouble

o       Here is Pharaoh, king of all Egypt, seemingly grasping at straws in desperation to find someone to assuage his torment.  On the word of his butler, he brings a lowly slave, a prisoner no less to hear his dreams.

o       God prepared Joseph to stand before Pharaoh

a.      Proverbs 22:29 - Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean [men].

d.      Genesis 41:16 – And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, [It is] not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

§        John 8:28 – Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am [he], and [that] I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

§        John 12:49- For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

§        John 17:8 – For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received [them], and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

§        Revelation 1:1 – The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John:

§        Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

o       Joseph acknowledges that the power to interpret dreams is not his own, but God’s

e.      Genesis 41:17 – And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:

§        Refer to v.1

f.       Genesis 41:18 – And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:

g.      Genesis 41:19 - And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:

h.      Genesis 41:20 – And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:

i.       Genesis 41:21 – And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they [were] still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke.

j.       Genesis 41:22 – And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:

k.      Genesis 41:23 – And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, [and] blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:

§        The “east wind”:

o       The prevailing winds in Egypt are north to south, the east wind mentioned here was considered to be evil, a westerly wind was considered good.

l.       Genesis 41:24 – And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told [this] unto the magicians; but [there was] none that could declare [it] to me.

§        Or declare it to the Pharaoh’s satisfaction; God likely had given Pharaoh discernment to know a genuine interpretation from a false interpretation so that he could recognize that Joseph’s interpretation was accurate.

m.    Genesis 41:25 – And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh [is] one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he [is] about to do.

§        Here we see the double witness, two dreams attest to the same events

o       Hebrews 6:17-18 – Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed [it] by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

§        The number two signifies either division or a double witness.

n.      Genesis 41:26 – The seven good kine [are] seven years; and the seven good ears [are] seven years: the dream [is] one.

§        Unless God reveals the meaning, symbols are useless, who would associate cattle or ears of corn with years? 

§        God doesn’t reveal his secrets to those who have attained merit, but those He has chosen to accomplish His purposes.

§        Once the meaning is revealed it often seems so simple and we ask ourselves “how did I not see that?”

§        Sometimes things happen in our own lives that we don’t understand, but when we look back we can see God’s hand involved

o.      Genesis 41:27 – And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them [are] seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.

p.      Genesis 41:28 – This [is] the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God [is] about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.

§        Colossians 2:2-3 – That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

§        Isaiah 28:29 – This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, [which] is wonderful in counsel, [and] excellent in working. 

q.      Genesis 41:29 – Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:

r.       Genesis 41:30 – And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;

§        Ecclesiastes 7:14 - In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him

§        How often do we hear stories where someone won the lottery and they ended up having less than they did before?  This seems illogical when we here it, but there is a certain discipline that is required to remain prosperous.  Squandering what we have been given, rather than being prudent can allow our poverty to erase the memory of our prosperity.

§        This principle can be applied both spiritually and physically.

o       God gives us a passion to study his Word, if we fail to be disciplined and honor God by diligently studying in this time of “spiritual fatness” we will lack the foundation of His Word when we encounter “spiritual famine”.

o       We need to allow the Holy Spirit to bring balance into our lives

s.      Genesis 41:31 – And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it [shall be] very grievous.

§        John 6:27 - Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

§        Egypt does not receive a lot of precipitation, but their dependence is on the Nile river.  Depending on how high the river would overflow in the springtime would determine how plentiful the year would be.

o       The Nile runs north, an east wind would be perpendicular to the Nile and may effect the flow of the tributaries into the Nile

t.       Genesis 41:32 – And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; [it is] because the thing [is] established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

§        We see here that Joseph confirms the principle of a double witness.

u.      Genesis 41:33 – Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.

§        Proverbs 6:6-8 - Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, [and] gathereth her food in the harvest.

§        Notice how Joseph transitions from interpreting the dream to providing counsel to Pharaoh, without being asked and Pharaoh is listening!  Talk about seizing an opportunity, Joseph demonstrates that not only is he gifted in wisdom, but gifted in the interpretation of social settings, when he should provide opinion and when he should remain silent.

v.      Genesis 41:34 – Let Pharaoh do [this], and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.

§        Why a 5^th? If they are only going to store 1/5 that means they are using 4/5 each year.  After 7 years the stockpiles would only be enough grain for a little less than 2 years, when they need provision for 7.

w.    Genesis 41:35 – And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.

§        “Let them keep food in the cities” seems to put some responsibility back onto the Egyptians.

x.      Genesis 41:36 – And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.

IV.          Pharoah promotes Joseph (Genesis 41:37-45)

a.      Genesis 41:37 - And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.

b.      Genesis 41:38 – And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find [such a one] as this [is], a man in whom the Spirit of God [is]?

§        Matthew 7:28-29 – And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as [one] having authority, and not as the scribes.

§        Matthew 13:54 – And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this [man] this wisdom, and [these] mighty works?

§        John 7:46 – The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.      

c.      Genesis 41:39 – And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, [there is] none so discreet and wise as thou [art]:

d.      Genesis 41:40 – Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

§        Psalm 37:11 – But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

§        1 Peter 3:22 – Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

e.      Genesis 41:41 – And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

§        Hebrews 2:9 – But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.