Pharaoh's Dreams (Genesis 41)

How suddenly can God’s blessings come? How patient must we be for God to work out difficult circumstances in our lives? Let’s look at Genesis 41.

What was Pharaoh’s first dream? How long did Joseph have to wait on God?

Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river. Suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. Then behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and gaunt, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the river. And the ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven fine looking and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke. (Genesis 41:1-4 NKJV)

What was Pharaoh’s second dream? Was it in some ways similar to the first?

But he fell asleep again and had a second dream. This time he saw seven heads of grain, plump and beautiful, growing on a single stalk. Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were shriveled and withered by the east wind. And these thin heads swallowed up the seven plump, well-formed heads! Then Pharaoh woke up again and realized it was a dream. (Genesis 41:5-7 NLT)

Could they find someone to interpret the dreams? Who interprets dreams?

In the morning, his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all of Egypt’s magicians and wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh. (Genesis 41:8 WEB)

Did the chief cupbearer finally remember Joseph? Did he inform the king?

Then the chief wine steward [cup bearer] spoke to Pharaoh: “Today I’ve just remembered my mistake. Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker under arrest with the commander of the royal guard. We both dreamed one night, he and I, and each of our dreams had its own interpretation. A young Hebrew man, a servant of the commander of the royal guard, was with us. We described our dreams to him, and he interpreted our dreams for us, giving us an interpretation for each dream. His interpretations came true exactly: Pharaoh restored me to my position but hanged him.” (Genesis 41:9-13 CEB)

To whom did Joseph give credit? To whom do we give credit?

The king sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of jail. He shaved, changed his clothes, and went to the king. The king said to him, “I had a dream, yet no one can explain what it means. I am told that you can interpret dreams.” “Your Majesty,” Joseph answered, “I can't do it myself, but God can give a good meaning to your dreams.” (Genesis 41:14-16 CEV)

How did Pharaoh recount his dreams to Joseph? Were they somewhat similar?

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows, but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good. Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.” (Genesis 41:17-24 ESV)

What did Joseph begin to say? To whom did he give credit?

Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads are seven years. The dreams mean the same thing. The seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven worthless, scorched heads of grain are seven years of famine. (Genesis 41:25-27 HCSB)

Who did Joseph again credit for the interpretation? Did he point to God?

So the message that I have for Pharaoh is that God is telling Pharaoh what he is getting ready to do. Be advised that seven years of phenomenal abundance are coming throughout all the land of Egypt, but after them seven years of famine are ahead, during which all of the abundance will be forgotten throughout the land of Egypt. The famine will ravage the land so severely that there will be no surplus in the land due to the coming famine, because it will be very severe. (Genesis 41:28-31 ISV)