Genesis 41

Pharaoh’s dreams (vs. 1-8)—Two years passed. And then Pharaoh had two dreams the same night, and they disturbed him greatly. In the first dream, seven fat cows came up out of the river and were feeding in the meadow (v. 2). But then, seven more cows, “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” (vs. 3-4). But then he fell asleep again and dreamed a second time. He saw seven heads of grain come up on one stalk, “plump and good” (v. 5). But then seven thin heads, “blighted by the east wind” (v. 6), sprang up and “devoured the plump and full heads” (v. 7). The next morning, greatly distressed—remember, as I pointed out in chapter 40, the Egyptians believed that such vivid dreams had meaning—he called for the magicians and wise men of Egypt, but “there was no one who could interpret [the dreams] for Pharaoh” (v. 8).

The chief butler remembers Joseph (vs. 9-13)—He recalls the events of that fateful night and day, and the two dreams “came to pass, just as he interpreted for us” (v. 13).

Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams (vs. 14-36)—So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who cleaned up and appeared before the king. “I have heard it said of you,” Pharaoh said to Joseph, “that you can understand a dream, to interpret it" (v. 15). Being the godly man he was, Joseph gives credit where credit is due: “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace" (v. 16). Pharaoh told Joseph the two dreams and indeed, the Lord gave Joseph the interpretation. The two dreams meant the same thing; “God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do” (v. 25). There would be seven years of abundant harvest, followed by seven years of severe famine. “The dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass” (v. 32). A dire warning, indeed. Joseph then (gratuitously?) advised Pharaoh upon a course of action: store up grain the first seven years (“one-fifth of the produce of the land,” v. 34). “Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine” (v. 36).

Pharaoh puts Joseph in charge of the grain collecting (vs. 37-57)—The king thought the advice of Joseph was splendid and “said to his servants, ‘Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?’" (v. 38). So Joseph was given oversight of the collection process. Indeed, he was made the second most powerful man in the land (v. 40). Pharaoh rewarded him with jewelry and clothing (v. 42), had him ride in “the second chariot” (v. 43), and made all the people bow down to him (v. 43). And Pharaoh presented Joseph a wife, Asenath, “the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On” (v. 45). A priest’s daughter was no small thing, for priests were second only to Pharaoh in importance to ancient Egyptians. Joseph had quite a comeuppance from being in jail.

Joseph was thirty years old now (v. 46), so 13 years had passed since he had been sold into slavery. God works in His own time. But he did a fine job for Pharaoh and the people of Egypt: “Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable” (v. 49). Egypt was ready for the seven years of famine.

The chapter ends with a few personal notes. To Joseph and Asenath were born two sons during the seven years of plenty—Mannasseh and Ephraim. The two names meant something. Mannaseh means “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house" (v. 51), and Ephraim signifies “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction” (v. 52). So, faithful to Jehovah as he was, Joseph was human and well remembered the 13 years of sorrow and hardship.

The seven years of plenty ended (v. 53), and the seven years of famine began. When the people needed food, Pharaoh told them “Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do” (v. 55). Pharaoh had other things to do, such as being a god, so Joseph was put in charge of grain distribution as well. This will lead to a nice twist in chapter 42, because the famine hit not only Egypt, but also “was over all the face of the earth” (v. 56), that is, it struck all the surrounding countries as well.