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Genesis

Chapter Forty-one

 

 

Preface

 

This chapter portrays the “rags to riches” event in Joseph’s life.  Romans 5:3, 4 states:  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.  This truth is nowhere better illustrated in the Word of God than in the life of Joseph, with the possible exception of Job.  Another pertinent scripture that readily comes to mind is Romans 8:28:  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  This truth is exemplified in the person and life of Joseph, which carried over to his father Israel (previously called Jacob) and his brethren.  In fact, this chapter, along with others, clearly demonstrates God’s purpose and plan for moving the people of Israel out of Canaan away from the sins and influence of the Canaanites and into Egypt to settle in the secluded spot of Goshen.

 

Genesis 41:1-13

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.  He slept and dreamed a second time; and suddenly seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, plump and good.  Then behold, seven thin heads, blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them.  And the seven thin heads devoured the seven plump and full heads. So Pharaoh awoke, and indeed, it was a dream.  Now 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 its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh.  Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: “I remember my faults this day.  When Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker, we each had a dream in one night, he and I. Each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream.  Now there was a young Hebrew man with us there, a servant of the captain of the guard. And we told him, and he interpreted our dreams for us; to each man he interpreted according to his own dream.  And it came to pass, just as he interpreted for us, so it happened. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him.”

 

Two years previously Joseph had made a request to the chief butler (cupbearer) of Pharaoh’s court, requesting that upon his release from prison he mention to Pharaoh Joseph’s unjust imprisonment.  But the chief butler forgot Joseph and his request. 

 

Two year’s later Pharaoh had double dreams, which caused him great concern.  He called upon the magicians and wise men of his court for assistance in interpreting the dreams.

 

Magicians and wise men were common in the palaces of ancient rulers.  Their job description included studying sacred arts and sciences, reading the stars, interpreting dreams, predicting the future, and performing magic.  These men had power (see Exodus 7:11, 12), but their power was satanic.  On all counts, not one of them could help Pharaoh understand the meaning of his dreams.

 

When Pharaoh’s cupbearer was freed from prison, he forgot about Joseph, even though he had Joseph to thank for the freedom.  It was two full years before Joseph had another opportunity to be freed.  Yet Joseph’s faith was deep, and he would be ready when the next chance came.  When we feel passed by, overlooked, or forgotten, we shouldn’t be surprised that people are often ungrateful.  In similar situations, trust God as Joseph did.  More opportunities may be waiting.

(Life Application Bible, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1991)

 

By this time Joseph had been in Egypt for 13 years, at least two of which were spent in prison after the episode with the butler and the baker.  He probably had been in the prison a year or so before that.  He may have been in the house of Potiphar close to ten years; the Scripture doesn’t detail the account.

 

But having witnessed the inability of the wise men and magicians with regard’s to Pharaoh’s dreams, the chief butler remembers Joseph and Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams.  Apparently the chief butler experienced a certain degree of guilt recalling his prior word to Joseph that he would put in a kind word for Joseph to Pharaoh two years earlier; since he judged that his forgetfulness was to him a “fault.”  Nevertheless, he quickly informed Pharaoh of his and the chief baker’s experience with Joseph’s gift of interpreting dreams.

 

Genesis 41:14-24

Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh.  And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.” So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Behold, in my dream I stood on the bank of the river.  Suddenly seven cows came up out of the river, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow.  Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such ugliness as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt.  And the gaunt and ugly cows ate up the first seven, the fat cows.  When they had eaten them up, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were just as ugly as at the beginning. So I awoke.  Also I saw in my dream, and suddenly seven heads came up on one stalk, full and good.  Then behold, seven heads, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them.  And the thin heads devoured the seven good heads. So I told this to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

 

It is reasonable to conclude that Pharaoh’s call for the release of Joseph was at a time when Joseph least expected it.  He was pulled hastily from prison to appear before Pharaoh.  He had little time if any to prepare.  Yet he was up for the occasion, primarily because of his relationship with God.  It was not Joseph’s knowledge of dreams that helped him in this situation.  It was his knowledge and relationship with God!  Herein is the lesson that God’s child should and must be ready for any occasion in life.  The only way to be ready is through a thorough knowledge and understanding of Bible doctrine and a proper relationship with the God of this doctrine.  With these two positions in hand, the child of God will be ready no matter the situation and opportunity.

 

Note that Joseph shaved himself.  You must remember that the Hebrews were not shaving in that day.  But have you noticed that the statues and paintings of the Egyptians show a clean-shaven people?  Many of the rulers sported a little goatee to add dignity to their position—if they couldn’t grow their own, they wore a false one—but generally the Egyptians were without hair on their faces.

(Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1981)

 

Joseph made absolutely certain that Pharaoh understood that any interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams was a product of God and not of any ability possessed by Joseph.  He had made this clear previously to the chief baker and chief butler in the interpretation of their dreams while in prison.  Joseph was always careful to give God all the glory for any good or gift in his life.  And at this, Pharaoh recounts his dreams to Joseph.

 

Genesis 41:25-36

Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do:  The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years; the dreams are one.  And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine.  This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.  Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land.  So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe.  And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.   Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years.  And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.  Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt that the land may not perish during the famine.”

 

Joseph then provides to Pharaoh the interpretation of his dreams, which God has provided to Joseph.  He informs Pharaoh of the coming 7 years of plenty to be followed by 7 years of famine, which would devastate the land.  Joseph then informed Pharaoh that the duplication (repetition) of the meaning represented by the two dreams meant that it was indeed of divine origin and that it would shortly come to pass.  This divine format was previously experienced by Joseph’s two dreams of the future that are recorded in Genesis 37:6-9, as well as similar visions within Daniel 2 and 7.  In the Bible, two is the number of witness.

 

After interpreting Pharaoh’s dream, Joseph gave the king a survival plan for the next 14 years.  The only way to prevent starvation was through careful planning; without a famine plan Egypt would have turned from prosperity to ruin.  Many find detailed planning boring and unnecessary.  But planning is a responsibility, not an option.  Joseph was able to save a nation by translating God’s plan for Egypt into practical actions (implementation).  We must take time to translate God’s plan for us into practical actions too. (Life Application Bible, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1991)

 

But while the Christian plans, he must never forget the following wisdom:

 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8)

 

Genesis 41:37-44

 So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants.  And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.  You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph's hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.  And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he set him over all the land of Egypt.  Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”

 

Pharaoh immediately recognized the wisdom of the plan that Joseph presented to him; so much so, that he came to the conclusion that it truly must have come from God.  Having come to the conclusion that no one was as discerning and wise as Joseph, Pharaoh made the on-the-spot decision to elevate Joseph from his position as prisoner to Head of State, second only in authority to Pharaoh, over the nation of Egypt.  How could Pharaoh set a Hebrew prisoner over the land of Egypt on the basis of a dream’s interpretation without waiting to see if it would come true?  The answer is in Proverbs 21:1:  “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”

 

Pharaoh placed his personal signet ring on the hand of Joseph.  Such a ring when used to make an impression in wax represented the king’s personal signature.  There could be no higher representation of authority.  Pharaoh dressed Joseph in suitable attire, and he placed a gold chain around his neck.  In addition, he provided Joseph a fine chariot for transportation, second only to the chariot of Pharaoh.  And as Joseph passed by the people, they cried out Abrek!—a Hebrew word of homage (utter respect and reverence).  And then Pharaoh made the proclamation, based on the honor and authority of his office, that all of Egypt would be subservient to Joseph.  Truly a “rags-to-riches” story!

 

Genesis 41:45, 46

And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-Paaneah. And he gave him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. So Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.  Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh King of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

 

Pharaoh gave Joseph an Egyptian name:  Zaphnath-Paaneah (a Coptic name that many believe means “revealer of secrets things”).  He also gave to Joseph a wife by the name of Asenath.  She was the daughter of Poti-Pherah, priest of On.

 

Pharaoh may have been trying to make Joseph more acceptable by giving him an Egyptian name and wife.  He probably wanted to (1) play down the fact that Joseph was a nomadic shepherd, an occupation disliked by the Egyptians, (2) make Joseph’s name easier for Egyptians to pronounce and remember, and (3) show how highly he was honored by giving him the daughter of a prominent Egyptian official.

(Life Application Bible, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1991)

 

And so established by Pharaoh, Joseph then took charge of his office and responsibilities and went throughout the land.

 

Cream rises to the surface.  Joseph was the first of many godly Jews to rise to prominence in Gentile governments.  He was thirty years old when he began this ministry (vs. 46); it was thirteen years since he was sold by his brothers (cf. 37:2). (Believer’s Bible Commentary, by William MacDonald, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995)

 

Genesis 41:47-57

Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly.  So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them.  Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable.  And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him.  Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: "For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house." And the name of the second he called Ephraim: "For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction." Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended, and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.  So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do." So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do." So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands.

 

The abundance of the first 7 years was so great that it became impossible to keep accurate records of it.  And instead of amassing all the grain into a central location, i.e., the National City, he wisely stored it in various centers (the cities) throughout the land for subsequent distribution.  It was during these years that two sons were born to Joseph and his wife:  Manasseh (“making to forget”), and Ephraim (“fruitful”).  These sons, some years later, were publicly adopted into the tribe of Jacob, and became heads of two tribes of Israel.  The wrongs committed against him were now forgotten and Joseph became fruitful—all because of his relationship with God!!  Surely there is a lesson here.  Often it is indeed wise to leave the past behind as God blesses you.

 

When the seven years of famine came, the starving people of Egypt and of all the countries came to Joseph . . . to buy grain.  Here Joseph is a type (symbol) of Christ, through whom all the blessings of God are dispensed to the hungering people of this earth.  It was the providence of God that brought Joseph to Egypt to save his people from famine, but it was also to isolate them from the moral pollution of the land of Canaan.  Chapter 38 illustrates what was happening to the children of Israel in Canaan.  God’s remedy was to remove them to Egypt, where they would be virtually cut off from the heathen (43:32).