TWO full years after the butler had been restored to his place in the king’s house, Pharaoh had a dream which left a deep impression on his mind. He thought he saw seven nice looking cows come out of a river, and feed in a meadow; and while they were feeding, seven thin, miserable looking cows came out of the river and stood beside them. And the thin cows ate up the fat ones. Then Pharaoh awoke; but he slept, and dreamed a second time; this time he saw seven good ears of corn grow upon one stalk; and then seven thin, blasted ears sprang up after them; and the seven thin ears devoured the seven full ears. Again Pharaoh wakened from his dream.
In the morning his spirit was troubled for he did not know what the dream might mean. He called for the magicians and all his wise men, but none of them could tell him the meaning of the dream. The talk in the palace about the king’s dream recalled to the butler the dream he had had in prison and how he had failed to speak a word for Joseph. He went to Pharaoh and told him that he remembered his faults that day; then he recounted how he had been thrown into prison, and spoke of his dream and also of the chief baker’s dream. And he told the king how their dreams had been interpreted by a young Hebrew who was servant of the captain of the guard, and how all had come to pass just as he had said it would.
When Pharaoh heard this he sent and called Joseph, and they brought him with much haste from the dungeon. He shaved himself, and put on other clothes, and went into the king’s presence.
Pharaoh told him that he had had a dream that none could interpret, and he had heard that he could understand a dream to interpret it. Joseph answered the king, “It is not in me; God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” Pharaoh then told Joseph his dreams. Joseph told him the two dreams had the same meaning—it was but one dream; and God was showing him by this dream what He was about to do.
The seven good cows and the seven good ears both represented seven years. The seven thin cows and seven empty ears would be seven years of famine. There would be seven years of plenty in all the land of Egypt, and then there would be seven years of famine, and the plenty would be forgotten and the famine would consume the land. The plenty should not be known in the land by reason of the dreadful famine that should follow. Joseph also told Pharaoh that the dream was doubled because the thing was established of God; and God would shortly bring it to pass.
Joseph then advised Pharaoh to set over the land of Egypt, a man who was discreet and wise; and to appoint officers over the land to take up the fifth part of it in the seven plenteous years. These men should gather food and store it in the cities, and lay up corn; and when the famine came they would have something to eat, and would not perish because of the famine.
This suggestion pleased the king and his servants, for they thought it very wise and good. And Pharaoh said, “Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” And he said to Joseph that inasmuch as God had shown him all this, there was none so discreet and wise as he. He said also to him that he should be put over his house, and that all his people should be ruled according to his word.
Was not this a wonderful place for Joseph to reach? All the people were put under his authority and great power was given him. Pharaoh took the ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and he put fine clothes on him, and put a gold chain about his neck. He gave him a place next to himself in the kingdom. Only in the throne was Pharaoh greater than Joseph. He made Joseph ride in his second chariot, and made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. Joseph had been faithful in the dungeon; now he was lifted out of the dungeon, and put next to the king in power and honor.
Dear young readers, you who believe in Jesus, are in God’s house, and if you are faithful in it while in this wilderness world, you will be lifted up and seated upon the throne of Him who will wield the scepter of the universe; and you will be associated with Him in ruling the nations of the world.
ML 02/23/1902