Chapter Twelve - Pharaoh’s Dreams
Two full years had passed since Pharaoh’s birthday banquet. Pharaoh went to bed as usual; as he slept he began to dream. In his dream, he stood on the bank of the River Nile. As he gazed at the river, seven fat, well bred cattle came up out of the water and began to feed along the riverbank. As he watched this peaceful sight, a commotion in the water attracted his attention. Turning around, he saw seven malnourished, thin cattle. They came up out of the water and stood near the seven fat cattle. Suddenly, the seven thin cattle began to eat the seven fat cattle. As he watched in horror, the seven thin cattle ate up the seven fat cattle.
Pharaoh woke up startled! The dream was so vivid! For a while he could not get it out of his mind. Finally, he drifted off to sleep. He began to dream again; in his dream he saw seven full heads of grain growing on one stalk. The full heads were large and good. As he looked at this sight, another stalk began to grow behind the first stalk. This stalk also had seven full heads of grain, but, they were thin and parched looking. The hot, east wind had withered them. As he watched, the seven thin full heads of grain devoured the seven fat full heads of grain.
Again, Pharaoh woke up suddenly! He was also troubled by this second dream.' What is the meaning of these dreams?’ Pharaoh tossed and turned all night. His sleep was fitful and disjointed. He woke up early. The two dreams were bothering him. He was sure that they held some sort of dreadful meaning. His thoughts were troubled as he ate his meal.
As soon as he arrived at Court, he called for his magicians and wise men. They all filed in and stood before his Throne. Pharaoh told them his two dreams and demanded an explanation from them. The magicians listened carefully, but, they were unable to make any sense out of the dreams. They told Pharaoh that they would go away and seek the interpretation from their gods, then report back to him. He agreed with them and dismissed them.
Pharaoh turned to his wise men and asked them if they could work out what the dreams meant. The wise men asked Pharaoh for a short time to discuss the dreams among themselves. Pharaoh agreed; he was anxious to have an answer. The wise men adjourned to a side room and discussed the matter back and forth. Obviously the symbols in the dreams stood for food; but, they were unable to work out any likely interpretation. Why the thin cattle ate the fat cattle; and why the thin full heads of grain ate the fat full heads of grain, left them all baffled. They could offer no explanation for such remarkable incidents.
They returned to Pharaoh and admitted the dreams had them all baffled. Pharaoh was disappointed! The magicians and soothsayers returned soon after. They told Pharaoh that all their enchantments and soothsaying's did not offer any solutions for the dreams.
Pharaoh was dejected! His magicians and wise men could not interpret his dreams. He sat dejectedly on his throne.
Zophek, the Chief Butler observed what was happening. His memory began to function. He thought of his dream in prison and Zanaken's dream; how Joseph was able to tell them exactly what they meant. He could hardly contain his excitement! ‘Joseph will be able to give Pharaoh an answer!’
Zophek approached Pharaoh, as he walked he could not help noticing the defeated attitude of Pharaoh’s wise men and magicians. He stood before Pharaoh. Pharaoh looked at him and saw the excited look on Zophek's face. Zophek spoke in front of everybody.
“Pharaoh, today, I remember my faults. Pharaoh was extremely angry with his servants and you put me and Zanaken in prison.”
Pharaoh remembered the incident. He sat up and waited for Zophek to continue.
“Zanaken and I had separate dreams on the same night. We could not understand the meaning of the dreams. In the prison with us was a young man, a Hebrew. He was Zanak’s servant. We told him our dreams and he explained them to us. He explained to each man his own dream and it happened according to his explanation. Within three days he restored me to my position and Zanaken he hanged!”
Pharaoh sat astonished! This Hebrew servant had interpreted their dreams before he, Pharaoh, had even made up his mind what to do! He well remembered his deliberations on his birthday. ‘What sort of man had that sort of power?’Pharaoh and his entire Court listened in wonder as Zophek told his story. No one present could deny that Pharaoh had ordered events just as they occurred in the dreams.
Pharaoh thanked Zophek for his wisdom in telling him the story. He ordered that Joseph be brought to him. “Bring the Hebrew servant to me immediately!”
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Joseph woke up that morning feeling refreshed, he spent time in prayer. Shortly after, the guard came and opened his cell door. Joseph went to wash himself, then he went to the kitchen to organise the prisoners’ meals. He was happy, he felt good inside and at peace with the world.
He supervised the meal preparations; then went to check on the prisoners. After his round, he returned to the kitchen for his own meal. Then he took one of the trustworthy prisoners and they accompanied the guards to hand out the meals. Mealtime over, Joseph supervised the washing of the eating utensils. Next he reported to Zanak for any special instructions for the day. Zanak greeted Joseph warmly and told him that he had nothing special for him to do that day. Joseph went about his normal duties.
About mid morning, the sentries on the gate noticed two chariots racing up to the main gates. They could see by the insignias on the chariots; that they belonged to Pharaoh’s personal guards. This was highly unusual! Immediately, they sent for Zanak who hurried down to the entrance. As he arrived the chariots pulled up in a great swirl of dust. Ontis, the captain of Pharaoh’s personal bodyguards, demanded to see Zanak. Zanak gave the order to open the main gates. The gate swung open and the chariots drove in.
Ontis said, “Where is the Hebrew prisoner? Pharaoh demands his immediate presence!”
Zanak gave instructions to run and get Joseph ready to go to Pharaoh. Oznak took some guards and ran to find Joseph. Joseph was walking along a corridor; he heard the sound of men running. He wondered what the problem was.
Oznak shouted to him, “Joseph, Pharaoh has demanded to see you immediately. Quick, you must change your prison garments and shave your beard.”
They grabbed him and made him run with them. Ontis was waiting for him. Joseph sensed the urgency, but, was mystified as to why Pharaoh would want to see him. Ontis said to them, “Hurry up with the prisoner, Pharaoh is waiting.”
Joseph was hurried into an adjoining room. A change of clothes was waiting for him. A bowl of water and a knife to shave his beard was ready. He quickly began to cut off his beard. One of the guards finished the shave. Joseph changed quickly. Ontis ordered his men to run with Joseph to the chariots.
Ontis, ordered Joseph to mount his own chariot. Joseph quickly stepped up into the chariot. Ontis and his men mounted their chariots; Zanak gave the order to open the gates and they sped out of the prison and headed for the Palace.
Joseph turned and looked back at the prison. He could hardly believe that he was outside! He had to cling hard to the chariot. The horses were being driven at a furious pace. As they neared the city; people quickly moved out of the way. They raced towards the Palace.
Ontis was tense, Pharaoh would be getting impatient. The chariots raced up to the Palace entrance, everyone was waiting. A courtier rushed up to meet them. He glanced quickly at Joseph. There was no time to change into better garments, Pharaoh wanted to see him immediately. They ran with Joseph to the Throne room. The courtier halted them at the entrance. He walked quickly inside and went directly to Pharaoh.
“My lord Pharaoh, the Hebrew prisoner has arrived.” Pharaoh breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Maybe, now I will get an answer to my dreams.’
“Bring him to me at once“.
The courtier hurried away. He signalled to Ontis to take the prisoner to Pharaoh. Joseph was marched up to Pharaoh. As Joseph walked he could not help noticing the magnificence of the Throne room. Joseph looked at the most powerful monarch in the world, and wondered what Pharaoh
could possibly want him for.
Pharaoh looked intently at the young Hebrew. He noted his bearing and his steady, unflinching gaze. Joseph was forced to prostrate himself before Pharaoh. Pharaoh sat upon his throne, surrounded with all the opulent luxury and splendour of his Court.
Joseph was impressed and awed at so much luxury and power.
Pharaoh dispensed with his usual protocol. He studied Joseph intently. The room was silent; all eyes were on Pharaoh and the Hebrew prisoner. Pharaoh could sense that there was something different about this Hebrew.
He spoke, “I had a dream, and nobody can explain it. I have heard about you; that you can understand a dream and explain it.”
Joseph was relieved, so this is what it is all about. Joseph smiled at Pharaoh and said, “I can’t do it myself, but God can give Pharaoh a good meaning to your dreams.”
Pharaoh gazed intently at Joseph, Joseph look steadily back at him. Pharaoh was encouraged to tell him his dreams.
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream, I stood on the riverbank. As I looked at the river, seven fat, well bred cattle came up out of the river and fed at the water’s edge. Then, seven, thin, malnourished cattle; I have never seen such terrible looking cattle anywhere in Egypt, came up out of the river and ate the seven fat cattle. Afterwards, you could not even tell that they had eaten the fat cattle. They still looked thin and terrible.”
“Then I woke up. I went back to sleep and dreamed again. This time, seven full heads of grain came up on one stalk, they were big and fat; as I looked another stalk grew behind the first. It also had seven full heads of grain on one stalk, but, they were thin and parched looking. They had been blasted with the east wind. Then, the seven thin full heads of grain devoured the fat full heads of grain.”
Pharaoh paused for a moment, “I told the dreams to the magicians and wise men, but none of them could tell me the meaning.”
Meanwhile as Pharaoh told his story, Joseph was praying silently for an explanation.
Pharaoh finished speaking and looked at Joseph. Joseph appeared to be thinking about the dreams. Everybody was hushed and tense.
All eyes were on Joseph!
Joseph waited silently on God; then the interpretation was given to him. Joseph looked into Pharaoh’s eyes and spoke, “Pharaoh’s two dreams are one dream. God, has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. The seven good cattle are seven years.”
“The seven cattle that came up after them are also seven years. The seven parched full heads of grain, blasted with the east wind are seven years of famine. What God is about to do, He is showing to Pharaoh.”
“Seven years of great abundance will come throughout all the land of Egypt. After that seven years of severe famine will come. And the great abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. For the famine will be very severe. And God has given the dream to Pharaoh, twice, because He has established it, and God will shortly bring it to pass.”
Joseph paused to let the interpretation sink in.
Pharaoh was staring at him in awe. The interpretation made sense! No wonder he had woken up in dread, that something awful would happen. He looked intently at Joseph. Joseph with his keen mind could see a way out of Pharaoh’s dilemma.
Joseph spoke again, “Pharaoh should seek out a wise and discreet man, and set him over the land of Egypt; and let him appoint officers over the land, to take a fifth part of the harvests in the seven good years. Let them gather this food during the good years that will come; and store the grain in the cities, under Pharaoh’s authority. That food will be stored for use in the seven years of famine, which will come in the land of Egypt, so that the people will not perish in the famine.”
Pharaoh was amazed at Joseph’s wise plan; his advice was excellent. Pharaoh looked around his Court. Everyone was nodding their head in agreement. Joseph’s interpretation made sense, and his counsel was sound.
Pharaoh said unto all his servants in the Throne room, “Can we find such a man as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
His servants shook their heads, none of the wise men of Egypt, or, the magicians had been able to interpret the dreams; or, give Pharaoh any advice on them.
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since, God has shown you all this, there is no one as wise and discreet as you are. You shall rule over Egypt; according to your words shall all my people be ruled. No one shall be over you except me.”
Joseph stood speechless! Surely, he had not heard correctly. Pharaoh wanted to set him over the land of Egypt! Pharaoh could see Joseph’s reaction. The Hebrew obviously, could not believe this was happening to him.
Pharaoh spoke again, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
To confirm it Pharaoh took the Royal ring off his finger and put it on Joseph’s hand. He ordered Royal garments to be brought and put on Joseph. Pharaoh also took a gold chain and put it around Joseph’s neck.