Genesis 41:25-36

“And Joseph said unto Pharaoh . . .” (v. 25a). All familiar with children’s Bible stories know who Joseph and Pharaoh were. Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and Pharaoh was the king of Egypt.

Being sold into slavery turned out to be Joseph’s ticket to Egypt, a place that he did not intend to go. Neither did he seek an audience with Pharaoh. Joseph came before Pharaoh because Pharaoh learned that Joseph could interpret dreams. Pharaoh had a troubling dream which none of his advisors could explain.

Upon learning the reason that Pharaoh had summoned him and before hearing the dream, Joseph said: “It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace” (v. 16). There is no reason to believe that Pharaoh had any knowledge of the God which Joseph had just referenced. Joseph knew the God who speaks to men through dreams because God spoke to him in dreams in which his brothers bowed down before him in obeisance (Gen. 37). Joseph knew the God who spoke to Pharaoh to be the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Furthermore, he knew God as the God who spoke all creation into existence (Gen. 1:1).

“God hath showed Pharaoh what he is about to do” (v. 25b). Joseph heard Pharaoh’s dream and was immediately given its meaning. God did not delay in supplying Joseph the words which he was to speak to Pharaoh.

Joseph explained that the seven good kine and the seven good ears were seven years of plenty which would soon come to pass in Egypt. The seven thin kine and the seven empty ears were seven years which would follow the seven years of plenty — years which would cause the years of plenty to be forgotten. Upon making this known to Pharaoh, Joseph advised him to find “a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt” (v. 33). This man was to be given authority to appoint officers who would take up one fifth of the harvest during the seven years of plenty. The surplus of the fat years would be held in store to meet the needs which would arise in the seven years of famine (v. 34-36).

With the exception of the first five words of verse 25, the entirety of the text before us is words spoken by Joseph to Pharaoh. Every word which Joseph spoke was from God. Pharaoh heard and acted. Pharaoh selected Joseph as the discreet and wise man who would appoint officers to gather a fifth of the harvests during the seven plenteous years.

The entire passage before us could be rephrased and shortened to read: “God caused Pharaoh to hear the words which He gave to Joseph.” Knowledge that Egypt would experience seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine was part of that which God wanted Pharaoh to receive. God wanted Pharaoh to act upon the information and specified that which Pharaoh should do. Pharaoh responded by setting Joseph over the land of Egypt. Pharaoh chose Joseph because Joseph was discreet and wise in his eyes.

All scripture exists for God’s purposes. The account before us exists such that men might know God and act in accordance to that which He makes known. We must look beyond the text before us to view the picture that God would have us to see and to act upon.

In Genesis 37:5-9, God told Joseph through two dreams that his brothers would bow down before him. His brothers bowed in obeisance following the first of the seven years of famine, 21 years following the dreams from God (Gen. 42:6). Consider that which transpired in the span between the dreams and fulfillment. Joseph was sold to Pharaoh’s captain of the guard (37:36). Joseph was falsely accused and placed in prison (39:20). Joseph interpreted the dream of Pharaoh’s butler (40:13). Pharaoh’s butler informed Pharaoh of Joseph’s interpretation (41:12). Joseph’s wait was long but his elevation from prison to power was in a flash of time.

When God revealed to Joseph that his brothers would bow before him, God did not reveal the time when it should come to pass. When the time did come, Joseph’s brothers were not aware that they had fulfilled that which God revealed 21 years before (Gen. 42:8). While Joseph recognized his brothers when they bowed, he did not remember his dreams until after they had bowed. Joseph believed the dreams; his brothers did not. Both Joseph and his brothers failed to realize that God had caused what He had said (obeisance to Joseph) to happen until after it had happened. Neither the believer nor the unbelievers knew what had happened until it had come to pass. Such are God’s ways.

While Old Testament scriptures reveal God’s ways, God speaks clearly and directly in New Testament scripture. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matt. 24:14). New Testament believers have been forewarned. In Matthew 25, Jesus likened His coming (the coming of the bridegroom) to ten virgins. Half were wise; half were foolish. Both the wise and the foolish slumbered and slept. Both heard the midnight hour call and awoke. The wise were ready; the foolish could not answer the call.

That which God said would happen shall happen in the manner that He has said. All shall be asleep but the wise shall be ready because they ever seek Him and feast upon His word and are filled. To the church at Philadelphia, Jesus said, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” (Rev. 3:10).

Let us hear and act upon that which the Spirit has spoken.