Second Only to Pharaoh
Discouragement turns to dream interpretation in the Joseph story. In one of the great turnarounds of history, Joseph handles it with godliness and aplomb. Part 5 in the Joseph story.
Pharaoh dreamed. Ominous dreams they were, so he sought help.
And when Pharaohs wanted help—they got it. These kings of Egypt were more than just rulers with advisors and wise men. They were gods. Gods on earth.
They looked like gods, too, wearing thick gold bracelets, wide jeweled necklaces, and a blue and gold robe falling over a white linen kilt. The ultimate statement was the stuffed cobra perched atop his headdress, its neck hood flared six inches wide, its two-inch fangs bared, and its glassy eyes glaring into the soul.
One of Pharaoh’s dreams placed him on the sandy shore of the great Nile River. The chocolaty water stirred and out came a cow walking up the shore. She sauntered toward him, her big belly swaying, water cascaded off her hide, and gazed sleepily into his eyes. Then she ambled past him to munch on river grass.
Six more cows repeated the action until seven plump cows were grazing.
The river roiled again. This time a bony cow broke the surface, her face gaunt, ribs poking out the hide, and her shoulder bone standing like a tentpole with skin sagging in folds. She sauntered to Pharaoh, stared at him with those same blank eyes, then settled next to a healthy cow to graze.
Six more skeletal beasts surfaced and positioned themselves next to a fat cow.
Then the unbelievable happened: The bony cows turned and chomped down on the neck of a fat cow. Blood gushed but the fat cows kept grazing. The gaunt cows continued to rip into their prey, tearing hide, crunching bones, and filling the marsh with blood.
Then the emaciated cows turned to face Pharaoh, jaws still chewing with guts dangling out of their mouths. They stepped toward him and once nose to nose, their soulless eyes bored into his.
He awoke with a jolt to sweaty sheets.
It took time, but eventually, he drifted back to sleep, only to dream again—this time of healthy and shriveled heads of wheat instead of fat and gaunt cows.
At his morning meeting with advisors, he described his dreams. Instead of insight, all he got was blank stares. “Nothing? No help?” he asked. Then a low moan came from the cupbearer as he shuffled to Pharaoh. "I'm so sorry my lord. I am reminded of a mistake I made.”
"Go on."
"Once when you were angry with me and the chief baker you imprisoned us. A few months into our time there, we each had a disturbing dream. A young Hebrew was there, a diligent and bright servant of the warden, and he interpreted our dreams down to the last detail. I was restored to my position with you and the baker was killed. It was my oversight not to mention him to you before."
"Well, what are you waiting for? Get me that man at once."
*****
Joseph startled at the loud rap on the prison door. “Pharaoh wants to see you,” said the king’s guards.
Me? Why?
They led him to the king’s palace for a shave and fresh clothes. What does Pharaoh want?
He was escorted to the Great Hall, a cavernous room held up by sandstone columns and a ceiling so high it seemed to be the sky. If fact, the ceiling was painted to look like the sky, clouds here and there, a bird, and the sun, which hung directly over the throne of Ra himself, Pharaoh.
As he passed the king’s officials, Joseph noticed the curled mustache of the cupbearer. Ah, that’s why I’m here … a dream.
The guard positioned him in front of Pharaoh, who was seated high up on a throne, staring down, that flared-neck cobra perched atop his head, and suddenly Joseph’s palms felt sweaty and knees got weak. What if I can’t interpret the dream? What if….
A beam of sunlight reflected off Pharaoh’s staff. What was that? He squinted. Was it … it looked oval … maybe a stone … could it be an eye? Yes, it’s a bronze eye just like the one Dinah gave me. Dinah! Yes, Dinah! She’s praying for me. The Spirit instantly filled him and he lifted his eyes to meet Pharaoh’s.
"I had a dream last night,” Pharoah said. “And I’ve heard that you can interpret.”
"I can’t," Joseph replied, intending to continue, but then decided to take a breath.
Pharaoh looked shocked, cocking his head to one side. The guard next to him shifted uncomfortably.
In that brief second, Joseph felt an odd surge of confidence. Pharaoh needed him; he needed his interpretation. And in a way, Joseph had nothing to lose, he was already in the prison time forgot. He relaxed even more and completed his sentence, "But my God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."
Pharaoh’s shoulders relaxed but seemed at a momentary loss for words, as if Joseph’s bluntness had thrown him off. He collected himself and described his dreams.
Without hesitation Joseph said, "The dreams are one and the same.”
Pharaoh sat up on his throne.
“They were given twice for a reason. My God is serious about his message to you.”
Pharaoh’s eyes remained bright.
“The seven good cows represent seven prosperous years. The seven skinny cows represent seven years of famine. The dream is meant to show you that seven years of abundance are coming to the land of Egypt. But after that, seven years of famine will follow. And when the bad years arrive, Pharaoh, all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten. It will be like they never happened. The famine will ravage the land."
The king stroked his attached beard and stared thoughtfully. “Seven years … abundance … famine.”
Joseph added, "And my God is powerful enough to make this happen."
Pharaoh nodded slowly. Then he looked over at his officials, seeming to want a reaction or a word or some help. He got nothing.
Joseph felt the next part of God’s message burning in his gut, aching to come out. But can I be so forward? Maybe the time isn’t right.
Pharaoh leaned toward an advisor and they talked for several minutes. “Are you sure?” Pharaoh asked.
Joseph nodded.
Pharaoh leaned on his other armrest and consulted with a purple-robed man who appeared to be a priest.
Joseph asked, "May I?"
Pharaoh nodded.
"If I can be so bold, this is what I suggest you do: Look for a discerning and wise man to put in charge of Egypt. This man should appoint commissioners in each city to collect a fifth of the harvest during the seven good years. The grain should be stored in silos and held in reserve so it can be used during the seven years of famine. That way the country won’t be ruined by starvation."
Pharaoh’s face brightened and he called the cupbearer over. They whispered for a minute, then the cupbearer scurried off. Ten minutes later the cupbearer returned with the prison warden by his side. Pharaoh talked intently with the warden, seeming to ask many questions, occasionally pointing at Joseph, the warden also pointing as he spoke.
When finished with the warden, Pharaoh dismissed Joseph to the foyer of the Great Hall with two guards to watch over him. Joseph heard talking and raised voices and low murmuring. Are they arguing? Are they disagreeing with my interpretation? After an hour he was led back to his place before Pharaoh.
Pharaoh stood before his throne, the bronze-eyed staff in his right hand, and rumbled in a voice that echoed through the hall: "Is there a man who can look out for the country as Joseph has suggested?”
Joseph’s gut tightened. Not a sound came from the officials behind him.
“Malichi. You?” he asked the purple-robed man. He shook his head.
“And, perhaps, most importantly,” he pounded his staff on the sandstone floor, “is there a man in whom resides the spirit of his God?"
Joseph held his breath. My God… Not the squeak of a leather sandal was heard.
"Since God has made all this known to you, Joseph, and since there is no one as discerning and wise as you, I put you in charge of my palace and the country.”
In charge? Joseph’s mind went blank, his knees weakened. A murmur arose from the officials.
“All my people are to submit to your orders and only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you."
Submit to me? Second only to Pharaoh?
Just then the sun glinted off the bronze eye and Joseph felt the Spirit return. Thank you, Dinah. And thank you God. He filled his chest and said, "Yes, Pharaoh. I would be honored to serve in this way."
Pharaoh walked to stand before Joseph, a shorter man than Joseph expected. "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt. I am Pharaoh, but without your word, no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt."
What? Is this happening? All of Egypt?
Pharaoh twisted the gold signet ring from his finger, a scarab beetle carved in its face that was used to imprint bricks with a royal seal. He slid it onto the ex-prisoner’s finger, "With this signet ring, you shall rule the land."
Rule the land?!? This morning I was ruling a prison and now I will rule Egypt.
For the first time since entering the hall his mind was calm. Thank you, God. Thank you. I don’t know what this means—but I will do what you wish of me.
Where did you get that knarley photo of the pharoah and can you identify which pharoh it was.? Nice story....Im following....