GENESIS 41

JOSEPH FINDS FAVOR WITH PHARAOH BY INTERPRETING HIS DREAMS

Two years later, Joseph remains imprisoned. 

Pharaoh has a dream, where seven plump cows are eaten by seven skinny cows. In the same night, he has another dream where seven plump stalks of grain are eaten by seven thin stalks of grain. 

Pharaoh wants to know the meaning of the dreams. The cupbearer finally remembers Joseph and tells Pharaoh about his ability to interpret the dreams. 

Joseph is released and Pharaoh describes the dreams to him. Joseph interprets that there will be seven years of plenty and then another seven years of famine. God is warning Pharoah and telling him to prepare. 

Joseph suggests that Pharaoh should appoint a wise man to oversee Egypt and help them ration the food to prepare for the upcoming famine. Pharaoh thinks that Joseph himself is the wise man for the job, so Joseph is put into a very powerful position in Egypt. 

For the next seven years, Joseph collects one-fifth of the food and stores it accordingly to prepare for the seven-year famine. When the famine starts, people from all over the world come to Egypt because they are the only ones prepared for the famine. 

Joseph has two sons, Manassah and Ephraim.