(1) Joseph mentioned God 4 times when he interpreted the dream to Pharaoh.
(1st) 41:16 Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “It is not within my power, but God will speak concerning the welfare of Pharaoh.”
When Joseph finally got the opportunity to show off he gave credit to God.
(2nd,3rd,4th) 41:25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Both dreams of Pharaoh have the same meaning. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.
41:28 This is just what I told Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.
41:32 The dream was repeated to Pharaoh because the matter has been decreed by God, and God will make it happen soon.
To Joseph, God did not just have the power to interpret but He is the One who is in control of history. He is the One who brings the good year and the One who brings the famine.
Reflection: Can we give credit to God in your critical time? In your job interview when people give you praise?
Do you believe that God is in control? Whether it is the world-wide pandemic or anything else?
(2) 41:33 “So now Pharaoh should look for a wise and discerning man and give him authority over all the land of Egypt.
If we have faith in God we should respond back with appropriate action. In this case, Pharaoh needed to prepare his country.
Reflection: What does God show you in Scriptures? Have you put those things into action yet?
(3) the wisdom of Joseph
Joseph showed his wisdom in his suggestions to Pharaoh:
A good leader with appropriate power was crucial in crisis like this v.33. That leader needs to have local officials to help him v.34a. Fair and clear tax codes were given v.34b. Simply and effective administrative procedure-grain was stored locally and when the famine came then the grain would be given back locally v.35-36.
Reflection: Pray for America. During the time of pandemic we ask God for good leaders, both centrally and locally.
Audrey
2026
1. Repeated phrase
v.8 Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him
15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it
24 ...no one could tell me its meaning.”
v.25 ...God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.
v.28 ...God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do
32 The dream was repeated to Pharaoh because the matter has been decreed by God, and God will make it happen soon
Summary: The dreams themselves were troubling. Cows eating cows and grain heads swallowed up grain heads. And the ugly looking one stayed. Therefore, Pharaoh was trouble and had to have the interpretation of the dreams. When no one could interpret the cupbearer remembered Joseph.
God was the One who made Pharoah had those dreams to reveal to him about the famine and also to bring Joseph out from the prison. The famine was important to the survival of the country through the famine, but Joseph was important in saving his family.
2. Pharaoh repeated what Potiphar and the chief warden pattern
38 So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find a man like Joseph, one in whom the Spirit of God is present?”39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Because God has enabled you to know all this, there is no one as wise and discerning as you are!
(UBSH) As in the case of Bezalel in Exo 31:1–5, the king recognizes that God has given his spirit to Joseph to be able to understand what God is doing. Therefore Joseph, regardless of what he has said in verse 16, is seen by the king as possessing extraordinary powers or gifts.
v.40 ...Only I, the king, will be greater than you....43 Pharaoh had him ride in the chariot used by his second-in-command
v.55 ...Pharaoh said to all the people of Egypt, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.”
Summary: When recognize the presence of God or the spirit of God then the king given the highest responsibility possible to Joseph. He is the 2nd in command. He did not take any other duties, but direct his people to Joseph for help.
3. The name of his sons
51 Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “Certainly God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s house.” 52 He named the second child Ephraim, saying, “Certainly God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”
In this "happy ending" of Joseph, his heart was bitter sweet. His life from 17-30 was full of trouble and suffering. Being sold as a slave, serving the master and his wife, blaming for crime he did not committed, put in a dungeon prisoner, serving in the prison, and being forgotten and left there for 2 more years were all not easy.
Reflection: Compare with Joseph my life is easy. Up to now, even with chemo, not much trouble or suffering. The side effects are minor and overall health is ok. God made him forget all his trouble and made him fruitful, He can certainly help me to do the same.
4. questions
1) God. the country could survive the famine
2) Joseph would be bring out of prison and become the 2nd in command in Egypt
3) Joseph was concerned the welfare of Egypt in teaching Pharoah what to do with the famine. P made him in charge of the famine.
4) Making disciples of Jesus Christ in the 2nd generation.
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