INTRODUCTION: Joseph's life may be divided into three parts. He grew up in the safety of his Father's house. Being sold into bondage, he spent years in Egypt as a slave or a prisoner. Here we see him enter upon the state of exaltation.

I. PHARAOH'S DREAM - verses 1-8.
In a recent television documentary on ancient Egypt, the importance of dreams in that culture was strongly emphasized. Some of their most important books were written on this sub- ject. Great temples were dedicated to this aspect of life. Religious leaders and wise men spent their lives interpreting dreams. Perhaps this explains why God chose such a medium to speak to Pharaoh.

As Pharaoh slept, he dreamed a bizarre and troubling dream. Seven fat and healthy cows came up out of the Nile to feed. In turn, seven sickly cows came up out of the Nile and devoured the healthy cows. Shockingly, they grew no fatter. The dreams were then repeated with ears of grain, instead of cows.

God impressed upon Pharaoh the seriousness of this dream. Our Lord has no trouble getting the attention of men. The greatest ruler on earth was turned into a trembling worried man. As we have often noted in our study, "God rules even among earth's great ones" [Proverbs 2 1:1].

None of Pharaoh's magicians or learned men could interpret the dream. It was necessary that they should first fail in their attempt. This proved to Pharaoh that God was truly with Joseph. When our earthly helps fail, we are ready to give God the credit. Had Joseph first been called, it is probable that the others would have claimed that they could have given the same interpretation.

II. THE BUTLER REMEMBERS JOSEPH - verses 9-13.
How these Scriptures illustrate Romans 8:28. Had the butler remembered Joseph at the first, God's timing would have been foiled. There is no doubt Joseph felt sad and bitter that he had been forgotten for two years. How Joseph must have rejoiced in God's wisdom after the fact. Let us learn to trust God in all circumstances [I Thessalonians 5:18].

III. HUMILITY - verses 14-16.
Only afflictions can prepare us to do God's work. In God's time after years of bondage Joseph stands before Pharaoh. He is a mature saint above the power of flattery or the deception of trust in self. He ascribes all credit and glory to God. Humility and trust in God's power is a distinguishing earmark of God's servants.

IV. THE DREAMS INTERPRETED - verses 17-32.
Joseph explained that both dreams have the same interpretation. God is showing Pharaoh what He is about to do. The seven good cows and stalks of grain represent seven years of great plenty. The seven thin cows and ears of grain represent seven years of famine.

Notice how all is seen coming up out of the Nile. Egypt from the air looks like a vast desert with a ribbon of green running through it. Agriculture in Egypt was not dependent upon rainfall, but upon the annual flooding of the Nile. The Nile flood-plain was watered and enriched.

In some years the Nile did not flood sufficiently. This was caused by a lack of rainfall upstream or by a temporary change in the channel of the White Nile which fed the Nile. In other years, the Nile flooded so high that by the time it receded the planting season was lost. Either situation could bring famine. In good years, the Nile-plain could produce huge yield. In bad years, there was no crop. Seven years of no, or too much flooding was a monumental disaster.

Notice now several truths:
A. True prophecy comes only from God [Isaiah 41:21-23].

B. God controls the economies of nations. Think of the Great Depression in our country.

C. God controls the nations of this world for the good of His elect people.

V. JOSEPH'S ADVICE TO PHARAOH - verses 33-36.
By divine impulse Joseph advised Pharaoh. No doubt Pharaoh could see that Joseph spoke, not through pride, but heavenly enlightenment.

Some have been tempted to feel that Joseph's plan was rather harsh toward the people of Egypt. Let us remember several matters:
A. Joseph's plan was given by God's prophetic light and saved Egypt and Canaan from starvation.

B. We pay much more than twenty percent in taxes to our government.

C. Had the government given the grain away in years of famine, much would have been wasted. Handouts are seldom a good idea. Because the people had no increase in famine years the sale of grain replaced taxes for the support of the government.

VI. JOSEPH EXALTED - verses 37-44.
This is the greatest rags-to-riches story ever told. Joseph goes in one day from an unknown foreign prisoner to second in command of the greatest nation on earth.

Pharaoh saw that God intended Joseph for this position. Bible students have often seen in this a type of Christ's exaltation as Savior of the world. Just as Joseph ruled so that Israel could be saved, so Christ was exalted so that the bread of life might be given [Ephesians 1: 15-23, Acts 2:33]. In the lives of both, suffering preceded glory. Only through suffering were they brought to a position to bless others [II Corinthians 8:9].

VII. A NEW NAME - verse 45.
It is commonly believed that Joseph's new name meant "Savior of the World." We can see how this befitted him as the man who kept the civilized world from starvation. How much more does this title belong to the Savior [Revelation 5:9].

In Pharaoh's attempt to make Joseph more acceptable to the nation, he also gave him the daughter of a high ranking Egyptian priest as a wife. We can only suppose that Joseph converted her to the worship of the true God. The names of the sons seem to bear this out as they both contain the name of God.

VIII. JOSEPH CARRIES OUT GOD'S WORK - verses 46-49.

IX. A TESTIMONY FOR GOD - verses 50-52.
God blessed Joseph with two sons. Both were given names that testified to Joseph's faithfulness to God. Joseph was a spiritually-minded man who saw God's hand in the affairs of life. Note that these two boys were later claimed by Jacob and became the fathers of two of Israel's tribes.

X. FAMINE - verses 53-57.
Here the second part of the prophetic dreams was fulfilled. Only because of Joseph's knowledge was Egypt and the surrounding countries saved.

This famine was God's way of bringing Israel down into Egypt. Because God would preserve Israel the others were fed also. How strange are God's ways. How much the world benefits from the presence of God's elect people [Matthew 5:13].

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