Gen. 41:15-32
Joseph, brought out of prison to Pharaoh’s palace, stood on the brink of a destiny he could never have visualized. Often must his thoughts have reverted to his boyhood dreams and the promise then implied that his brethren one day would own him in an exalted place; but surely he never foresaw this place of glory in Egypt, the greatest kingdom then on earth. But God had at all times been ordering events so that this would soon be Joseph’s portion. He could use the hatred of Joseph’s brethren to start him on that long journey to Egypt, the treachery of a wicked woman to place him in prison, the dreams of a butler, and now the disturbed night of the heathen monarch himself — all to bring about His purposes. Joseph naturally may have been perplexed by each trying experience, but as he was brought to stand before Pharaoh, perhaps he saw that if he had not had the humiliation of the prison he would never have been in the palace.
“And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have... heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me; God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” vv. 15,16. With perfect poise and confidence in God, Joseph, the Hebrew slave, taken from the dungeon, stands calmly before the ruler of the land, aware that he is there in God’s stead and assured that God will give him an answer for the perplexed monarch. How could he declare that God would give “an answer of peace,” had he not been already in the current of God’s thoughts? In this he is a faint foreshadowing of One who was yet to come — the true Joseph: “For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand.” John 3:34,35.
Pharaoh then recounted his dreams to Joseph in more energetic terms than originally, saying: “I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.” Like the blessed One whom he foreshadowed, Joseph took no glory to himself, but replied: “What God is about to do He showeth unto Pharaoh. Behold there come seven years of great plenty... And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land... And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.” vv. 28-32.
Joseph interpreted the dreams of the king with a quiet simplicity and decision which so approved itself to Pharaoh’s conscience that he too had not the least doubt that God was in the matter. Though a stranger to the people of the land and a victim of their callousness, he was no stranger to the God whose counsels for the world he was now proclaiming. He rose above the scruples and shame of one just emerging from prison. Confidence in God took away the fear of slight and drew out his heart in good will to the king and his people.
ML 05/14/1967