Do I have any idea what that dream was about? No. I’m not
even sure that dream was about anything at all. But in the Bible, there are
lots of times where people’s dreams meant something. These dreams would tell
people what was going to happen in the future. And one of the people who dealt
with these kinds of dreams a lot was Joseph.
We’ve already heard about some of Joseph’s dreams a few weeks ago, and we’ll come back to them again next week. But for right
now, I want to tell you about some other dreams that Joseph was involved with.
Only this time, Joseph didn’t have the dreams himself. No, now Joseph was the
dream interpreter.
It’s a good thing too, because if Joseph hadn’t been there
to interpret those dreams, things could have gone really badly in Egypt. But
thankfully, God made sure Joseph was exactly where he needed to be to help make
things better.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s take a step back and
listen to a story from Dedu. At least, that’s what I’m calling him. The Bible
doesn’t give us a name for this guy, but I want to call him something! We’re catching up with Dedu in
Pharaoh’s throne room.
________________________
“Can’t anyone tell me anything about my dreams?” That’s all we’d
been hearing from Pharaoh all morning. And Pharaoh was only getting more and
more worried. “You’ve all been staring at books and mumbling to each other for
hours now. You’re telling me that nobody knows anything about my dream!”
Honestly, I was kind of relieved I wasn’t in their shoes at
that moment. I know what it’s like to be on Pharaoh’s bad side, and I wanted no
part of this dream fiasco.
The name’s Dedu. I serve as Pharaoh’s cupbearer My job is
literally to pick up his cup, bring it over to him, and then let him drink from
it. Kind of a weird job, I know, but it pays the bills.
Of course, there’s one part of the job I’m not a huge fan
of. I also have to taste the wine in Pharaoh’s cup before I give it to him.
Don’t get me wrong, Pharaoh always gets the best tasting wine, and it’s kind of
nice that I get the first sip. But the whole point of me tasting that wine is
to see if it’s poisoned. Occupational hazard I guess – Taste good wine, but
might be throwing up in a bathroom for the next week or worse because of it.
Anyways, I really messed up one day. I was walking along,
carrying Pharaoh’s cup to him as always, when I tripped. There wasn’t even
anything on the ground – I just stepped wrong. But when I tripped, Pharaoh’s cup
went flying. And all the wine spilled right on Pharaoh himself!
The guards immediately lowered their spears like they were
ready to fight. Pharaoh was silent for a moment, just staring at the wine
dripping down his chest. Then he had me arrested… I thought I was going to die
that day, but Pharaoh just locked me up and forgot about me.
How’d I get back? Funny story actually! You see, there was
this guy in the prisons…. Wait, that’s it! Hold on, this will only take a
second.
________________________
Dedu: “My king!”
Pharaoh: “What is it, cupbearer?”
Dedu: “I know someone who can tell you what your dream
means!”
Pharaoh: “Well cupbearer, where is he?”
Dedu: “Pharaoh, I want you to think back a few years. There
was once a time you were angry with your servant. You threw me in prison and
your baker right after.
We thought we were gonners. We were terrified that you would
come any day to have us killed, but you didn’t. Then, one night, the baker and
I each had dreams. Neither of us knew what they meant, and we were scared.
But there’s a man in the prisons named Joseph. He’s one of
the kindest men and most incredible workers I’ve ever met. Joseph was a
prisoner too, but it didn’t seem like it. Joseph always did what was right, and
he was so well liked that the jailer even put Joseph in charge of the prison.
Anyways, Joseph came over the next morning and asked why we
looked so upset. So we told him our stories. And then we said that we’ve each
had dreams and don’t have anyone around to tell us what they mean.
Then Joseph said something I’ll never forget. ‘Only God
knows what dreams mean. Tell me your dreams.’ (Genesis 40:8).
So I did. I had dreamed there was a vine in front of me. And
as I walked past the vine, it grew three branches and flowers and grapes all
over the place. And then I squeezed these grapes into your cup to make you
wine.
There was barely a pause before Joseph told me what the
dream meant. He said the three branches were three days, and just liked I’d
poured wine into your cup in my dream, you were going to come in three days,
take me out of prison, and let me be your cupbearer again in real life!
The baker was super excited. He thought his dream would have
a good meaning too, so he asked Joseph what his dream meant. He had dreamt that
he had three baskets of bread on his head, and then crows came to eat the bread.
‘So what does it mean?’ he said! ‘Are the crows Pharaoh? Am
I getting my job back too?’
Joseph paused longer after this dream and said, ‘I’m sorry,
baker, but your dream is not so fortunate. The three baskets are three days. In
three days, Pharaoh will come and execute you. I’m sorry.’
The baker just stared at Joseph. Then he got mad and threw
his shoe at Joseph. ‘Bah, what do you know!’ the baker cried. ‘These were just dreams!’
But they weren’t just dreams, Pharaoh. Three days later,
exactly like Joseph had said, you sent some servants down to the prison. These
servants told us that you wanted me back to serve as your cupbearer. But some
other servants came over and took the baker away. You executed him that night
but restored me to my job. Just like Joseph said.
I’ve been a terrible friend. I promised Joseph I would tell
you about him and help him get out of prison. Joseph is a good man. He’s never
done anything wrong, I promise you. Invite Joseph to your throne room. He can
tell you what your dreams mean!”
Pharaoh: (Small pause). “Guards! Bring this Joseph to me
immediately!”
________________________
The guards went to get Joseph, and let me tell you, I don’t
think I’ve ever been so nervous. I could only hope that Joseph could still
interpret dreams. And that he would forgive me for forgetting about him for so
long. Otherwise, I might have ended up back in prison!
It always amazes me. A man like Joseph didn’t seem like he
belonged in prison. I had heard his story – how Potiphar’s wife had lied about
him – but Joseph never seemed angry about it. I’m sure he had his moments, but
whenever we asked him about it, Joseph just said that he trusted God and was
thankful he could do God’s work wherever God placed him.
I didn’t understand that. Not even sure I do now. But let me
tell you, Joseph’s God seems to have some sort of greater plan going on.
Because when Joseph came to tell Pharaoh about his dream, I don’t think any of
us expected what happened next.
Joseph walked into the throne room. His beard was longer
than I remembered – I guess two years in prison will do that to you. He looked
good, though. Confident, and yet humble. He bowed to Pharaoh, who then said, “I
hear from Dedu here that you can interpret dreams. Is this true?”
I blushed for a moment, knowing how long it had taken me to
remember Joseph. But then Joseph said, “I can’t do it…” My eyes widened. I
nearly gave myself up to the guards right then and there, but then Joseph said,
“…But God will give Pharaoh the answer he wants.”
Pharaoh raised his eyebrow and smiled a little, but said,
“Oh, really? Then listen to my dream.”
I’m going to summarize, because this is a long one. But
basically, Pharaoh had two dreams. In the first one, there were these seven fat
cows standing on the bank of the Nile River. That’s that big river we have here
in Egypt. Anyways, these cows were looking good, but then suddenly seven
skinny, sick looking cows came over and swallowed up the fat cows! And the
skinny cows looked just as skinny and sick looking as before.
In the other dream, there were seven grain plants. And
again, these grain plants were strong and looked good to eat. But then all of a
sudden seven gross and dry looking plants grew up beside them. And these
swallowed up the seven good heads!
I know Joseph. These other advisors might have been stumped,
but Joseph and his God would know how to interpret his dream. And Joseph didn’t
disappoint.
“Pharaoh,” Joseph began, “your dreams are the same! God has
shown you what he is about to do. The seven good cows and the seven good grain
plants mean that there will be seven years of plenty in Egypt. Seven years
where the crops will grow well, people will be fed, and everyone will be happy.
But the seven skinny cows and the seven gross plants also mean seven years.
After those seven years of plenty, there will be seven years of famine. There
won’t be any rain for seven years! The plants won’t grow and people will always
be hungry. This famine will be so bad, that nobody in Egypt will even remember
the seven good years before them.
“But do not worry, my Pharaoh! God has given you these
dreams so that you can be prepared. You should choose people to be in charge of
the land. Have them put aside some of the food for the next seven years. Count
it up and put it away so that when the famine comes, the country won’t be
destroyed. At least we’ll have food to feed everyone!”
The entire room was silent. Some of the advisors looked at
Joseph angrily, jealous that he had given the answer they could not figure out.
The smug look on Pharaoh’s face had quickly turned to wonder and then to worry
as Joseph had been talking. He stood up, and everybody in the room looked at
him eagerly.
“You speak rightly, Joseph,” Pharaoh said finally. “But
where can we find someone we can trust to do this job?” The room exploded into murmurs
and mumbles, but finally Pharaoh said above the noise, “God has made all this
known to you. No one is as wise and understanding as you are. You will be in
charge of my palace. All my people must obey your orders. I will be greater
than you only because I’m the one who sits on the throne” (Genesis 41:39-40).
We were all in shock. Joseph was going to be in charge of
Egypt? Joseph was going to be Pharaoh second in command? This Hebrew slave?
This prisoner?
And yet, Joseph went on to be one of the best rulers of
Egypt I’ve ever heard of. Joseph built massive storehouses and made sure all
the food was stored properly. It was a huge job, and it took a lot of time and
work, but when the famine came seven years later, all of us were fed.
I don’t know much about Joseph’s God, but He obviously knew
what He was doing with Joseph. Joseph was in exactly the right place at exactly
the right time. And because of that, because God sent Joseph to us to save me,
my family, and my country, I’m grateful to Joseph’s God!
________________________
What always amazes me, guys, is how Joseph’s story turns
around. Joseph’s life looked like it could only get worse. Sold into slavery by
his brothers, arrested for something he didn’t do. But even though these
situations sucked, and I’m sure there were days Joseph was confused and angry,
Joseph ultimately trusted God. And he did this because Joseph understood our
lesson for today.
God’s plan is bigger
than the bad things that happen to us. We aren’t always going to understand
why God makes us go through difficult things. We aren’t always going to
understand why family members get sick or why friends move away or why our
parents lose their jobs. But we can learn from Joseph’s story that even when
things seem like they’re falling apart, God has a plan. And like Joseph, you
never know how God will use you in these difficult times to do something
absolutely amazing!
So trust God. He loves you, He cares for you, and even when
it seems like things are going wrong, He is with you. He wants to help us get
through these tough times and to use us to do amazing things in those tough
times! All He asks is that we trust Him.
As for next week, we’ll be finishing off Joseph’s story and
finding out what happened to Joseph’s brothers. You’ll want to be back here for
this one. It’s pretty amazing!
~Brentagious
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