Genesis 41: 25-37: “And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh. Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: 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 the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. 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.
Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine. And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.”
The Lord warned Pharaoh that there was a famine coming. Without this warning most of the people in that part of the world would have perished, including the whole family of Israel. However, the Lord had other plans and they were saved. Joseph was used to having dreams so he was the best one to interpret the dream. Because Joseph was able to interpret the dream, really a nightmare, he was also able to give Pharaoh the advice he needed to survive this period of famine. Joseph was the first person to suggest income tax to be gathered on a regular basis, rather than a tax raised when the king or leader needed the money. This re-established an important principle: God always cares for His people even though things might seem to be impossible.
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
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