Genesis 41: 53-57: “And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.”
God gave Pharaoh a dream because God knew that Pharaoh was the only person on the earth with the authority to force the people to keep their grain during the years of abundance. God brought Joseph down to Egypt in difficult circumstances but put him in a position where he would have sufficient credibility to interpret Pharaoh's dream. When all these circumstances came together God was able to keep His promise to Abraham “And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.” (Gen 15: 13, 14) and save Abraham’s descendants from starvation in the great drought. God controls the whole earth and is able to move nations as a person moves pieces on a chess board to accomplish His purposes. But, you may ask, why did God want to force His people into slavery anyway. Their time in slavery forged their national identity and it also gave the Amorites time to repent of their sin.
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
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