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A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

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Even in prison, “the Lord was with Joseph” (v. 21). Despite the seriousness of the alleged<br />

crime, Joseph was given a remarkable degree of liberty by the jailer. As a keeper of other<br />

prisoners, Joseph was again elevated to an administrative role. And in this position, he would<br />

meet two men who would lead to greater changes in his life in the years to come.<br />

<strong>The</strong> chief butler and baker of Pharaoh offended their king on one occasion and as a result<br />

were both cast into prison. While the nature of the offense is not identified, it may have been<br />

something as insignificant as serving their master an inferior meal, or they may have been<br />

charged with an attempt to poison Pharaoh. In prison, they were assigned to Joseph.<br />

In the prison, each man dreamed a dream and was puzzled as he tried to discern the<br />

meaning of the dream. Noticing their sadness, Joseph asked about their problem. As the men recounted<br />

their dreams, Joseph interpreted them. In three days, the butler would be restored to his<br />

service to Pharaoh, but the baker would be executed. Three days later, on Pharaoh’s birthday,<br />

Joseph’s interpretations were confirmed. Despite the butler’s promise to remember Joseph when<br />

he was restored to service, he forgot about Joseph.<br />

Two years later circumstances in the palace caused the butler to remember Joseph, his<br />

former keeper in jail. <strong>The</strong> Pharaoh dreamed two dreams which his advisers could not interpret. In<br />

an effort to help, the butler recounted his experience in prison. Immediately, Pharaoh sent for<br />

Joseph.<br />

When Joseph was commanded to appear before Pharaoh, he first shaved and changed his<br />

clothes. Facial hair was considered offensive to the Egyptians yet was common among Hebrews.<br />

Realizing his beard would hinder him in his ability to communicate with the king of Egypt,<br />

Joseph shaved it off. Only then did he appear before Pharaoh.<br />

<strong>The</strong> interpretation of the dream of seven fat cows followed by seven skinny cows related<br />

to seven coming years of prosperity to be followed by seven years of famine. After warning<br />

Pharaoh as to what he could expect, Joseph offered his own suggestion as to a recommended<br />

course of action. Joseph told Pharaoh to store the excess in the years of prosperity and distribute<br />

it during the famine years. Further, Joseph suggested the king appoint a trusted servant to<br />

administer the project similar to a minister or secretary of agriculture in the cabinet of a<br />

democratic government.<br />

Pharaoh was impressed with the advice of Joseph and his wisdom not only in discerning<br />

the dreams but suggesting a strategy by which Pharaoh should govern his national affairs during<br />

that time. He decided not only to follow Joseph’s advice, but after consultation with other<br />

advisers, appointed Joseph to that high position. Joseph was given the ring of Pharaoh, a symbol<br />

of the king’s authority and declared second only to Pharaoh in Egypt. This promotion was<br />

probably not so broad as to include anything outside of the responsibilities which typically would<br />

fall under a ministry or department of agriculture. But during the years of prosperity and famine,<br />

agriculture was a principal concern of Egypt, therefore Joseph was a principal minister in the<br />

government of Pharaoh. According to available Egyptian records, this promotion of Joseph<br />

appears to have been the second such case in the history of that Egyptian dynasty to that date.<br />

JOSEPH AS A PRIME MINISTER IN EGYPT<br />

(Gen. 41:41-45:28) (1885 B.C.)<br />

Pharaoh named Joseph “Zaphnath-Paaneah,” probably meaning “giver of bread.” He was<br />

married to the daughter of an Egyptian priest and traveled throughout the land of Egypt<br />

preparing for the famine. Thirteen years had passed since he had first arrived in an Egyptian<br />

slave market, and now he was one of the most influential men of the land. During the years of

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