Lesson 4
Read Genesis 41:1-32 - https://www.bible.com/bible/59/gen.41.esv
- Patience – the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset
- Humility – the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people

Joseph waited patiently for God’s timing to release him, and kept fulfilling his duties in the prison to the best of his ability. Two years later, Pharaoh had a dream. Seven healthy cows came up out of the Nile River and started grazing on the grass on the riverbank. Then seven skinny cows came up out of the river – and ate the seven healthy cows! Pharaoh woke up.

When he went back to sleep, he dreamed seven full ears of grain grew on one stalk. Then seven more ears grew on another stalk, but they were thin and dry. The thin ears of grain ate the full ears.

Pharaoh was upset in the morning – he knew his two dreams must be a warning. He sent for all the magicians and wise men in Egypt. After Pharaoh told them his dreams, none of them could interpret the dreams.

The head cupbearer finally remembered Joseph and his interpretation of his and the baker’s dreams. He quickly spoke to Pharaoh, telling him a Hebrew slave who had been imprisoned with him and the baker had interpreted their dreams, and they had turned out exactly as he said they would.

Pharaoh immediately sent for Joseph. Joseph hastily cut his hair and put on clean clothes before they brought him before Pharaoh from his jail cell.

Pharaoh told Joseph he dreamed dreams no one could interpret, but he’d heard Joseph could interpret dreams. Joseph humbly corrected Pharaoh, telling him he wasn’t able to interpret dreams, but God could and would tell him what the dreams meant.

Pharaoh told Joseph about the skinny, ugly cows coming out of the River Nile and eating the plump, healthy cows, but remaining just as skinny. And about the thin ears of grain eating the full ears. His magicians couldn’t figure out what his dreams meant.

Joseph replied, “Your two dreams mean the same thing. God is telling you what He is about to do. The seven healthy cows and seven healthy ears of grain are seven years of bounty. The seven sickly cows and the seven dry ears of grain are seven years of famine.

“Egypt will have seven years of plenty. Then there will be seven years of famine, and the days of plenty will be forgotten. The country will actually be emptied by the famine – it will be total. You dreaming the same dream twice tells us God is determined to do this, and soon.”

Apply God’s Word to your life:
*Read Philippians 2:1-11. How does Joseph remind you of Jesus?
*How will you accept your present circumstances as allowed by God to encourage you today?
 *How has suffering produced patience and humility in you?