From Prison to Palace: The Story of Joseph - NCCG.ORG Ning Network Archive 2008-10

FROM THE PRISON TO THE PALACE

by Linda Sue Pochodzay Edwards

Julie was growing more impatient by the minute. She had done all the things
she was supposed to do, and now she was just waiting . . . and waiting . . .
and waiting for her older sister to take her out for an ice cream cone. "Why
doesn't she get here?" she wondered. "She promised she'd come," Julie
whined.

After what seemed like hours of waiting, Julie heard a familiar
rap-a-tap-tap at the front door. She jumped up and eagerly ran to open it.
"What happened?" she cried. "Why didn't you get here when you were supposed
to?" she asked with a little whine.

"Well, I got really busy and I almost forgot, but I'm here now, so let's
go!" she said with a grin.

* * *

Two long years had gone by since Joseph interpreted the dreams of the butler
and the baker, and everything was going along as usual in Egypt. Pharaoh was
still the king. The butler was still serving Pharaoh, and Joseph? Well,
Joseph was still in prison. Although Yahweh was blessing him and he had been
put in charge of all the other prisoners, it was still dark and cold, and
stinky, and not at all very pleasant.

"Did the butler remember to mention me to the king?" he thought, as he tried
to get comfortable on the hard wooden plank he used for a bed and covered
his feet with his small holey blanket. "I sure do hope they come to release
me soon!" he said to no one in particular.

Meanwhile, back in the palace, King Pharaoh put on his snuggly, warm pyjamas
and hopped into his fluffy, comfortable bed. After blowing out the candle
and pulling the covers up around his chin, he quickly drifted off to sleep.

And he dreamed . . . .

* * *

In his dream, he was standing by the river. Seven good-looking, big fat cows
came up from taking their baths in the river and went to graze in a nearby
meadow. After that, seven ugly, skinny cows came out of the river and
followed the fat cows. But instead of grazing in the meadow, the ugly,
skinny cows ate up the fat cows. Then Pharaoh awoke.

"Hmmm.... That was one, strange dream," he thought to himself. Then he
plumped up his soft pillow, turned over, pulled the warm covers back up
around his chin, and went back to sleep.

And he dreamed again . . .

* * *

This time he dreamed of a tall corn stalk. The stalk had seven ears of
plump, ripe, yummy yellow corn. Then seven ugly, scrawny, skinny ears of
corn grew on the stalk and ate up the big plump ears of corn. Afterwards,
Pharaoh awoke.

This time Pharaoh didn't plump up his pillow, pull the warm covers up around
his chin and go back to sleep. He tossed and turned the rest of the night,
wondering about the two strange dreams.

Finally morning came and Pharaoh was glad that he didn't have to toss and
turn anymore. He called for all the magicians and the wise men of Egypt to
come to the palace. When they all arrived, he gathered them in his huge
dining room and gave them a meal. Then he told them his dreams. He was
hoping that at least one of them would be able to tell him what the dreams
meant . . . but no one could.

The butler was in the room serving when Pharaoh was relating his dreams.
"Oh, King!" he exclaimed. "I made a dreadful mistake! When you were upset
with me and the baker and you had us put into prison, we both had dreams the
same night. We didn't know what the dreams meant, but the young man that was
in charge of us was able to tell us what they meant, and he was right! It
happened just as he said! Up until now, I completely forgot about it!"

"Who is this young man?" the King asked.

"His name is Joseph," the butler replied.

* * *

Pharaoh immediately sent for Joseph, and as you might imagine, Joseph was
more than happy to finally get out of prison. He cleaned himself up, shaved,
and made himself ready to stand before the king.

Pharaoh came right to the point. "I have dreamed a dream and no one can tell
me what it means. I have heard that you can understand and interpret
dreams."

Joseph humbly replied, "I don't have the answer, but Yahweh does." Pharaoh then
repeated his dreams to Joseph.

Joseph explained to Pharaoh, "The two dreams are really only one dream. Yahweh
showed you what He is about to do in Egypt. The seven fat cows are seven
years and the seven ears of good corn is the same seven years. The seven
skinny cows are another seven years and the seven scrawny ears of corn are
the same seven years. Yahweh is warning you ahead of time about what He is
going to do. There will be seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt.
Then there will be seven years of famine. The famine will be so bad that no
one will even remember the years of abundance. Yahweh gave you two dreams
because it is important and it will happen soon."

After explaining what the dream meant, Joseph continued talking and gave
King Pharaoh some advice. "You need to appoint officers to collect one fifth
of all the crops that grow during the seven years of abundance and store it
away so there will be food to eat during the seven years of famine."

The king turned to all his servants and magicians, and wise men, and said,
"Can we find anyone as wise as this who has the Spirit of Yahweh?" Then he
turned to Joseph and said, "YOU will be ruler over my house, and all the
people of Egypt will be ruled by you. I am the only one that will be greater
than you." Pharaoh took his very own ring off his hand and put it on Joseph.
Then he gave him fancy clothes to wear and put gold chains around his neck.
He gave him a special chariot to use and made him ruler over all Egypt,
second in command after himself, King Pharaoh.

* * *

THINK!

Do all dreams have special meaning?
What does "interpret" mean?
Who finally remembered Joseph?
What did the seven fat cows and the seven good ears of corn represent?
What did the seven skinny cows and the seven bad ears of corn represent?
What is a "famine"?
Was Joseph's interpretation of the dreams right or wrong?
How did Joseph know what the dreams meant?

REMEMBER:

Live righteously. Other people may forget you, but Yahweh will never
forget you and the good that you do.

A VERSE TO LEARN

"To him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward"
(Proverbs 11:18b).

LET'S PRAY

Dog and boy praying

****************************************************
Dear Yahweh, thank You for the stories about people
like Joseph, who lived goldly lives.
Help us to remember that You always see us
and You keep an account of our actions.
Help us to live righteously so that one day we
will receive our reward.
In Yah'shua's Name, amen.
****************************************************

CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE?
Genesis 41:1-43

Purchase the WHOLE Website by clicking here