(a) Narrate the dreams of Pharaoh. [9 marks] (b) In what three ways did the interpretation of the dreams affect Joseph and his people? [6 marks

Answer Details

(a) The dreams of Pharaoh (Genesis 41):

After two full years, Pharaoh dreamed two dreams in one night:

• The first dream: Pharaoh stood by the river Nile. Seven cows, sleek and fat, came up out of the river and fed in the reed grass. After them came up seven other cows, gaunt and thin, and stood beside the fat cows on the riverbank. Then the thin, ugly cows ate up the seven sleek, fat cows, yet remained as gaunt as before. Pharaoh awoke.
• The second dream: He slept again and dreamed a second time. Seven ears of grain, plump and good, grew on one stalk. After them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. Pharaoh awoke and found it was a dream.
• The trouble and the solution: In the morning his spirit was troubled, and none of the magicians or wise men of Egypt could interpret the dreams. The chief butler then remembered Joseph, who was brought from prison. Joseph declared that both dreams were one: God had shown Pharaoh what He was about to do. The seven fat cows and full ears were seven years of great plenty; the seven thin cows and blighted ears were seven years of severe famine that would follow and consume the plenty. The doubling of the dream meant the matter was fixed by God and would soon come to pass. Joseph advised Pharaoh to appoint a discreet man to store one-fifth of the produce during the years of plenty against the famine.

(b) Three ways the interpretation affected Joseph and his people:

• Joseph was elevated to power. Pharaoh set him over all Egypt as prime minister, gave him his signet ring, fine linen, and a gold chain.
• Joseph's family and the region were saved from famine. The stored grain fed Egypt and the surrounding lands, including Joseph's own family who came from Canaan to buy food.
• The reconciliation and migration of Israel. The famine brought Joseph's brothers to Egypt, leading to their reconciliation and the settling of Jacob's household in Goshen, preserving the nation of Israel.