(Genesis) Genesis 41:1-8 — J. Vernon McGee

Pharaoh’s Dream by the River

Now, chapter 41, verse 1,. "...it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed, and, behold, he stood by the river.". Now, here is the dream of Pharaoh, and he dreams by the river.

And it's, remember, two years after the last chapter, which means Joseph has spent two years almost in solitaire, just waiting there for something to happen, and so far it hadn't happened. Now, Pharaoh has a dream.

The Seven Well-Fed and Lean Cattle

"...And, behold, I came up out of the river, set in well-favored kind, and fat-fleshed, and they fed in a meadow. And, behold, seven other kind came up after them out of the river, ill-favored and lean-fleshed, and stood by the other kind from the brink of the river.".

What kind are cows? And that's what we're talking now about, cattle. There were seven that were very well-fed, fine-looking cattle, and the others, they were really skinny cattle. They certainly were not very well-fed.

And Pharaoh woke up, and what did it mean? He didn't have the interpretation, but nobody could help him that day, and so the very next night, verse 5 now,. "...And he slept and dreamed the second time.

The Seven Ears of Corn

And, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.". By the way, that's a whole lot of corn on one stalk, too. The section of country I came from, if you got two ears, you'd be doing well.

And here, why, there are seven. Now, verse 6,. "...And, behold, seven thin ears, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.". And this would be more like it. In my country, it only wouldn't be seven.

Pharaoh’s Troubled Spirit and the Wise Men’s Failure

There'd be two pretty thin-looking ears. Verse 7 now,. "...And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, was a dream. It came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof.

And Pharaoh told them his dream, but there was none that could interpret them under Pharaoh. And the butler was standing there.". You know, that was his place before Pharaoh to get him anything that he wanted.

The Butler Recalls Pharaoh’s Dreams

And all of a sudden, the wise men are brought in, and Pharaoh says, "'I've had this dream. Could you tell me the meaning of it? Seven fat cattle, seven lean cattle, seven full ears of corn, seven lean ears of corn.

What is it all about?'. Well, these wise men said, "'Well, that gets us. We don't have the interpretation for that one.'".