52 PROMOTION

Pharaoh quickly gets down to his business and relates his dream to Joseph. He dreamed that he stood on the bank of the river Nile, and saw fourteen cows, both the fat and the lean, come out of the river. This was a realistic dream when we consider the topography, precipitation and climate patterns of Egypt. The kingdom of Egypt had very little or no rain, it appears, but the produce of the year depended largely on the overflowing of the Nile river. It was about one certain time of the year that it overflowed. If it rose to fifteen or sixteen cubits, there was plenty; if to twelve or thirteen only, or under, there was scarcity. From this alone we may see another of the ways God either blesses or withholds blessings as He dispenses His gifts. We also see clearly again another indication that what appears to be natural causes of blessings are merely secondary causes, God being the primary Cause. Whatever the secondary causes are, our dependence is still and always on the first Cause, God. Secondary causes are merely the visible channel of blessing that the Primary Cause is using. When we pray, we acknowledge our dependency on the Primary Cause in Whom we place our trust, we show how we think about how our needs will be supplied. As a matter of fact, the whole of our existence and our dependance on God needs to be clarified through this discussion of Primary verses secondary causes. If we pay too much attention to the blessings, the provisions or the channels through which God passes them on to us, that is the secondary causes, we err. But if we know enough to recognize and fully acknowledge the Source of those blessings, focusing our attention more on the Giver and less on the things that are given or the hand He uses to give them, then we can learn to look to His heart rather than to His hand. Whether it is rain or river, let us learn to look to, trust in, appreciate, acknowledge and glorify the One who sends the rain or the river. If we can make this major mental and spiritual shift in our thinking, and lead others with whom we have some influence as a Christian leader, to make the same change, then we will have provided a great service to those we lead. A correct interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream and how God used Joseph depends on a proper understanding of this matter. This is the first major profound truth be be discovered in this part of Joseph’s story. God is the Primary Cause.

Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream, and tells him that the first seven cows and ears of corn represent seven years of plenty. These seven years are then to be succeeded by the same number of years of famine. The two dreams have the same meaning; they are one team with two parts and the repetition of it was to indicate its certainty, nearness, and importance. “The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon” (32).

Let us now pause and consider this second profound truth implied in this story, that of the immutability, the unchangeableness, of God’s plans. According to Hebrews 6:17-18 God is certainly not changeable like people are. I have found my own emotions far too changeable to base my sense of well-being or worth on how I feel. I want to learn to rest more perfectly in what I know from God’s Word. “Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged” (Hebrews 6:17-18). The agreement between God and ourselves is sealed with sacraments. In one of the sacraments, the Lord’s supper, there are both bread and wine. In Pharaoh’s dream are two parts. It is doubled for the thing is certain. The two dreams had a distinct reference to the two things wherein the Egyptians most experience plenty or scarcity, namely, grass or corn. The plenty and scarcity of grass for the cattle were indicated by the fat and lean cows; the plenty and scarcity of vegetation for the food supply of man was demonstrated by the full and thin ears of corn. These were serious matters to the Egyptians. God certainly had Pharaoh’s attention through this dream. This can help us understand why Pharaoh was troubled when he woke up.

We can readily see here the changes to which the comforts of this life are subject. After great plenty may come great scarcity. How strong soever we may think our mountain stands, if God speaks the word, it will soon be moved. We cannot be sure that tomorrow will be as this day or next year as this. We have no right to expect any certain circumstances to exist in our uncertain futures. Only our eternal home is secure. “‘Come,’ each one cries, ‘let me get wine! Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even far better’” (Isaiah 56:12). If the future is better than the present let us rejoice in the Lord and use our blessing wisely and generously, but let us not set our heart on them to the degree that we are destroyed if our dreams never come true in earthly life. We must learn how to be in need, as well as how to abound, both with equal grace.

See the goodness of God in sending the seven years of plenty before those of famine, so that provision might be made accordingly. Thanking God for the advance notice of the years of plenty is to be preferred over complaining about the years of famine. God sets the one over against the other. Ecclesiastes 7:14 says, “When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.”  With what wonderful wisdom has God, that great housekeeper, ordered the affairs of His numerous human and earthly family from the beginning of time until now. Some decades have shown plenty and others sometimes less, yet, the human family has often proved the practical rule outlined in Exodus 16:18 which says, “And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.” See with me the perishing nature of worldly enjoyments. The great increase of the years of plenty was quite lost and swallowed up in the years of famine. The plenteous years seemed very much, yet only served to keep men alive, verses 29-31 say, “Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe.” Compare that with what Jesus taught. There is bread which endures to everlasting life, which will not be forgotten, and for which it is worth while to labour. John 6:27 says, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” Anyone that makes the things of this world their good things will find but little pleasure in remembering that they have received them. This is a lesson to be learned from the story Jesus told and is recorded in Luke 16:25. “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.’” God revealed the famine beforehand to Pharaoh, who, as king of Egypt, was to be the father of his country, so he could make wise provision for them. Heads of State are called  shepherds, whose care it must be, not only to rule, but also to feed.

Joseph told the king the meaning of the dream. So his assignment was fulfilled when he interpreted the dream. But a true leader does not stop after having fulfilled the minimum of an assignment. Joseph did not stop there. He went beyond the requested interpretation of the dream and counseled the king regarding what to do about the problem. Joseph had an answer for a question that had not yet occurred to Pharaoh. You are a Christian leader. Have you learned to anticipate questions and have an answer ready? This is a fine mark of a leader—whether in the military, academia, business, church leadership, or even the family. It is one thing to evaluate, analyze, or articulate the nature of a problem. It is quite another to be prepared to offer a concrete, practical, and workable solution for that problem. Joseph did not have much time to develop a plan, but he seized the moment and rose to the occasion. He suggested the administrative strategy that would guide the Egyptian commodities policy for the next fourteen years, including the food crisis that loomed ahead. He was ready. Joseph suggested to the king the plan that was to save the nation and even many people in the area outside of Egypt. Joseph’s hour had arrived. He had been humbled and stretched as he waited on God through discouraging trials. Now he had the wisdom needed for that hour. He was ready. The one that not only went to Shechem, but also on to Dothan still was doing more than was originally required. Will you be ready when your hour arrives?

Lets look closely at the good advice Joseph gave to Pharaoh, which was that in the years of plenty he should lay up for the years of famine, gather a percentage of the grain that he might provide for himself and supply the country when grain would be dear and scarce. Fair warnings should always be followed with good counsel. The prudent man foresees the evil, that he may hide himself. God has in His Word told us of a day of trial before us, when we shall need all the grace we can get. Times of gathering must be diligently improved, because there will come a time of spending. Let’s go to the ant, and learn of her wisdom, Proverbs 6:6-8 says, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” God knows about the power of leadership and responsibility to care for the group. And because what is everybody’s work commonly proves to be nobody’s work, He, through Joseph, advises Pharaoh to appoint officers who should make it their business to care for the group, and to select one person to preside over the whole affair, “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.” Probably, if Joseph had not advised this, it would not have been done; Pharaoh’s counsellors could no more improve the dream than his magicians could interpret it. Many years later it is written about Joseph in Psalm 105:22, that he taught the political leaders wisdom. It says, “to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom.” Therefore we may justly agree with Solomon who in Ecclesiastes says, “Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.

I personally have no difficulty imagining an industrious David slinging stones at the trees near Bethlehem as he watched his father’s sheep. He did not know it but he was preparing himself to kill Goliath. Neither do I have any trouble considering the kinds of things Joseph might have thought about as he managed Potipher’s household and then the affairs of the prison. In his mind he was practicing. He may well have been pondering principles of leadership, delegation, responsibility, accountability and other issues involved in leadership. Joseph may well have worked through mentally what he would do if he had administrative responsibility. So when he stood before Potipher he was ready to make his suggestions. I have no way to prove this, but I think it is possible and it motivates me to urge you to pray and think about how you will lead. When the time comes will you be ready? In this story, the one that not only obediently went on the difficult and dangerous trip to Shechem to see his brothers, but also on to Dothan to find them is still doing more than was originally required. He not only interpreted the dream, but also gave wise counsel as to what to do. Play major league ball even if you are in the minor league.