Pharaoh has a Dream

Pharaoh dreamed he was standing by the Nile River, when out of the river there came up seven fat cows. And after them, seven skinny cows came up out of the river and stood beside those on the riverbank. And the skinny cows ate up the seven fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.
He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven healthy heads of grain were growing on a single stalk. Then seven thin heads of grain sprouted—and the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy heads of grain. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream.

The next morning he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt and told them his dreams, but no one could tell him what the dreams meant.
Then the chief cupbearer told Pharaoh how Joseph had told him and the baker what their dreams meant when they were in jail, and that he had been correct. So Pharaoh sent for Joseph from the jail. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.

Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can tell me what it means. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." Joseph told Pharaoh that he could not do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires. So Pharaoh told Joseph about the dreams.
Then Joseph told Pharaoh, "Both of your dreams are the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows and the seven good heads of grain are seven good years. The seven skinny cows and the seven thin heads of grain are seven years of famine. God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the good years in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ruin the land.”
Joseph told Pharaoh to look for a wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. He said they should collect all the food from these good years that are coming and store up the grain to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.

The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to obey to your orders. Only I will be greater than you."
So Joseph was put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in fine linen robes and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command. So Joseph was put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

During the seven good years the land produced plentifully. Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven good years in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain; it was so much that he stopped keeping records.
The seven good years in Egypt came to an end, and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph and do what he tells you."
When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, because the famine was so bad all through Egypt. And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was so bad.

Next time we will find out what happened to Joseph’s family during the famine.

We have color pages of Joseph overseeing the storage of the grain during the good years.
Pictures of grain and cows can be brought to help illustrate the dreams. If you have access to real grain, you might bring some to show those who have never seen grain before.

You could have cookies or cakes and tell how they are made from wheat flour.

During prayer time you can thank God for watching over us during good times and bad times.