Genesis 41

Pharaoh should not have needed Joseph. Pharaoh claimed to be, and was thought to be a god. Why would a god send himself dreams that he could not interpret? The answer is obvious. Pharaoh was no god. He was a big man ruling a big empire, but he was still just a man.

Pharaoh should not have needed Joseph. Egypt had a whole priesthood and school dedicated to interpreting dreams. They made a good living interpreting dreams. If the imagination is big enough and the interpretations vague and entertaining enough anyone can be an interpreter. There was one problem; Pharaoh did not want a vague and entertaining interpretation. Pharaoh wanted the truth. If you’re going to interpret a dream for Pharaoh you had better be right. The magicians and wise men were wise enough to keep their mouths shut.

Pharaoh thought he needed Joseph. Joseph stated that he could not interpret dreams. Joseph knew God. God told Joseph what the dreams meant. Joseph interpreted the dreams but he clearly gave God the credit. Joseph then gave Pharaoh a plan of action. Vs 39-40 “Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge…”

Pharaoh was a man who claimed to be a god. I do not believe Pharaoh believed in god. He thought he needed Joseph because he gave Joseph the credit that should have been God’s. Pharaoh believed Joseph was the source of the interpretation. He believed Joseph was discerning and wise. He believed Joseph’s claim to speak for God was as fake as Pharaoh’s claim to be a god.

Pharaoh thought he needed Joseph. He was wrong. Pharaoh needed what we all need. Pharaoh needed God. He settled for having Joseph when he could have had Joseph’s God.