Pharaoh's Dream

Preparing for seven years of famine (image from freebibleimages.org).

Central Truth: God always prepares a way.

Scripture: Genesis 41

Two years after the Butler was released and restored to his position in Pharaoh's house, the pharaoh has two disturbing dreams. In the first dream, he dreamed of seven fat cows coming from the Nile River followed by seven lean cows that ate the seven fat cows but never gain weight. In the second dream, pharaoh dreamed of seven good ears of corn that grew and then seven thin ears of corn grew up that devoured the seven good ears of corn. The dreams disturbed the pharaoh and, even worse, his magicians and astrologers could not interpret his dream. 

The Butler remembered Joseph and how he had interpreted his dream while he was imprisoned. The pharaoh, desperate to know the meaning of his dreams, sent for Joseph who was then washed and shaved and brought before pharaoh. After pharaoh tells Joseph his dreams, Joseph then gives the pharaoh the interpretation of them. Joseph tells the pharaoh that the two dreams are one and the same. God has revealed to pharaoh that in the next seven years will be abundance and plenty that will be followed by a severe seven-year famine throughout the land. Joseph advised the pharaoh to find a wise man to gather food during the seven years of plenty to store away for the years of famine to come. Pharaoh then appointed Joseph as governor and set him in charge of gathering for the future famine. 

Pharaoh then gave Asenath, the daughter of the priest of On, to Joseph for a wife and changed his name to Zaphnathpaaneah. Joseph and Asenath have two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

As a supplement to this lesson, I used an adult coloring page of Joseph standing before pharaoh interpreting his dream on Paint the World Super Coloring. This website has many awesome adult coloring pages that range in difficulty. 

The Butler and the Baker

The butler is restored to his position (freebibleimages.org).

Central Truth: Dream interpretations belong to God.

Scripture: Genesis 40

One day the pharaoh of Egypt became angry with his butler and his baker and threw them in prison. While they were in prison, Joseph was put in charge of them. One night, the butler and the baker each had a dream but did not know what the dream means. Joseph saw them looking sad and asked them why they looked so sad. The butler and the baker told Joseph that they each had a dream but there was no interpreter. Joseph tells them that interpretations belong to God and to tell him their dreams.

The butler tells Joseph that he dreamed of a vine with three branches that budded and blossomed and brought forth grapes. He had the pharaoh's cup in his hand and filled it with the grapes and gave it to the pharaoh. Joseph told the butler that in three days pharaoh will restore him to his position. Joseph asked the butler to remember him when he is restored because he was wrongly accused and put into prison.

The baker then tells Joseph his dream of three baskets on his head full of bread. Birds came down and ate all that was in the baskets. Joseph tells the baker that in three days the pharaoh will execute the baker.

Joseph's interpretation of each man came to pass. The butler was restored to his position and the baker was put to death, but the butler forgot his promise to Joseph and did not remember him.

Joseph: the Incredible Dreamer was also used as a supplement to this week's lesson. It contains activities, puzzles, and coloring pages based on the Joseph story.