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Joseph Became the Prime Minister of Egypt

by Interpreting the King's Dreams

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Genesis 41: 41~43 (NIV)

So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby 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 robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, "Make way!" Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

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A long time ago in Egypt, the king was called Pharaoh.
The Pharaoh of that time was praised like a god.

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The Pharaoh of Egypt had an odd dream: He was standing by the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds.

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After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows.

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Then Pharaoh woke up with a start.

He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk.

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After them, seven other heads of grain, the opposite of the previous one, sprouted-thin and scorched by the east wind.

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Then again, the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads.
Then Pharaoh woke up with a start; The dream was so vivid.

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He truly wanted to know the meaning of those dreams. So he called all of the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams and asked them to interpret them but no one could do it.

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Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh," When I was imprisoned, there was a young Hebrew. He interpreted my dream and things turned out exactly as he interpreted it." So Pharaoh sent for that young Hebrew.

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He was brought from the dungeon. When he had changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to him, "I have had some dreams, and no one can interpret them. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it. Can you interpret my dreams?"

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He replied to Pharaoh, "I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."
Then Pharaoh told him about his dreams.

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God gave him the power to interpret the dreams. Then he said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. The seven good cows and the seven good heads of grain are seven years of great abundance coming throughout the land of Egypt; The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward and the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind are seven years of famine coming afterward. God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do through these dreams.

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Pharaoh asked to him, "So what can we do?" He replied, "Now let Pharaoh look for a wise man and put him in charge of collecting all the food of these 7 good years and store up the grain to be ready for the next 7 years of famine, so that the country may be safe from the 7 years of famine.

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This young Hebrew named 'Joseph'. Pharaoh found that God is with him. "Today, there is no one so discerning and wise as Joseph in Egypt he shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to his orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than him."

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Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine clothes. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command. Everyone including the nobles bowed their heads to Joseph.

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Joseph had been sold into slavery because of the great hatred of his brothers. He even had been entrapped by his master and imprisoned. However, God was with him and led him to interpret Pharaoh's dreams to become the prime minister of Egypt. God leads and raises up His children who believe in Him till the end.

(You can change the conclusion of this sermon best suiting to your listeners of this sermon. We want to make it clear that the provided conclusion is only a sample conclusion provided by CTM.)