The Family Moves Part Six: The Debate Begins
The first meeting between Joseph and Pharaoh is about to begin, and the wine steward felt safe involving himself, however, he also realized that he had to carefully choose his words to ingratiate himself with Pharaoh, even as he was about to hint that Pharaoh was not in control of his destiny:
“Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, ‘Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. Now a young Hebrew – Ivri – was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hung’ (Genesis 41:9-13).” The Ivri, the one who argues that God is in control, had predicted Pharaoh’s choices based on a dream; Joseph knew before the king what Pharaoh would choose; “I was restored to my position, and the other man was hung.”
If Pharaoh is searching for someone who has a grasp of the higher source that sent the dreams/messages/summons to the king; there is an Ivri, who knows how to read such messages.
“So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.’ ‘I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but the Lord will give Pharaoh the answer he desires’ (Verses 14-16).”
Joseph enters the Throne Room, can’t help but notice his old acquaintance the wine steward, and immediately understands that he has been summoned to interpret a dream. He also understands that, his dreams so long delayed, was about to be realized, “he was quickly brought from the dungeon,” things, for him, are beginning to move. He stands on a delicate point balancing control and Providence, a lesson he has considered over two extra years in prison. He also understands from the presence of the wine steward that this is the issue that stands between Pharaoh and him.
“I had a dream, and no one can interpret it,” not exactly true; Pharaoh heard interpretations that came about. He left out, “no one can interpret it to my satisfaction.”
“When you hear a dream you can interpret it,” and you will understand what I need from your interpretation. Pharaoh wants a semblance of control even as he turns to this Ivri to decode the message of the Higher Source.
“I cannot do it, Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but the Lord will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” The Lord is in control. The debate has begun.
“Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile’ (Verse 17),” again, not completely accurate: In the actual dream. Pharaoh was “Standing on the water (Verse 1).” In the dream, Pharaoh was above the water; controlling the Nile, something he cannot say to the young man, the Ivri, who insists that the Lord is in control. Joseph has successfully begun to shape the terms of the debate.
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