1 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, 2 when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. 4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.

5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind. 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream.

8 In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.

Dear God, wow, two years. I wonder how Joseph was doing, sitting there in prison for a long time. I wonder what his prayers were like. I wonder if he had stopped praying altogether, or if he was even more strengthened in his faith. I also wonder how things were going back home with Jacob and the fam during this time. We know what was happening with Judah. I wonder what was happening with the rest of them.

Then there is Pharaoh and his dream. Every time we enter a drought like we are in now, I think of this story and wonder if we didn’t just finish the seven good years and we are now in the seven lean years. Did anyone get a dream warning them? Are we prepared if things really go south?

I think that one of the messages of this story is that, it might not be pretty, but you find a way to provide for us. Not only were you showing the Israelites your provision through this story, but you were showing the Egyptians your provision too. You really do give us a way. All we have to do is find it. You know, now that I think about it, you even used the cupbearer’s imprisonment as part of your plan. And who is to say that, if he had told Pharaoh about Joseph earlier that Pharaoh would have done anything about it. Maybe Joseph had to sit in jail those extra two years in order for the plan to unfold the way it did.

Father, I am blessed beyond measure, and I am grateful. Thank you. Please help me to be at peace in my circumstances, and to know how you are guiding me at any given point. Right now, I feel a little lost in the middle of everything, but perhaps that is where you want me. Perhaps you want me to close my eyes, reach out for your hand, and have you lead me. If that is so, then I will relish in this sense of being lost and let you show me each step I should take.