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Sunday, May 31, 2020

Pharaoh's Dream, Junior - I, Lesson - 7

JUNIOR

AGE: 10 - 11 YEARS

STANDARD/GRADE: V & VI

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LESSON – 7

PHARAOH’S DREAM

In the previous lesson we had learnt about Jacob’s stay in Haran and his return to his father’s home. Jacob had 12 sons, eleven of whom were born when he was living in Haran. His youngest son Benjamin was born when they were travelling back to his father Isaac’s home. Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob. Even from a young age Joseph’s life was much different from his brothers. Joseph saw two dreams which showed that his brothers would bow before him some day. Joseph’s brothers who could not understand God’s plan for his life got jealous instead, and they plotted to murder Joseph. One day they got an opportunity, when Joseph was sent by their father to see how they were doing. However, they were stopped from killing him by their eldest brother Reuben. So, they sold Joseph to some Midianite merchants who took him to Egypt. 

In Egypt, Joseph was sold as a slave to one of Pharaoh’s officials named Potiphar. Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph of a mistake he did not do and Joseph was thrown into a prison. God was with Joseph even in prison. Two of Pharaoh’s workers, his cupbearer and baker, were also in the prison along with Joseph. One day both of them had dreams and they were troubled. Joseph interpreted their dreams for them and both interpretations came true. The cupbearer was restored to his job just as Joseph revealed. Yet, he forgot all about Joseph until two years later! 

During this time, Egypt’s King Pharaoh himself had two dreams. (Pharaoh is a collective title for all the kings of Pharaoh, just like Maharaja is used for Indian Kings). 

A golden mask of a Pharaoh who ruled Egypt between B.C. 1334 - 1325 decorated with semi-precious stones, Picture Credit: Roland Unger, Creative Commons License

In his dream, Pharaoh was standing on the bank of the Nile River when seven fat, healthy cows came out of the river and began to graze on the tall reeds growing along the river. Then seven other cows came out of the Nile River. They looked sickly and thin. They stood beside the healthy fat cows on the river banks. Then the sickly, thin cows ate the seven healthy, fat cows. But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; the thin cows looked just as thin and sickly as before. At this point in the dream, Pharaoh woke up. But he fell asleep again and had a second dream. 


Recent picture of Nile River in Egypt with reeds on its banks

In his second dream Pharaoh saw a healthy stalk of wheat with seven full and beautiful heads of grain sprouting.  Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were blighted, shriveled, and withered by the east wind. And the shriveled heads swallowed the seven healthy heads. Then Pharaoh woke up and realized that it was a dream.

In the morning Pharaoh’s 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. When the cupbearer heard about the dream, he remembered Joseph. He told Pharaoh about Joseph, who was then brought before Pharaoh. Pharaoh asked Joseph to interpret his dream, since he had heard that Joseph had the gift to interpret dreams. Joseph answered that only God could explain the meaning of Pharaoh’s dreams. 

Sweet Publishing / FreeBibleimages.org.

Pharaoh described his dreams to Joseph. Joseph told the Pharaoh that both the dreams are one and the same. God had revealed to Pharaoh what He was about to do. Joseph explained that the seven healthy cows and the seven healthy heads of grain meant that there would be seven years of abundant harvest and plentiful food in Egypt; the sickly thin cows and the shriveled heads of grain represent seven years of famine. During the days of famine, all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. Joseph also warned Pharaoh that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon and that was the reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms.

Sweet Publishing / FreeBibleimages.org.

Not only did Joseph interpret the dreams, but he also had an idea to save Egypt! He suggested that during the seven years of abundance, some of the food grains should be stored in store houses to be used during the years of famine. Pharaoh was pleased and made Joseph the Second-in-command of Egypt and changed his name to Zaphnath – Paaneah. Joseph was given all the authority to carry out his plan to save Egypt. 
Sweet Publishing / FreeBibleimages.org.

Joseph saved the Egyptians from starvation during the severe famine. Joseph’s brothers too came to Egypt and bowed before him just as Joseph had seen in his dream as a little boy, when they came to buy food grains for their family. Joseph’s story teaches us that nothing can stop God’s plan for our lives.

Sweet Publishing / FreeBibleimages.org.

Bible Reference: Genesis 39 – 41


Memory verse: Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? …………………many lives (Genesis 50: 19, 20).


ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES

Fill in the blanks:

1. The ............................ was restored to his job just as Joseph had told him.

2. In his dream Pharaoh was standing on the bank of the ....................... River.

3. The sickly thin cows represented seven years of .......................

4. Pharaoh changed Joseph’s name to ..........................................

Give short answers:

1. To whom did the Ishmaelite traders sell Joseph?

 

2.     Who were with Joseph in the prison and why were they troubled?

 

3. What was the idea given by Joseph to save Egypt?

 

4. How was Joseph honored by Pharaoh?

 

Answer in brief:

1. Write in brief about Pharaoh’s dreams.

 



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