Seven Years of Plenty

Two full years later, Pharaoh dreamed of seven fat cows eaten by seven thin cows, and then seven full heads of grain swallowed by seven thin ones. None of his wise men could interpret the dreams. The chief cupbearer remembered Joseph, and Joseph was brought quickly from the prison.

Joseph said, It isn't in me. God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace. He explained that both dreams meant the same thing: seven years of great plenty, then seven years of severe famine. God had shown Pharaoh what He was about to do. Joseph advised Pharaoh to choose a wise man to store a fifth of the harvest during the good years.

Pharaoh said, Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God? He set Joseph over all Egypt and gave him his signet ring and fine clothes. Joseph was thirty years old. He gathered grain like the sand of the sea. He had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. When the famine came, all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph.