”ויהי מקץ שנתיים ימים, ופרעה חולם והנה עומד על היאור”
Two years later, Pharaoh had a dream that he was standing over the Nile River
After Joseph solved the dreams for Pharaoh’s Cup Bearer and Bread Maker, he remained in prison for another 2 years.
Within his dream, Pharaoh is standing on the Nile River, when he sees 7 skinny cows devouring 7 fat cows, and remaining skinny.
In a second dream, Pharaoh sees 7 skinny bundles of wheat devouring 7 fat bundles of wheat, and remaining skinny.
Pharaoh consults with all his wise men. They offer him different solutions, but something in his gut tells him that none of the interpretations are correct.
At this point of the story, the Cup Bearer tells Pharaoh that when he was in jail, himself and the Bread Maker both had dreams, and both dreams were accurately solved by an Israelite named Joseph.
Immediately, Pharaoh commands to bring Joseph to him in order to solve his own dreams. We all know what happens then: Joseph solves Pharaoh’s dreams and is appointed as the Second in Command of the Egyptian Kingdom.
We have two big lessons from this story:
Lesson #1: There’s always an end to the darkness.
A person should never give up hope when he’s going through a dark time. Rather, he should try with all his strength to remember and to believe that the darkness is temporary. And, at the end of the darkness, a great light is waiting for him.
From Joseph’s story, specifically, we see here the Power of Faith.
If Joseph didn’t have faith that everything was for the best, and that his stay in prison was only temporary, he would never have had the spiritual strength to look beyond his own problems.
Lesson #2: Redemption begins with giving.
The whole story of Joseph’s redemption begins with the fact that he showed interest in the troubles of others. The Torah tells us that while in prison, Joseph noticed the Cup Bearer and Bread Maker looking depressed.
His larger than life spirit compelled him to ask: “What’s wrong?”
At this point, they revealed his dreams to him, and Joseph solved their dreams accurately.
Two years later: Pharaoh also has a dream that needs solving, and the Cup Bearer provides the Golden Recommendation for Joseph.
