Day 20
Genesis 40:1-41:40
(40 | 41:1-40)
Pharaoh throws a bit of a temper tantrum, and has his chief cup bearer and chief baker thrown in prison. They are placed under Joseph's care. After an unspecified amount of time, both men have dreams, and neither know what they mean. So Joseph interprets their dreams for them. He tells the cup bearer that Pharaoh will release and elevate him back to his previous position in three days. He tells the chief baker that Pharaoh will have him hanged in three days. Both of Joseph's interpretations turn out to be correct, but the cup bearer completely forgets about Joseph.
Two years later, Pharaoh has two similar dreams. In the first, seven healthy cows emerge from the Nile and start grazing. Seven gaunt cows emerge from the river and stand beside the healthy cows. In an extraordinary act of cannibalism, the seven gaunt cows then eat the healthy cows. In his second dream, seven good ears of corn grow on a stalk. They are followed by seven thin and scorched ears. The seven thin ears swallow up the healthy ears. Pharaoh is understandably troubled, so he sends for people to interpret his dreams. No one is able to. Then the cup bearer remembers how Joseph correctly interpreted his dream, and tells Pharaoh about him.
So Pharaoh sends for Joseph. Joseph tells Pharaoh that he cannot interpret his dreams, but that "God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." So Pharaoh tells Joseph his dreams, and Joseph interprets them; the seven healthy cows and ears of corn represent seven years of abundance throughout Egypt. The seven gaunt cows and the thin ears of corn represent seven years of famine that will follow the years of abundance. The unhealthy specimens devouring the healthy ones is advice on how to get through the years of famine; send officials throughout the land to ensure a fifth of all produce harvested throughout the years of abundance is stored away. Then, when the years of famine come, there will be enough food to go around.
The interpretation and plan satisfied Pharaoh, so he decides to put Joseph in charge of his palace. He tells him that only the Pharaoh himself will be greater and have more authority in his palace than Joseph. Joseph is elevated from being a prisoner (albeit a prisoner in charge of other prisoners) to being in charge of the whole of Egypt.
Matthew 14:1-21
(14:1-21)
Herod Antipas the tetrarch, ruler of Galilee and Perea, has John the Baptist thrown in prison. Why? Well, I've done some digging, so let's see if I've got this straight. First, he divorces his own wife. He then marries Herodias, who has just divorced his half-brother, Herod Philip I. Now, John the Baptist has a problem with this. Herod Antipas wants to kill him, but the people consider him a prophet, so he just throws him in prison. However, the daughter of Herodias asks Herod for John the Baptist's head on a platter. Herod promised to grant her a request, so he does it. Herod hears reports about Jesus and his activities, so he assumes John the Baptist has risen from the dead.
Jesus hears words of John's death, so withdraws to a solitary place. People follow and find him anyway. Jesus has sympathy on them, so he heals their sick. When it starts getting late, the disciples come to him and suggest he sends them away so they can buy food. But Jesus tells the disciples to feed them. They explain that they only have five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus gives thanks for the food, and it is divided amongst the people; everyone has their fill and there are even some leftovers. This isn't a tiny gathering either. There are about five thousand men present. That's just men. The number of women and children isn't given, but it's acknowledged that some are present. So Jesus feeds at least five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish. I don't know about you, but I find that story amazing.
Proverbs 2:12-22
(2:12-22)
The passage talks about the benefits of wisdom; it talks about wisdom can save you from bad people. It says that people who accept wisdom will walk the good path, and that they will not be cut off.
Genesis 40:1-41:40
(40 | 41:1-40)
Pharaoh throws a bit of a temper tantrum, and has his chief cup bearer and chief baker thrown in prison. They are placed under Joseph's care. After an unspecified amount of time, both men have dreams, and neither know what they mean. So Joseph interprets their dreams for them. He tells the cup bearer that Pharaoh will release and elevate him back to his previous position in three days. He tells the chief baker that Pharaoh will have him hanged in three days. Both of Joseph's interpretations turn out to be correct, but the cup bearer completely forgets about Joseph.
Two years later, Pharaoh has two similar dreams. In the first, seven healthy cows emerge from the Nile and start grazing. Seven gaunt cows emerge from the river and stand beside the healthy cows. In an extraordinary act of cannibalism, the seven gaunt cows then eat the healthy cows. In his second dream, seven good ears of corn grow on a stalk. They are followed by seven thin and scorched ears. The seven thin ears swallow up the healthy ears. Pharaoh is understandably troubled, so he sends for people to interpret his dreams. No one is able to. Then the cup bearer remembers how Joseph correctly interpreted his dream, and tells Pharaoh about him.
So Pharaoh sends for Joseph. Joseph tells Pharaoh that he cannot interpret his dreams, but that "God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." So Pharaoh tells Joseph his dreams, and Joseph interprets them; the seven healthy cows and ears of corn represent seven years of abundance throughout Egypt. The seven gaunt cows and the thin ears of corn represent seven years of famine that will follow the years of abundance. The unhealthy specimens devouring the healthy ones is advice on how to get through the years of famine; send officials throughout the land to ensure a fifth of all produce harvested throughout the years of abundance is stored away. Then, when the years of famine come, there will be enough food to go around.
The interpretation and plan satisfied Pharaoh, so he decides to put Joseph in charge of his palace. He tells him that only the Pharaoh himself will be greater and have more authority in his palace than Joseph. Joseph is elevated from being a prisoner (albeit a prisoner in charge of other prisoners) to being in charge of the whole of Egypt.
Matthew 14:1-21
(14:1-21)
Herod Antipas the tetrarch, ruler of Galilee and Perea, has John the Baptist thrown in prison. Why? Well, I've done some digging, so let's see if I've got this straight. First, he divorces his own wife. He then marries Herodias, who has just divorced his half-brother, Herod Philip I. Now, John the Baptist has a problem with this. Herod Antipas wants to kill him, but the people consider him a prophet, so he just throws him in prison. However, the daughter of Herodias asks Herod for John the Baptist's head on a platter. Herod promised to grant her a request, so he does it. Herod hears reports about Jesus and his activities, so he assumes John the Baptist has risen from the dead.
Jesus hears words of John's death, so withdraws to a solitary place. People follow and find him anyway. Jesus has sympathy on them, so he heals their sick. When it starts getting late, the disciples come to him and suggest he sends them away so they can buy food. But Jesus tells the disciples to feed them. They explain that they only have five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus gives thanks for the food, and it is divided amongst the people; everyone has their fill and there are even some leftovers. This isn't a tiny gathering either. There are about five thousand men present. That's just men. The number of women and children isn't given, but it's acknowledged that some are present. So Jesus feeds at least five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish. I don't know about you, but I find that story amazing.
Proverbs 2:12-22
(2:12-22)
The passage talks about the benefits of wisdom; it talks about wisdom can save you from bad people. It says that people who accept wisdom will walk the good path, and that they will not be cut off.
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