The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine.
Pharaoh dreamed twice, and here Joseph gives both dreams one meaning: seven years of famine. Why would God announce a disaster years before it came, and what does the withering east wind add to the warning?
One Message, Told Twice
The lean cows and the empty ears are not two warnings but one. One writer traces how Joseph reads the two dreams as one message, and why God gave it:
L. M. GrantJoseph interpreted the dream for Pharaoh at once. He said, "The dream of Pharaoh is one" — that is, the second dream only confirmed the first. God was showing Pharaoh beforehand what He was going to do in Egypt. The seven cows meant seven years, and the seven good ears of grain meant seven years. In the same way, the seven ugly cows and the seven parched ears of grain each meant seven years. The well fed cows and the good ears meant seven years of rich harvests through all the land of Egypt. The lean cows and the thin ears foretold seven years of famine to follow. Then, because the famine would be so severe, the good years would be forgotten, as though eaten up by the bad years with no helpful result. God does such things to wake people up. Their blessing does not depend on circumstances, but on the God who brings about every circumstance.
The East Wind
The east wind that ruined the ears is more than a detail. In Scripture that wind carries a settled meaning:
Morrish Bible DictionaryThe east wind was distressing and destructive to plant life (Genesis 41:6, 23, 27). It was dangerous to ships at sea (Psalm 48:7; Ezekiel 27:26). It is a symbol of the withering power of God's judgements (Hosea 13:15).
Famine as Judgment
Famine is one of the judgements God sends on the earth:
Morrish Bible DictionaryFamine is one of God's "four severe judgements." He has brought it on the earth in past times, and He has foretold that He will send it again as a punishment. The most severe famines in Scripture are the two that lasted seven years. One came in the time of Joseph, the other in the days of Elisha (Genesis 41:27-57; 2 Kings 8:1-2).
A Picture of What Is Coming
One writer reads Pharaoh's dream as more than ancient history. He sees the world's own future in these full years swallowed by empty ones:
Frederick W GrantPharaoh's dream prophesies seven years of plenty, followed by seven years of famine that will devour them up. Even now the world is enjoying its plentiful years, and it has little belief in the future clearly foretold for it. Yet the time of famine is not far off. It will display the resources of the One who will then be seen as the only one able to meet its terrible demands. In that hard time of trial Israel will be brought back to Him whom they rejected, and the world will be brought under the throne whose provision of grace He ministers.
Government by One Man
The famine put all Egypt into one man's hands. Another writer sees there God's method for governing the world:
Hamilton SmithThis, too, is God's plan for the future government of the world. God will not govern by parliaments or cabinets, or by advisers and ministers. He will govern by "a Man discerning and wise" set over all. And all will be brought under His sway either by the day of grace or in the day of judgment — the years of plenty or the years of famine.
The same writer contrasts two ways of bowing:
Hamilton SmithThe Christian delights to bow during the plentiful years of grace. The world will be forced to bow in the years of famine.
Scarcity After Abundance
The warning has a nearer use. Plenty can end in spiritual things too:
The Christian's FriendWho thinks of famine in a time of plenty? But famine sometimes follows plenty. It was so in Egypt… So it is sometimes with the ministry of the word of God. There are times when many honoured servants of the Lord are busy ministering Christ to souls. Then few consider that scarcity may follow the plenty.
Summary
- One dream. The ugly cows and the blighted ears say one thing twice: seven years of famine. God announced it before a single crop failed.
- One wind. The east wind that scorched the ears pictures the withering power of God's judgements.
- One warning. Famine stands among the severe judgements God sends, and this one ranks with the worst in the Bible.
- One lesson. The famine would swallow the good years until they were forgotten. Blessing rests on God, not on circumstances.
- One man. Plenty and famine together brought everyone under Joseph. So God will bring all under Christ — gladly in the years of grace, or by force in the years of famine.