Two years after Joseph had been put into prison, Pharaoh had two dreams. In the first dream, seven fat cows were eaten by seven lean cows. In the second dream, seven thin corns of grain ate up seven plump corns of grain. Pharaoh called his magicians and wise men but none could interpret the dreams. The butler then remembered Joseph who has helped him in prison. Joseph was called to give the interpretation of the dreams. He said the seven fat cows and the plump grains represented seven years of plenty and the seven lean cows and the seven thin grains represented seven years of famine. Joseph said there would be seven years of plenty to be followed by seven years of famine. After Joseph had interpreted the dream of Pharaoh, he recommended to him to appoint a wise and discreet person as governor and set him over the land to grow and store enough food for the seven years of famine that would follow the seven years of plenty. Joseph also suggested the appointment of overseers to assist the governor. Joseph was however made the governor of Egypt by Pharaoh, because the spirit of God was with him. Pharaoh then charged Joseph with the responsibility of preparing the nation against the expected famine. Joseph was thirty when he became the governor of Egypt. As soon as he resumed office, he set to work. He did not sit in his office to direct affairs. He personally travelled throughout the length and breadth of the land of Egypt helping the farmers to clear the ground and plant grains. After the planting, he supervised over the building of store facilities in all the cities of Egypt. At the time of the harvest, he supervised the harvesting and storing of surplus food. During the

seven years of plenty. Joseph stored up surplus grain. The grain reserved was so great that it could not be measured. When the seven years of plenty came to an end and the seven years of famine began, the people went to Pharaoh for food. Pharaoh directed them to Joseph, who had thoroughly prepared for the period. Joseph had no problem coping with the situation. He judiciously sold the food to people in such a way that everybody had enough food for the duration of the famine. There was even surplus food to sell to countries that were equally affected by the famine.