Markets, Commodities, and the Supply Chain
In Genesis 40, Pharaoh was given a dream by God. The dream began with seven fat cows and seven gaunt cows. In a strange turn, the skinny cows turned and consumed the fat ones. After awakening, Pharaoh went back to sleep, where he had a second vivid dream of seven ears of corn ready for harvest and seven ears to be thrown out. Like the first dream, the seven ears void of kernels consumed the plump ones.
In the morning, a troubled Pharaoh asked his magicians to interpret the dream. After the magicians failed, the court remembered a Hebrew servant named Joseph who interpreted dreams. Calling for him from the dungeon, Pharaoh said unto Joseph, “I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it.”
Upon hearing the details of each dream, Joseph replied, “God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.” Then, he explained, “The seven good cows are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years. And the seven thin and ill-favored cows that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.” Thus, Egypt will have seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.
Those who attended Sunday School or Temple know what occurred next. Joseph was responsible for buying and storing grain over the next seven years. When famine struck, the grain…
