That feeling… it’s a universal one. But Jewish tradition teaches us that even in the darkest moments, hope remains. Take the story of Joseph, languishing in an Egyptian prison.

We all know the story: Joseph, sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, rises in power, only to be falsely accused and thrown into jail. It seemed like the end of the line. Forgotten. Abandoned.

But, as Legends of the Jews reminds us, "the Lord setteth an end to darkness." Joseph’s liberation wouldn't be delayed a moment longer than it was meant to be. Even when it seemed like everyone else had forgotten him, God hadn't.

The key? A dream. Actually, two dreams.

Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, was troubled by these visions. He saw seven beautiful, healthy cows emerge from the Nile, peacefully grazing together. Ginzberg, in his retelling of the story, explains that these cows represented years of abundance and prosperity. Think about it: when times are good, people are generous, friendships blossom, and harmony reigns. These fat cows symbolized those blessed years.

But then, the dream shifted. Seven gaunt, sickly cows appeared, each turning its back on the others. A chilling image, right? According to Legends of the Jews, these cows represented years of famine and hardship. When times are tough, people become isolated, turning away from each other in distress.

Pharaoh awoke, disturbed.

But the dreams weren’t over. He fell asleep again and saw seven healthy ears of corn, followed by seven thin, withered ears, blasted by the east wind. The withered ears then devoured the healthy ones.

Pharaoh woke up again, this time for good. The Talmud (Berakhot 55b) notes that dreams dreamt in the morning are the ones that come true. This was significant. This wasn't just any dream; this was a prophecy.

Why this elaborate imagery? Why not just send Pharaoh a memo (divine memos are pretty effective, after all!)? The Midrash Rabbah suggests that the images resonated with Pharaoh, who would have understood the importance of the Nile to Egypt's prosperity.

Pharaoh was deeply troubled and summoned all the magicians and wise men of Egypt, but none could interpret the dreams. Until…remember Joseph? The butler, who had been released from prison some time before but hadn't remembered his promise to help Joseph? Well, God reminded him.

And that, my friends, is where Joseph's fortunes began to change. One dream, a forgotten promise, and divine timing, and a young man on the verge of being forgotten was thrust back into the light.