In Parashat Mikeitz, we read about Paroh's cryptic dreams, whose explanations are unknown to his royal advisors and can only be interpreted by Yosef HaTzaddik. Rashi (BeReishit 41:8, s.v. ואין ־פות֥ר אות֖ם לפרעֽה) explains that Paroh’s advisors gave him interpretations, but they did not satisfy him. It was not until Yosef HaTzaddik interpreted the dreams to mean seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine that Paroh was content. So, why did Paroh find Yosef’s interpretations more satisfying?
One answer is that the focus of the dreams was about cows and wheat, so logically it would make sense that the dream would be related to the agriculture of the land in Egypt. If so, how can it be that Paroh’s royal advisors failed to notice this obvious motif? Rav Mordechai Sabato suggests that the difference between Yosef HaTzaddik’s interpretation and that of the royal advisors relates to the theological approaches of monotheism and paganism.
Yosef HaTzaddik understood the dreams as a warning from Hashem of an inevitable impending crisis to help avoid or adequately prepare for the disaster. For the advisors, the notion of a divine plan was ludicrous. Why? The idea of many existing deities directly correlates to the concept of limitation of the power of each deity, meaning each power must keep its respective plan a secret to ensure no other forces will interfere. Hence, why would one of the powers reveal their plan to Paroh with the possibility that he could interfere? On the other hand, monotheism accepts Hashem as having unlimited power. Hashem jeopardizes nothing by revealing His plans to man. On the contrary, Hashem deliberately seeks to assist man. So only Yosef HaTzaddik, understanding monotheism, successfully interpreted Paroh’s dreams to what was satisfactory. We should be mindful that since Hashem has unlimited power and does not lose anything from helping us when He sends us a message, it is for our benefit.