Context No. 4119 of 4322 · Genesis

Genesis 41:14-24: in context

14Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon. He shaved himself, changed his clothing, and came in to Pharaoh. 15Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It isn’t in me. God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” 17Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, “In my dream, behold, I stood on the brink of the river; 18and behold, seven fat and sleek cattle came up out of the river. They fed in the marsh grass; 19and behold, seven other cattle came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for ugliness. 20The thin and ugly cattle ate up the first seven fat cattle; 21and when they had eaten them up, it couldn’t be known that they had eaten them, but they were still ugly, as at the beginning. So I awoke. 22I saw in my dream, and behold, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, full and good; 23and behold, seven heads of grain, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them. 24The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads of grain. I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

Brought up hastily from the dungeon to stand before Pharaoh, Joseph is told that Pharaoh has heard he can interpret dreams. It would have been a natural moment for Joseph to claim the ability as his own, to seize this chance to impress the ruler who held his freedom in his hands. But Joseph's answer is a model of humility: it is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.

Even as he stands before the ruler of Egypt, with his fate hanging on the impression he makes, Joseph refuses to take credit for his gift. He deflects the glory to God, insisting that any interpretation would come not from his own cleverness but from God. There is a striking humility in this. Joseph had a real gift, and he could have used the moment to exalt himself. Instead he gave God the credit, both for the ability and for the answer that would come. When we are praised or given the chance to shine, the temptation is to take the credit as our own. Joseph's example is to acknowledge the truth: whatever ability we have is a gift, and the glory belongs to God.

When I am praised or given the chance to shine because of some ability, do I take the credit as my own, or do I, like Joseph, humbly acknowledge that whatever gift I have comes from God and give him the glory?

Sources

Genesis 41:16: "Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It isn't in me. God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace."
Genesis 41:15: "I have heard it said of you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."
Genesis 41:14: "They brought him hastily out of the dungeon. He shaved himself, changed his clothing, and came in to Pharaoh."