Genesis 41:1-8: a reflection

1At the end of two full years, Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he stood by the river. 2Behold, seven cattle came up out of the river. They were sleek and fat, and they fed in the marsh grass. 3Behold, seven other cattle came up after them out of the river, ugly and thin, and stood by the other cattle on the brink of the river. 4The ugly and thin cattle ate up the seven sleek and fat cattle. So Pharaoh awoke. 5He slept and dreamed a second time; and behold, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, healthy and good. 6Behold, seven heads of grain, thin and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them. 7The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8In the morning, his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all of Egypt’s magicians and wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.

Pharaoh, the ruler of a great kingdom, with all the resources of Egypt at his command, is troubled by dreams he cannot understand. In the morning his spirit was troubled, and he called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt; but there was no one who could interpret them. All his wealth, all his wise men, could not quiet the unrest within him or answer the question that troubled his spirit. His inner disquiet found no relief in the resources of his kingdom; it pointed to a need that only God, through Joseph, would meet.

Notice the inner unrest that Pharaoh's resources could not quiet. He had wealth, power, wise men, everything the world could offer; yet his spirit was troubled, and none of it could give him rest or the answer he sought. His inner disquiet was beyond the reach of his kingdom's resources; the wise men of Egypt were helpless before it. The unrest pointed beyond what the world could supply, to a need that only God could meet. All Pharaoh's resources could not quiet the trouble within him; the disquiet of his spirit was a need his kingdom could not answer, and it pointed, though he did not yet know it, toward God.

That is worth taking to heart, for there is an inner unrest that no worldly resource can quiet, which points us to God. We can have much that the world offers, comfort, means, expertise, and still carry an inner unrest that none of it can quiet, a disquiet of spirit that our resources cannot answer, as Pharaoh's could not answer his. That unrest is not a problem to be solved by more of what the world offers; it points beyond them, to a need only God can meet. When you feel an inner unrest that your resources cannot quiet, do not think more of what the world offers will answer it; it points you to God, who alone can meet the deepest need. Let the inner unrest that no worldly resource can quiet point you to God, who alone can meet the deepest need of your spirit, as Pharaoh's troubled spirit found no answer in all Egypt's wise men; for there is a disquiet in us that the world cannot answer, and it is meant to turn us toward God, who alone can give the rest and the answer we seek.

Lord, Pharaoh, with all the resources of Egypt at his command, is troubled by dreams he cannot understand. In the morning his spirit was troubled, and he called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt; but there was no one who could interpret them. All his wealth, all his wise men, could not quiet the unrest within him or answer the question that troubled his spirit. His inner disquiet found no relief in the resources of his kingdom; it pointed to a need that only you, through Joseph, would meet. Show me the inner unrest that Pharaoh's resources could not quiet. He had wealth, power, wise men, everything the world could offer; yet his spirit was troubled, and none of it could give him rest. His inner disquiet was beyond the reach of his kingdom's resources. The unrest pointed beyond what the world could supply, to a need that only you could meet. Take that to my heart, for there is an inner unrest that no worldly resource can quiet, which points me to you. I can have much that the world offers, comfort, means, expertise, and still carry an inner unrest that none of it can quiet, as Pharaoh's could not answer his. That unrest is not a problem to be solved by more of what the world offers; it points beyond them, to a need only you can meet. When I feel an inner unrest that my resources cannot quiet, keep me from thinking more of what the world offers will answer it; let it point me to you, Lord, who alone can meet the deepest need of my spirit.