God Is In Charge: Genesis 41:14-32

God is the one who places us in situations to demonstrate His greatness.  His power encompasses the universe.  He controls everything from the weather to our dreams if He wants.  He is the focus.

Joseph comes before Pharoah and provides a proper interpretation of the dream.  He stands up, gives the hard interpretation, and does what God needs him to do.  This is the moment God orchestrated for Joseph’s success, and Joseph doesn’t disappoint.

Joseph begins on a strong foot.  Pharoah comes to Joseph and acknowledges his ability to give a proper interpretation.  Joseph stops Pharoah and corrects him.  He doesn’t disrespect Pharoah; he makes sure Pharoah understands God deserves the credit.  Joseph isn’t the smart one or the perceptive one.  Those characteristics belong to God.  Joseph is the one willing to be led by God.

This is one of the greatest consequences of giving God the glory.  Yes, it makes sure that God gets the glory, which is incredibly significant.  The power belongs to God; He deserves the glory.  Apart from God getting the glory, though, Joseph’s response communicates his relationship with God to Pharoah.  Joseph acknowledges his role as a servant.  Joseph is the one being led.  Joseph is not in control.  Joseph isn’t the brain behind the organization, he’s the assistant.  He’s the one who does what He’s told.

That doesn’t make Joseph unimportant.  Joseph is incredibly important!  Joseph is the one God hand-picked to step into this moment, interpret Pharoah’s dreams, and save dozens of nations.  Joseph is the man at this moment of human history.  But he’s not just the man, he’s God’s man.  He’s God’s assistant.  The only reason Joseph is in this moment is because God put him here.  Joseph knows that, and he wants to make sure Pharoah knows he knows it, too.

Joseph cements this point by talking about the duplicity of the dream.  Anyone can have a weird dream.  Having two different weird dreams about the same concept on the same night is sign that a greater power is at work.  Once more Joseph tells Pharoah that God is the one with the power and he is but a servant of God.

When Pharoah describes his dream to Joseph, this time he says the second set of cows did not improve after eating the first set of cows.  Joseph properly identifies this as God sending a message for how severe the famine will be.  The thin cows survive, but they don’t ever look happy or well fed.  They will get through the experience with God’s help, but it won’t be joyful.

This whole passage is about our place in God’s power.  In fact, all of Joseph’s life has been about our place in God’s power.  God is the omnipotent and omniscient one.  He is the sustainer.  God is the one who puts us in places to demonstrate His greatness.