Genesis 41:15-28

¹⁵ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can explain it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can explain it.”

¹⁶ Joseph answered Pharaoh, “This is not from me; God will give an answer that brings peace to Pharaoh.”

¹⁷ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile.

¹⁸ Seven cows, fat and healthy, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass.

¹⁹ Seven other cows came up after them, deprived and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt.

²⁰ And the thin, ugly cows devoured the first seven fat cows,

²¹ but when they had them in their bellies, no one would have known that they had them in their bellies, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke.

²² I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good.

²³ Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them,

²⁴ and the thin ears devoured the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but no one was able explain it to me.”

²⁵ Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are each about the same thing; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.

²⁶ The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are about the same thing.

²⁷ The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine.

²⁸ It is just what I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. _______________________

no stealing the show

Joseph’s attitude is remarkable, seeing that he has just been taken out of a dungeon and thrust into a prominent position as advisor to Pharaoh. He puts God at center stage. He serves simply as a spokesperson. God is the one revealing the future, and explaining the dream. God is the one who will bring peace out of this anxious moment. When believers are willing to allow the Holy Spirit to minister to others, without grabbing the glory for themselves – that is the attitude which shows that God is at work. When people steal the show for God’s work, it isn’t long before God steps back. He will not share his glory with another.

LORD, give us a heart to serve, and the wisdom to give you the credit for the service.