Genesis 41:29-41

²⁹ See, seven years are coming of great fullness throughout the land of Egypt.

³⁰ But afterward there are seven years of famine so great that all the fullness will be forgotten in Egypt. Famine will finish the land.

³¹ And the knowledge of the good years will be erased by the famine, because it will have such force.

³² By Pharaoh having two dreams, it establishes that the events have been decreed by God, and he will soon make them occur.

³³ “Because of this, Pharaoh should find a wise and discerning man and set him over the land of Egypt.

³⁴ Let Pharaoh make and appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven years of fullness.

³⁵ And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the hand of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep watch over it.

³⁶ That food shall be held in reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not be destroyed by the famine.”

³⁷ This seemed to be a good idea to Pharaoh and all his servants.

³⁸ Then Pharaoh said to his servants, “Would we find another man like this, who has the Spirit of God in him?”

³⁹ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.

⁴⁰ You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”

⁴¹ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”

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the mechanics of wisdom

Joseph’s wisdom consisted of more than the gift of insight into future events. God had also given him an awareness of the practical steps that Pharaoh could take to preserve his people. He had more than insider knowledge of coming disaster. He had a plan that would help the Egyptians manage the disaster. He knew that this famine was going to happen – that there was no way to prevent it. So, his suggestion was that Pharaoh develop a leadership structure that could manage it. In his wisdom, Joseph realized that the problem was not going to be solved by words alone.

LORD, we pray for a practical wisdom that both sees the problems we will face, and discerns your ways of dealing with those problems.