It´s Thursday (37)

'And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt,' Genesis 41:33. 

In addition to giving Joseph the interpretation of Pharaoh's dream, God also shared with Joseph his means of saving the Egyptians from certain starvation. Now Joseph could have confined himself to interpreting Pharaoh's dreams. That is all that he was asked to do. But Joseph's heart was full of love and concern for others. We saw it in his attitude to the prisoners he served whilst he was in prison. We see it again now as he shares with Pharaoh the remedy by which the nation could be saved from impending doom. It is a big temptation to do the bare minimum required of us, to do merely what we are asked for or what is demanded of us. Jesus told us that we should be willing to do more than expected or demanded. 'If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles,' Matthew 5:41. In doing so people will realise that we are different, that we possess something different inside.

Pharaoh realised that there was something exceptional in this man, 'Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?' What was it that Pharaoh saw in Joseph that caused him to have that opinion? We know that Pharaoh observed the spiritual gifts of discernment and wisdom (v39), and no doubt the love, that God the Holy Spirit had given Joseph.

Now, it is one thing to recognise a problem, to see a need. It is something else to know what would resolve it, and yet another thing to have the practical skill to do what is needed. Often it requires three very different people, one to diagnose or identify the issue, another to work out how it might be resolved, and yet another with the practical skill needed to do it.

In addition to the spiritual gifts that God gave Joseph, he gifted Joseph with understanding what needed to be done to save the nation plus the ability to do it. God the Holy Spirit does not just give us spiritual gifts, he also enables people to do practical things that they were never capable of before, or to bring out and enhance a previously unnoticed talent. See Exodus 31:1-5 'Then the Lord said to Moses, “See I have chosen Bezalel....and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all sorts of crafts – to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.' 

'Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit and help us to recognise and then use the gifts you have given us, with a willingness to give more and do more than is expected or demanded of us, Amen.' 

God bless you all.