14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.

15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. 19 After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. 20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 21 But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.

22 “In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23 After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.”

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.

28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.

33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”

Dear God, I find it interesting that Joseph was so eager and intentional about giving you the credit for all of this. He didn’t have to. He didn’t have to say that you had given him the dream. He didn’t have to say that you had given him the interpretation of the dream. All he had to say was, “There are seven years of plenty coming that will be followed by seven years of famine. Buckle up.” But he didn’t. He challenged Pharaoh’s religious beliefs by being sure to give you the glory for the dreams, their interpretation, and even the control of the weather. Pharaoh was left with no doubt where Joseph was coming from.

I hope that I am that way. I think I am at times, but I don’t know that I am that way all of the time. I do think that I start to take a little too much credit for myself. I think I get to enjoying the praise that others give me a little too much. I forget to lead with you, continue with you and finish with you in what I say. Instead, I might throw a little credit to you as I go, but I could probably do a better job of wearing you on my sleeves a little more.

Father, help me to give you glory for everything that I do and everything around me. Help me to reveal your presence to others and to show them how you are working to love and support them. I have some friends who are struggling financially as well as other ways, and I hope that you will reveal yourself to them. Use me however you will in their lives. The same goes for patients that we come across. And my wife and children too. Help me to a revealer of you to them. Help others to see you, and use me however you will to reveal your presence to others so that they might be drawn closer to you and worship you.