Giving Credit
Pharaoh was Joseph’s only chance at a ‘Get out of jail free’ card. And yet, when Pharaoh asks Joseph to help him, what does he say?
Genesis 41:1-40
Reference: v.16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” (NIV Bible)
Explore: There are some people who do not take praise very easily. When you compliment them they do their very best to deflect the praise on to someone or something else. On the otherhand, there are people who are keen to take all the praise. When completing a task in a group effort they are the ones at the front willing to take any of the glory that is meant for the whole team.
Application: If anyone needed some praise and a leg-up it was Joseph. For the last couple of years Joseph had had a roller-coaster ride of a time. He’d been in the house of royalty but in the more recent past he’d been kept in the depths of the dungeons. Suddenly one day he is cleaned up and presented before Pharaoh. Pharaoh is his only chance at a ‘Get out of jail free’ card. And yet, when Pharaoh asks Joseph to help him, what does he say? I can’t, but God can. As much as I am a person who strives to give God praise in everything I do, I’m not sure I would have been so humble in this situation. If Pharaoh had the power to pull me out of the dungeons I’d be like, “Sure, I can do that for you, let me serve you.” And yet Joseph knew that his gifts came from God and so he gave God the credit before the task was even completed. Joseph truly was a man after God’s own heart. Even when he was in the lowest possible position he did not seek credit for himself to make his life easier, he continued to honour God and give him all the credit. It seems that Joseph had come a long way from flaunting his coat and his dreams in the face of his family.
Prayer: Lord, You are all powerful and worthy of all our praise. Thank you for the blessings you bestow upon us. May we give you all the credit. Amen.
What area of your life do you need to give God the credit for?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.