Where Credit is Due

Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Genesis 41 is the pivot point. Pharaoh has a dream that the wise men of the world can’t touch. Suddenly, the forgotten prisoner is the only one with the answer. But notice Joseph’s response: ‘I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.’ This is the posture of a man who has been broken and rebuilt by God. He doesn’t take the credit; he points to the Source.

Joseph is elevated from the dungeon to the man in charge of the most powerful empire on earth, all in a single day. This is the dramatic reversal that God loves to perform. It points forward to Christ, who was humbled to the point of death on a cross and then highly exalted to the right hand of the Father. Joseph’s wisdom wasn’t just about economics; it was about stewardship. He saw the seven years of plenty and the seven years of famine through the lens of divine providence.

Psalm 19 tells us that ‘The heavens declare the glory of God.’ Joseph saw God’s glory not just in the stars, but in the dreams and even in the grain silos. God’s law and statutes (as the Psalm describes) provide the wisdom that makes the simple wise. When you align your life with God’s truth, you gain a perspective that the wise of this world can’t comprehend. You aren’t just surviving; you are being positioned to bring life to a starving world.

Devotional Prompts:

Joseph gave God the credit before Pharaoh. Where are you tempted to take the credit for God’s work in your life?
How does the sudden reversal in Joseph’s life encourage you to stay faithful in your current lowly position?
Psalm 19 talks about God’s word being sweeter than honey. How has God’s wisdom provided for you in a famine season?

Prayer: Lord, give me the wisdom that only comes from You. When You elevate me, let me never forget the One who brought me out of the pit. May my life declare Your glory as clearly as the heavens do. Amen.