Genesis 41:14-16

Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon. He shaved himself, changed his clothing, and came in to Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It isn’t in me. God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”

This is one of my favorite parts of the Bible. Not only was Joseph finally let out of the dungeon, but what he said has so much meaning for us today. Pharaoh really set Joseph up to take all of the credit for the ability to interpret dreams, but Joseph said: “It isn’t in me.” Joseph took absolutely no credit for the ability to interpret dreams. I find this very important because this reminds me of how a Christian should live their life every day.

This is what Jesus says about our lives as believers in Him:

John 15:5 :

I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing

Joseph knew that he could not interpret dreams at all. Only God can do it. For believers in Jesus, we are told that we “can do nothing” apart from Jesus. We depend on Jesus for everything, which tells me that everything that we do as believers is a miracle when we do it right.

Notice what Joseph does say about the interpretation. He mentions “God” and that He is the one who will give the answer of peace. From what we know of Egypt, there were many gods available. When Joseph spoke so boldly about God, the One they may have been avoiding, it shows me that Joseph hadn’t stopped fearing God more than man. He was still speaking the truth even to one of the most powerful kings in the world.

Notice that Joseph doesn’t say, “Well, you know I believe in a single God even thought most of you don’t.” Instead, he spoke of God in the singular and as if He was the only one that ever matters at all. God was clearly on display and the resulting interpretation would hold the Name of the One God high. That is how we should live. We need to make sure that it is God who gets the glory for the wonders that we are able to do as we live our lives in Him.