Wisdom To Listen - Pharaoh And Joseph

Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?”

Genesis 41:37-38

A talented but stubborn high school basketball player began his senior season as a starter, only to find himself riding the bench by midseason. At an especially competitive game one Friday night, the player couldn’t take it anymore. He blurted out, “Coach, why aren’t you playing me anymore?”

As though he had been expecting the question, the coach replied, “Since you couldn’t listen to me while you were on the floor, I thought you might be able to hear a little better sitting next to me.”

The young man learned his lesson. He started listening to his coach, and a few games later he was back on the floor.

One of a man’s most important traits is his willingness to listen. The Pharaoh who ruled Egypt during Joseph’s lifetime had the humility to listen and thus saved countless lives.

Some very disturbing nightmares awakened Pharaoh one night, and he desperately wanted to know what they meant. When none of his advisors could tell him, one of his high-ranking officials remembered meeting a man named Joseph who had an amazing ability to interpret dreams.

Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who was in prison at the time, and asked him what the dreams meant. The news behind the dreams wasn’t good, Joseph warned. There would be seven years of prosperity in Egypt, then seven years of severe famine. Joseph suggested that Pharaoh appoint someone to oversee the gathering of food during those seven years of plenty so that the people wouldn’t starve during the seven lean ones.

Pharaoh listened to Joseph, and then he appointed him to administer a food program that would keep that part of the world from starving. Pharaoh’s willingness to listen to a man “obviously filled with the spirit of God” saved his nation and probably his monarchy.

Have you learned to listen? God places people in your life with the purpose of giving you wisdom and direction you might not otherwise have. The art of listening is rare these days, but it’s vital to receiving God’s very best for you.