Day 41 – Genesis 41:5-8
Wisdom Reaches Its Limit
Scripture Reading – Genesis 41:5-8
And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.
Genesis 41:5 KJV
And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.
Genesis 41:6 KJV
And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.
Genesis 41:7 KJV
And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
Genesis 41:8 KJV
Scripture Review
Pharaoh sleeps again and sees seven good ears of corn on one stalk, followed by seven thin ears blasted by the east wind. The thin ears devour the good. In the morning his spirit is troubled, so he calls Egypt’s magicians and wise men. They hear the dreams, but none can interpret them. The greatest minds available to the throne reach the end of their ability.
That failure is part of the preparation. If the palace experts had supplied a convincing answer, the forgotten prisoner would have remained unnecessary. God allows human wisdom to reach a locked door so that His wisdom will be recognized when it speaks. Education, experience, and counsel are gifts, but none should be placed where only God belongs. The empty answer in the palace is about to make room for a Hebrew servant who has learned not to take the credit.
Pharaoh meant to use every recognized source of Egyptian wisdom to settle his troubled spirit and explain the warning.
God meant to expose the limit of human wisdom so that the interpretation and the glory would plainly belong to Him.
What this asks of me
I should use the knowledge God provides without worshipping it. There are questions skill cannot answer and crises rank cannot control. When my resources reach their limit, I do not need to pretend. I can acknowledge what I do not know and seek the Lord who never lacks wisdom.
Consider
- What human resource have I treated as though it could never fail me?
- Can I admit the limit of my wisdom without losing confidence in God’s?