When the forecast in your world is ominous, how do you respond? Do you "catastrophize," spending your energy on playing out the worst-case scenario? Do you look for causes and people to blame, spending your energy on pondering where it all went wrong? Or do you, like Joseph, assume that, whatever lies ahead will somehow become a "favorable answer" (41:10)?
Joseph's pronouncement about Egypt's economy was certainly a mixed bag: a growth cycle of abundance, yes, but followed by seven—count them, seven—long years of famine (do you ever wonder if our own leaders should read the Bible more often?). Rather than catastrophizing or blaming, though, Joseph's response to God's revelation is reasonable, practical, and resourceful. Set aside 20% during times of plenty, he says, and there'll be more than enough in the long haul as well.
It's not hard to see the fiscal prudence we find here. What a different world it would be today if we all lived this way. But Joseph's wisdom goes deeper than the bottom line. It's about taking the long view, assuming best outcomes, and aligning our choices to help bring them about. When we see clouds on the horizon—as individuals, families, a church, a society—we'd do well to seek out the Josephs in our midst and follow such practical advice.
But perhaps the most important part of this chapter comes at the end. It's not just Joseph personally, or even Egypt as a nation, who benefits from heeding such wisdom. "All the world" ends up seeking relief in Egypt. And somehow, God's "favorable answer" meant that there was enough. Now that's a forecast we can live with.
- How do you respond to challenges that loom on the horizon? When have you responded in a way that prepared you to meet them?
- Reflect a time when someone's (maybe your) self-restraint benefited those you hadn't even considered. What do you notice?
- What other details did you notice in today's reading?
Prayer: Your ways, O God, are ways of plenty. Teach us your ways, that we too might be bearers of plenty for the whole world. Amen.
Breath Prayer: God will give // a favorable answer.
