WEEKLY REFLECTION by Pastor Lap Dinh on Genesis 41:16

Genesis 41:16 “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer. ”In this short statement, Joseph testifies and glorifies the name of the Lord before one of the most powerful kings of the empire at that time. Pause and consider this: if Joseph were wrong, death would have been the only outcome. Yet fear did not stop him from stepping forward. This was not self-confidence, but God-confidence.

Even before hearing Pharaoh’s retelling of the dream, Joseph boldly declared, “God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” The word favorable is derived from shalom, which in this context conveys peace, well-being, prosperity, and success. This was not Joseph’s attempt at a pep talk or a desire to please Pharaoh. If it had been, it would not have come to pass. Rather, this confidence implies that God was with Joseph and had given him a deep conviction that the interpretation would come from the Lord—and that it would bring shalom to Pharaoh with certainty.


This passage brings to mind 1 Peter 4:10–11:

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” .

May we also have such bold faith—to declare to those who do not yet believe, in every circumstance of life, “It is not me, but Jesus who saves, delivers, and holds the answer for your life.” And may every believer in our church faithfully live out 1 Peter 4:10–11 in every way possible. Amen.