Genesis 41:34

Joseph was not content only to interpret the dreams of the king... He saw that the case demanded the most energetic and careful measures. The light given from above had to be put to use: a long period of over-abundant plenty, then an equally long, certain and extreme scarcity to follow. So he rose above all hesitation. A man just out of the obscurity and shame of a prison would not normally advise a king and his court on affairs of state... Confidence in the revealed mind of God removed his fear that they would brush him aside. It also drew out his heart in goodwill to the king and his people. Otherwise they might soon forget the dream and its meaning as a passing sensation. Then they would fall into the usual carelessness of unbelief, wasting the coming plenty and ignoring the scarcity to follow.

Joseph not only interpreted the dreams. He also told Pharaoh what should be done, since these things were coming. What was needed was the man of wisdom who could be trusted to carry them out. In fact, Joseph was speaking on God's behalf. He showed that on the human side, faced with these acts of God, only one thing was needed: A MAN.

Two things mark this plan. First, God ordains that only one man shall be over the land; second, God will so order circumstances that all will be brought under the rule of this man. Joseph was to be set over all, and all would be brought under Joseph by the seven years of plenty followed by the seven years of famine. The circumstances and the man would combine to bring about God's purposed plan.

He must appoint a wise, dependable man to manage the great work of gathering produce into storehouses throughout the land of Egypt. This would need many helpers. During the seven years of plenty, they would need only one-fifth of the produce of the land to be kept for the future (vv. 33-36). The abundance of the first seven years must have been great. Often when people are greatly blessed they do not consider wisely what the future may hold. They squander the large amount the Lord has given them. Then the lean years arrive without warning, and they are not ready.

The Lord would not have us lose His gifts through waste or neglect, just because we have more than enough for the moment. God gave seven years of plenty in Egypt. The spirit of divine wisdom in Joseph devised effective measures to gather up the surplus and store it for the days of famine. Nothing was to be lost!... The lesson applies widely. To waste His gifts is to despise them, and to lose them. Economy is not contrary to true generosity but consistent with it.

During the years of plenty Joseph uses his place of exaltation to reap a great harvest for Egypt... In this day of grace the world is passing through its "seven plenteous years." The grace of God is giving out blessings by "handfuls." The men of the world may completely ignore the blessings that grace brings to their door, and go their way with no thought for the future. It seems the men of Egypt took no advantage of the years of plenty to store for the years of famine. We do not read that they gathered up any food. It was Joseph who went throughout the land and gathered up corn. And so today it is the exalted Christ who is reaping a harvest of souls during the day of grace.