Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”
Genesis 41:15 NIV
Pharaoh’s expectation reflected the report he had received from the cupbearer. Joseph had interpreted dreams in prison, and now Pharaoh assumed he possessed a general ability to interpret any dream. But Joseph’s reply in verse 16 was striking: “I cannot do it.” Such an answer must have startled Pharaoh. Perhaps he even wondered if Joseph’s reputation was false or if there remained any hope of his dream being understood. Yet Joseph did not stop there. He immediately continued: “But God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”
Here, Joseph made a bold distinction. He clarified that the ability did not lie in him but in God, whose presence he carried. Joseph positioned himself not as the source of interpretation but as the vessel through which God would speak. This humility revealed the true secret of Joseph’s life: the presence of God was with him, and that presence made the impossible possible.
The same truth speaks to us today. God does not call us to accomplish things in our own strength. He does not expect us to rely on our abilities or qualifications. Instead, He calls us to carry His presence into every situation, trusting Him to accomplish what we never could. Paul echoes this in 2 Corinthians 3:5: “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.”
Joseph’s story reminds us that our past or present circumstances do not define us. Joseph rose from the dungeon to stand before Pharaoh because he carried God’s presence. Likewise, what matters most in your life is not where you come from but whom you carry with you. When God finds someone willing to bear His presence, He glorifies His name through them and releases extraordinary power in and through their lives.
God is still seeking such people today. He longs for men and women who will make themselves available, not depending on their own strength but relying fully on Him. When we live this way, we will see His power displayed in extraordinary ways. We will see His glory revealed in our lives and in the world around us.
Living It Out
Ask yourself today: Am I willing to be a carrier of God’s presence in every place and situation? Set aside self-reliance and invite the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh. Surrender your abilities, your past, and your limitations to Him, and trust that He will do more than you could ever imagine. Like Joseph, you may not feel capable, but with God’s presence, you are never without hope. Pray with an open heart: “Lord, I am available. Fill me and use me for Your glory.”