“You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you.” – Genesis 41:40 (NAS)
There are seasons in life when everything seems to unravel—when the trials pile up, the doors close, and our dreams feel distant and forgotten. It is in these wilderness seasons that God forges leaders. Joseph’s life is the ultimate testimony that what the enemy intends for evil, God redeems for purpose. His journey from favored son to slave, from prisoner to ruler, is not merely a story of resilience but a divine illustration of stepping into a God-ordained calling.
Joseph was given dreams as a young man—visions of leadership and divine favor. But the path to their fulfillment was anything but direct. Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison—these were not detours but divine appointments. Every hardship Joseph endured became preparation for the moment God would call him forward. “Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord refined him.” (Psalm 105:19 NAS)
When Pharaoh stood helpless before troubling dreams that none could interpret, Joseph was remembered. Not because he schemed his way to the top, but because he remained faithful in the darkness. He interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams not with arrogance, but with humility and clarity: “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” (Genesis 41:16 NAS)
Joseph was prepared. Not only to interpret the dreams, but to lead in wisdom, strategy, and stewardship. And yet the calling of Joseph was not his alone to grasp—it required Pharaoh’s recognition and release of authority.
Pharaoh, the most powerful man in Egypt, was accustomed to control. He held the throne, the armies, the wealth, and the worship of his people. By all worldly standards, Pharaoh had no need to share power. Yet when he heard Joseph speak, something remarkable happened. Pharaoh discerned the Spirit of God in Joseph. “Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?” (Genesis 41:38 NAS)
Here, the mighty bowed to the divine.
Pharaoh could have responded with suspicion, fear, or pride. Instead, he surrendered control and embraced God’s plan. He said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:41 NAS) And then he did something radical—he gave Joseph his signet ring, a symbol of absolute authority. Pharaoh stepped back so Joseph could step forward into his calling.
Pharaoh didn’t micro-manage. He didn’t second-guess the plans. He entrusted Joseph fully with the administration of Egypt’s survival. And because of that, Egypt was saved from famine—not just physically, but prophetically. Pharaoh’s humility to release authority allowed Joseph’s divine gifting to flow, and nations were preserved through one man’s obedience.
What does this mean for us?
We live in a world where many struggle to find purpose, questioning whether their trials disqualify them from greatness. But God wastes nothing. The pit, the prison, and the waiting room are all part of His divine shaping. Your setbacks may be your sanctification. Your delays may be your development. Like Joseph, you are being prepared for something greater than yourself.
And perhaps you’re not Joseph in this season—perhaps you are a Pharaoh. Perhaps God has brought someone into your life with a vision, a plan, a calling, and you hold the authority to either release them or restrain them. True leadership is not about clinging to control; it’s about recognizing when God’s hand is on someone else and empowering them to move forward. The greatest leaders are not those who do everything, but those who discern God’s timing and delegate with trust.
In both Joseph and Pharaoh, we see aspects of faithful response. Joseph did not force his way into power—he waited until God opened the door. And Pharaoh did not cling to the throne—he allowed God’s appointed one to rise.
To step into your calling is to trust that what God has placed inside of you will be revealed in His time. It means preparing now, even if you’re in a prison season. It means honoring God in obscurity, knowing that your moment will come. And when it does, you must be ready—not to serve yourself, but to serve others for the glory of God.
Let Joseph’s story stir your faith. Let Pharaoh’s surrender challenge your pride. And let God’s sovereignty over it all comfort your heart.
Because when God calls you to lead, He has already equipped you with what you need.
“God has made me lord of all Egypt.” (Genesis 45:9 NAS) — Not by ambition. Not by man’s favor. But by God’s hand alone.
