Not Too Proud

"Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, 'I would make mention today of my own offenses. Pharaoh was furious with his servants, and he put me in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, both me and the chief baker. We had a dream on the same night, he and I; each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. Now a Hebrew youth was with us there, a servant of the captain of the bodyguard, and we related them to him, and he interpreted our dreams for us. To each one he interpreted according to his own dream. And just as he interpreted for us, so it happened; he restored me in my office, but he hanged him.'. Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came to Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'I have had a dream, but no one can interpret it; and I have heard it said about you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.'"  -Genesis 41.9-15

Pharaoh is troubled by a dream that no one can interpret.  None of his wise men have an answer for him, and that makes this dream all the more troubling.  But then one his servants, the cupbearer who had been sent to prison two years earlier.  He remembers a young man, a Hebrew, who had correctly interpreted two dreams in prison.  He mentions him to Pharaoh, and Joseph is sent for.

The Pharaohs were believed to be gods in human form.  He has had a dream that he can't figure out, nor can any of his wisest advisors.  And what's amazing is that he takes advice from a servant.  He listens to what he has to say, and then does what he suggests.  

The suggestion involved a young foreigner.  The Egyptians saw foreigners as uncivilized barbarians.  If you look at hieroglyphic images you see the Egyptians are always clean shaven and short haired, foreigners are shown with long hair and beards.  Not only is Pharaoh taking advice from a servant, but he seeks the counsel of an uncivilized youth.

Men, how proud are we?  How quick are we to seek advice, let alone the advice of someone younger, or less educated?  How much have we missed out on, or lost, because of our pride?

Over the past few years I've learned to learn from people younger than me.  I've learned to be humble enough to listen, even to the college freshman who thinks he knows everything, and even though most of the time he has absolutely no idea, he does bring a different perspective.

I think the Church has lost a lot of ground because it has refused to listen to the youth.  I think fathers lose a lot of ground because they refuse to listen to their children.  I think men lose a lot of ground when they refuse to be humble and listen.

Don't be too proud to learn from those who are younger.  The bring insights that your experience can easily overlook.  Not everything they say is a gem, but if we never humble ourselves and listen, we miss the ones they throw out.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor