His [Pharaoh’s] spirit was troubled. Genesis 41:8
Why was Pharaoh troubled? One night he had a dream in which he saw seven fat cows feeding on the long grass beside the Nile River. Suddenly, seven scrawny cows came out of the water and ate the healthy cows. Everything beautiful and healthy was swallowed up by what was distorted and ugly. He woke up, fell asleep, and had a similar dream about seven ears of corn.
Think about the weight of responsibility on this man’s shoulders. People look to him for leadership, and the good of many hangs on the wisdom of his decisions. How was he to carry this responsibility?
You may feel the weight of leadership that has been placed on you. You feel a responsibility for your children and their future. You have a position in business, education, politics, or ministry, where the lives of others will be significantly affected by the decisions you make. There is a loneliness that often comes with that kind of responsibility.
Pharaoh believes there is a message in his dream, but he does not know what it is, and nobody in the palace can tell him. He calls in the pundits, and for once they are silent (41:8). That was unusual, for the pundits always have something to say, some spin on every story; but here, nobody has anything to offer. At this point, Pharaoh must have become worried.
We live in a culture that has become cynical about leaders. It is good to remember that God calls us to pray for our leaders who carry the burden of complex decisions (1 Tim. 2:2). And if, like Pharaoh, they do not know or worship the living God, then we should pray for them all the more.
Pray that God will raise up wise and godly people to give leadership in all levels of public life. After all, the good of many depends on their wisdom.
Would you pray for a handful of local leaders—pastors, teachers, CEOs, politicians, etc.—and ask God to raise up more wise and godly people to lead?
