And it led to one of the most dramatic moments in the Joseph story.

Pharaoh, plagued by these intense dreams, had already consulted the wise men of Egypt. But their interpretations just didn't sit right. They felt…off. When Joseph was brought before him, the first thing he wanted to know was how Joseph could be so sure that all the wise men of his kingdom were wrong. "I saw the dream and its interpretation together," Pharaoh declared, "and therefore they cannot make a fool of me." He knew truth when he saw it. Or rather, when he dreamt it.

Now, imagine the pressure on Joseph. A prisoner, hauled before the most powerful man in Egypt, asked to do what all the king's magicians couldn't. Did he puff himself up? Did he boast about his abilities? Not at all.

Instead, in a move that reveals so much about his character, Joseph downplayed his own role. "It is not in me," he insisted. "It is in the hand of God." He made it clear that any wisdom he possessed wasn't his own accomplishment, but a gift. And he added, with profound humility, that only if it were the will of God would he be permitted to announce tidings of peace to Pharaoh.

Think about that for a moment. In a high-stakes situation, where self-aggrandizement might have seemed the obvious move, Joseph chose humility. He gave credit where credit was due.

And according to the sages, this very modesty was the key to his eventual rise to power. The text tells us that "for such modesty he was rewarded by sovereignty over Egypt, for the Lord doth honor them that honor Him." It's a powerful message: that true greatness lies not in boasting, but in recognizing something larger than ourselves.

We see a similar pattern with Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar, in the Book of Daniel. Both Joseph and Daniel point to the Divine as the source of their wisdom, not their own cleverness.

What can we take away from this? Perhaps it’s a reminder to check our egos. To remember that our talents, our insights, our very lives are gifts. And that true leadership, true influence, comes not from self-promotion, but from acknowledging the Source of all blessings. It's a powerful lesson embedded deep within these ancient stories.