What Does Genesis 41:16 Mean?

Joseph answered Pharaoh, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer." Joseph's first words before Pharaoh are a disclaimer. His answer does not begin with his credentials, his track record, or his confidence in his ability. It begins with "It is not in me": a denial of personal capacity as the source. The same theological position he stated to the cupbearer and baker in Genesis 40:8 ("Do not interpretations belong to God?") is now stated before the king of Egypt: I am not the source of what you are about to receive. God is.

The phrase "God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer" contains a theological claim made to a pagan ruler: the God who gives the interpretation is the God of Joseph. Joseph does not say "the gods will help": using Egypt's polytheistic vocabulary. He does not avoid the theological claim to preserve diplomatic neutrality. He announces, at his first public appearance before the most powerful man in the world, that the interpretation will come from God. This is the same theological directness that characterized his refusal of Potiphar's wife ("sin against God"): Joseph does not soften his theological convictions to fit his social context.

The specific claim that God will give "a favorable answer" may be slightly premature: Joseph does not yet know whether Pharaoh's dream will have good news or difficult news (the answer will be both). But the "favorable" may refer to the usefulness of the answer rather than its pleasantness: God will give a true and actionable interpretation rather than the interpretive failure Pharaoh has already received from his wise men. The answer will be useful: and that is what "favorable" means in this context. Joseph steps forward to receive the dreams, disclaiming his own ability and attributing whatever is about to happen entirely to God.