Being Placed For A Special Purpose
by Dan Jones, M.D.
Genesis 41 :41-43;53-57
So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, "Make way!" Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph and do what he tells you."
When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world.
Just as Joseph had predicted in interpreting Pharaoh’s dream, over the next seven years there was a plentiful crop. This was followed, as predicted, by seven years of famine. Through the difficult experience of managing these essential resources for the country of Egypt through seven years of draught, Joseph learned the lessons of stewardship and responsibility. Joseph had been through many hardships – several pits - to prepare him for this great responsibility and for the saving of many lives. Joseph had been placed where he was for a special purpose.
Responsibility is an undervalued trait in the health professions. It is a trait that can be a gift from God and it is a trait that can be strengthened through practice and self-discipline. Just as intelligence can be used of God for helping others with health problems, responsibility can be used this way, as well.
While I was an attending physician on an internal medicine inpatient teaching service, there was a patient with a particularly difficult diagnostic problem. On that particular team, the resident had a very strong reputation as the smartest resident in his class. He was indeed very intelligent. The intern was one of those “plodders” without a particular reputation. One day on rounds I was informed that the diagnosis had been made. With chagrin, the resident explained that the intern had suggested ordering a rarely done blood test because it was suggested in the textbook he had read about the patient’s problems. The resident went on to explain that he advised against ordering the test as in his judgment, the patient could not possibly have the disorder the test might reveal. The test was ordered against his advice. The diagnosis was made, not on anyone’s intelligence, but because the intern in his lack of knowledge made the effort to read about the differential diagnosis and was responsible enough to order all the tests recommended.
Lord, help me use wisely the gifts you give. Remind me that intelligence is not the only gift from you useful in caring for my patients.
Dan Jones, M.D., MACP, FAHA, a board-certified Internist, a former medical missionary to Korea, professor of medicine at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Dean of the School of Medicine, and Chancellor of the University of Mississippi until 2015. Dr. Dan Jones is a member of CMDA.
Dr. Jones welcomes any comments or questions about what he has written and can be reached at - djones@umc.edu
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