John Calvin Commentary Genesis 41:38

"And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom the spirit of God is?" — Genesis 41:38 (ASV)

Can we find such a one as this? (Genesis 41:38). We see that necessity is an excellent teacher. If prefects or judges are to be appointed, someone is often promoted to a position of honor simply because he is a favorite, without any consideration of his worthiness. This is why it frequently happens that those who are most unworthy slip into office.

We often see political order disturbed and humanity involved in many difficulties. This happens because those who are least suitable rashly push themselves into affairs they are not capable of managing, using devious schemes. Despite this, ambition triumphs and undermines equity. But necessity compels a sober judgment. Pharaoh says nothing but what is naturally engraved on the hearts of all people: that honors should be conferred only on competent persons, and those whom God has equipped with the necessary qualifications.

Experience, however, abundantly teaches that this law of nature is forgotten whenever people are free to offend against it without consequence. Therefore, the pride of Pharaoh was wisely so humbled that, setting aside ambition, he preferred a foreigner recently released from prison to all his advisors, because he excelled them in virtue.

The same necessity restrained the nobles of the kingdom, so that they did not each contend, according to their custom, to obtain the priority of rank for themselves. And although it was only a forced modesty, since they were ashamed to oppose the public good, there is no doubt that God inspired them with fear, so that by the common consent of all, Joseph was made president of the whole kingdom.

It is also to be observed that Pharaoh, though he had been infatuated by his diviners, nevertheless honors the gifts of the spirit in Joseph. This is because God, indeed, never allows people to become so debased that they do not feel His power, even in their darkness. And therefore, whatever godless defection may hurry them away, a remaining sense of Deity still stays with them.

Meanwhile, that knowledge is of little value if it does not correct a man’s former madness, for he despises the God whom he proclaims with his mouth and has no conception of any other than some vague and confused divinity. This kind of knowledge often enlightens irreligious people, yet not so as to cause them to repent.

This admonishes us to regard any particular principle as of small value until solid piety springs from it and flourishes.