Issue 371
The importance of learning to listen in the twilight
Have you noticed that in the marketplace and workplace, there is a tendency to separate out what are called ‘soft’ skills from ‘hard’ skills? It has spread to the academic world where hard science is distinguished from soft science;.the same thinking gets applied to areas such as service or manufacturing. The implications are somehow that one stream is more real than the other.
The story of Joseph is a story of many ‘in between’ times, as are most of our life stories. Joseph’s story is characterised by great skill and eloquence in the language of dreams and visions, which would be classified today as a soft skill. It was Joseph’s ability in this area, however, which resulted in him becoming second in command in Egypt and in charge of all industry (a hard skill).
The final chapters in Joseph’s story are introduced by a vision in the night, given to his father, Jacob. Jacob is afraid; he is living in a life-threatening famine; he is being invited to meet Pharaoh – not a democratically elected official, but a dictator, who could have you executed with the snap of his fingers; he is afraid for his business, his family and his future.
His ‘in between sleep and awake’ moment comes as God meets him in the night and tells him not to be afraid, but go; so he goes with absolutely everything to Egypt.
After a tearful reunion with Joseph, he is given an audience with Pharaoh. Pharaoh’s first question: “What is your occupation?”’ Here again the two worlds overlap. Joseph is there as a fulfilment of dreams and visions (soft skills); Jacob is there for the same reason; it is Jacob and his family’s occupation which now determines where they live.
Interestingly, the Egyptians despised Jacob’s profession of shepherd as they saw it as a soft skill!
As your story unfolds, you will be wise to wake up to your dreams andVisions; pray that God will show you, in the twilight moments, wisdom for your path.
Unfortunately, it is arrogance that can inoculate our souls to the infectious power of such imparted wisdom. Make no mistake, these soft whispers will soon impact the hard edged aspects of your life if you will let them and, if you are really adventurous, you will realise as Joseph and Jacob did, that there is no split at all.
Genesis 46:2-4
2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied. 3 “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.”
Genesis 47:3-6
3 Pharaoh asked the brothers, “What is your occupation?” “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied to Pharaoh, “just as our fathers were.” 4 They also said to him, “We have come to live here for a while, because the famine is severe in Canaan and your servants’ flocks have no pasture. So now, please let your servants settle in Goshen.” 5 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you, 6 and the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best part of the land. Let them live in Goshen. And if you know of any among them with special ability, put them in charge of my own livestock.”
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Geoff Shattock
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