But the wisdom that comes from heaven is pure. That’s the most important thing about it. And that’s not all. It also loves peace. It thinks about others. It obeys. It is full of mercy and good fruit. It is fair. It doesn’t pretend to be what it is not.Those who make peace plant it like a seed. They will harvest a crop of right living.
“ So Pharaoh should look for a wise and understanding man. He should put him in charge of the land of Egypt.Pharaoh should appoint officials to be in charge of the land. They should take a fifth of the harvest in Egypt during the seven years when there’s plenty of food.They should collect all the extra food of the good years that are coming. Pharaoh should give them authority to store up the grain. They should keep it in the cities for food.The grain should be stored up for the country to use later. It will be needed during the seven years when there isn’t enough food in Egypt. Then the country won’t be destroyed just because it doesn’t have enough food.”The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and all his officials.So Pharaoh said to them,“ The spirit of God is in this man. We can’t find anyone else like him, can we?”Then Pharaoh said to Joseph,“ God has made all this known to you. No one is as wise and understanding as you are.You will be in charge of my palace. All my people must obey your orders. I will be greater than you only because I’m the one who sits on the throne.”
So Samuel spoke to all the Israelites. He said,“ Do you really want to return to the Lord with all your hearts? If you do, get rid of your false gods. Get rid of your statues of female gods that are named Ashtoreth. Commit yourselves to the Lord. Serve him only. Then he will save you from the power of the Philistines.”So the Israelites put away their statues of gods that were named Baal. They put away their statues of female gods that were named Ashtoreth. They served the Lord only.Then Samuel said,“ Gather all the Israelites together at Mizpah. I will pray to the Lord for you.”When the people had come together at Mizpah, they went to the well and got water. They poured it out in front of the Lord. On that day they didn’t eat any food. They admitted they had sinned. They said,“ We’ve sinned against the Lord.” Samuel was serving as the leader of Israel at Mizpah.
