What does Genesis 41:36 mean?
Joseph has revealed the meaning of Pharaoh's dreams (Genesis 41:28–32) and is now telling Pharaoh how to respond. He has told Pharaoh to select a wise and discerning man to head up a selected team of overseers. Together, they will impose a kind of tax, taking 20 percent of every bumper crop to come in the following seven years (Genesis 41:33–35).That grain should be stored away under the authority of Pharaoh. Joseph calls it a "reserve." It will ensure that there is food during the years of famine to come. It will keep Egypt from being wiped out by the historic seven-year famine that looms in their future.
Joseph's plan seems brilliant, especially given how quickly he seems to have come up with it. God has provided to Pharaoh not just a man who could interpret his dreams, but someone who could boldly advise him about a course of action. The following verses will reveal that Pharaoh agrees (Genesis 41:37). Later chapters will detail how Joseph not only implements this plan well, he does so in such a way as to drastically increase Pharaoh's power (Genesis 47:13–26).