Monday, 7 September 2020 Genesis 37:1-36
Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. -Genesis 37:5
The story of Joseph in the Bible carries great significance because, that is where Israel left the land of promise-Canaan and had to go down to Egypt. This was a significant step in the history of Israel. The story of Joseph is the forerunner to this epic event. This is where the small band of 12 brothers and their father Jacob, finally settles in the land of Goshen and grows in number to become a strong nation. It was difficult for them to be in Canaan and multiply under the hostile situations. Hence God guided them to come and settle down in Egypt for the next four generations.
But the significant thing we are looking today is the unraveling of all these through the life of a small lad of 17 years of age-Joseph. Joseph a chosen vessel of God, had a dream. In those times, dreams were taken very seriously and hence was easily interpreted even by his hostile brothers, which ultimately led to more hostility. On understanding the meaning of this God-given dream, they plotted to kill him. But God had His plans to be accomplished—hence their plot was diverted and ultimately Joseph was sold to the Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt. All these hostilities of his own brothers, ultimately fulfills God's plan for the life of Joseph and at large, God's plan for the nation of Israel. Many a time we are unable to see the great hand of God that leads us through the troubled waters to the shores of safety and sufficiency.
Here it all started with a heavenly dream-the dream that kept him through the troubled times. Even when adverse situations came across his life, he looked for that day when his dream would be fulfilled. This gave the real inner strength and purity to sail through those adverse conditions. Look how Paul who in midst of troubles, talks to his fellow travellers when they met with ultimate destruction at sea: "For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar.....So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told." (Act 27:23-25 ESV) Through this storm, Paul was encouraged by the vision he had in the night about the future that kept him and others to hold on with hope.
Similarly, we see Joseph passing through tough situations but he received his consolations from the dream he had. We also have an example in the life of our Lord Jesus (of whom Joseph was a type), all the agonies of death on the cross before being exalted to the place of ultimate glory. "...looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2 ESV) Adverse conditions in the life of His chosen vessels are not the denials of God instead it is the path laid out by God to become the stepping stone to ultimate success.
Dear friend, if God has given you a dream or a promise, He will fulfill it. Hold on to it today as you pass through troubled waters.
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, I thank You for the vision You have given me. Give me grace to persevere until its fulffilled. In Jesus name. Amen.