Now he [Joseph] had another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, “Hey, I have had still another dream. Look, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” …
They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer! Now then, let’s kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We will say a wild beast devoured him. Then let’s see what will become of his dreams!” …
Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard. Genesis 37:9-36
God granted Joseph favor, the favorite son born in his father’s old age, and divine promise. So convincing were God’s promises that his brothers were consumed with hatred and jealous rage.
Joseph enjoyed security and confidence that to his brothers looked like arrogance and presumption. From Joseph’s position of favor and promise, he was naively confident and unbashful about his destiny.
The instant result: imminent though slow, tortuous death by dehydration, starvation and exposure, barely averted only by slavery and incarceration. For most of his life, Joseph’s experience in response to a favored beginning and divinely promised destiny was rejection and oppression.
Yet, the ultimate result was not only fulfillment of Joseph’s dreams, it was deliverance of nations from famine and starvation, including that of his own oppressors.
Experience and trajectory are not gauges of the sureness of God’s promises and purposes. His Word alone is.
In the face of every contrary circumstance, every barrier, every frustration, every disappointment, every delay, everything seeming in conflict with God’s promise, comes the reason to keep on believing: God’s faithfulness.
God will accomplish His purposes. His will may be violated. But His purposes never can be.
Joseph’s brothers were committed to seeing to the end of Joseph’s dreams themselves. They taunted: “let’s see what will become of his dreams!”
We know the end of Joseph’s story. We know what became of his dreams. “As for you [my brothers], you meant evil against me. God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” Gen 50:20.
And we know the end of ours. We just haven’t experienced it yet. But it is no less sure.
Let’s see what will become of our dreams.
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So thankful that Josephs story is in the bible … Thank you Duane for sharing your thoughts – greatly encouraged.
Wow, what an inspiring post, so beautifully written. Thank you, my love, for sharing your insights into God’s Word. I am always so blessed, and made all the richer by them.