Holding On to Given Dreams
Backgrounder to Genesis 37-41:
Though the favourite son of his
father Jacob, Joseph alienates
himself from his brothers by his
forthrightness of his two dreams.
Envy grows into hatred until finally
the brothers sell him into slavery.
Taken to Egypt, Joseph suffers
injustice at the hands of Potiphar’s
wife & later from forgetful butler.
Through it all, God has a good plan
for both Joseph as well as Israel.
A difficult dream sent by God to
Pharaoh jars the memory of the
chief butler; and Joseph is promoted
from prisoner to prime minister
because of his God-given insight.
Lord, we’ll Wait for Your Promise:
Then (Joseph) dreamed still another
dream. This time the sun, the moon
and the eleven stars bowed down
to me. So he told it to his father
and his brothers; and his father
rebuked him… And his brothers
envied him, but his father Kept
the matter In Mind (Gen 37:9-11).
Pharaoh said to Joseph: “I had a
dream last night and no one here
can tell me what it means. But I’ve
heard that when you hear about
a dream you can interpret it.”
It is beyond my power to do this,
Joseph replied. But God can
tell you what it means and set
you at ease (Gen 41:15-16).
Lord, You were with Joseph
and made all he did to prosper.
Joseph kept integrity, running from
Potiphar’s wife & ended in prison.
It was a long wait of 13 years when
he received the two prophecies.
As a slave & as a prisoner, Joseph
could have seen his situations
as hopeless. But he remembered
the prophetic dreams and saw the
favour of men as signs of promise.
Holy Spirit, help us be like Joseph,
Not to Doubt but Believe, Waiting
for God to fulfil His promise. Amen
Lord, grant Be Thou Our Vision:
From the Joseph story, we learn
that You do not just speak into
individual lives or immediate future
for Your agenda is much broader.
When we listen for Your voice, we
need to listen with grand purposes
and long-term frame of mind.
So raise our vision beyond self
and our immediate needs & future.
Show us more Lord and draw us to
Your purpose & assignment. Amen
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you
for Your good plan for mankind.
Help us Persevere by Waiting for
fulfilment of promise like Joseph.
Help us Trust You for challenges
even as we Give Our Scars to You;
for You Intended For Good. And
Lord help us to see life problems
thro your eyes and for your glory.
Thanks be to You God who is able
to keep us from stumbling. Amen!