Dream with the Dreamers

“Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. … His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.” Genesis 27: 6 & 11

Joseph was only 17 years old when he had his first dream. He was a favored son. He was born to Jacob in his old age and he was the child of Rachel the only women Jacob loved. Polygamy was a common sin of that age and the children of Jacob were greatly affected by it. We do not have polygamy in the west much anymore but we have blended families that are increasing complicated by divorce and children born out of wedlock. Whatever your family circumstance, God will still grace an individual with a dream, and jealously can still be the consequence.

When friends or loved one speak to us of a dream what is our response? Is it jealousy? Would the sons of Jacob have hated their brother if they knew that the dream would only be fulfilled through their intrigue and sin, and through their brother’s slavery and imprisonment? Probably not! Would they have been slower to sell him into slavery if they had for a moment considered the fate of Joseph’s mother who died giving birth the Benjamin, the family’s youngest boy?

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” — Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird)

I have been able to relate to these historic men in these last few blogs. I am the son of an elderly father and mother, and was highly favoured by them. I am the patriarch of a blended family of 12 children. I have also dreamed some dreams. Many filled in ways that I had not anticipated. I also have had to acknowledge jealousy in my own heart toward others whose dreams seemed to have been fulfilled in a manner that I anticipated my dreams would be. If I am honest with myself I would not want to pay the cost that others have had to pay to fulfil their God given dreams. I am also free to acknowledge that others would not want to pay the cost I have paid for mine.

Jacob kept his son’s dream in mind. He did not exalt it and he did not despise it. However he recorded it. I think the Joseph shared his dream out of youthful excitement. I don’t believe he knew of the resentment that was in the hearts of his brothers. He brothers were unaware the God had promises for them too. Judah did not know his brothers would praise him, Zebulun did not know his people would be a haven for ships. To Levi would be the honor of the priesthood, Dan would provide justice, Asher would eat the best of food. Would they have been jealous if they knew their names would be carved into the gates and pillars of New Jerusalem?

Let us rejoice in others dreams and let us be confident that the Lord has a dream he wants to fulfill in us as well!