Now that we've looked at Joseph's perilous years as a whole, I want to dissect his biblical biography a little more. Let's look at the boy dreamer.
Scripture tells us that right on the heels of receiving a beautiful coat from his father, Joseph had two prophetic dreams which he insensibly shared with his brothers. In each dream, his family, represented by sheaves of grain in the first and the sun, moon and stars in the second, were bowing before Joseph. So, here we have the young man likely adorned in his beautiful, new coat telling the boorish brothers we've studied about thus far, that he would one day rule over them. This audience of choice was probably not the best. Before the dreams, the Bible tells us the brothers "could not speak a kind word to him." Genesis 37:8 tells us, "they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said."
Ponder this...even though we know God had a divine plan for Joseph and had ordered his steps, we find that Joseph actually became a stumbling block to his brothers. Recounting the dreams, no matter his intent, evoked hatred, murder even, in their hearts. Someone once told me perception is reality. His perceived bragging precipitated a plot of murder and the eventual enslavement of the young man at the hands of his own family. Remember the scripture found in Matthew 18:7, "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!" We must guard our words and actions very carefully.
After the second dream, Joseph shared again with the barbarian brood, but this time, he also told his father. Jacob's first response was to rebuke him, but then "his father observed the saying and pondered over it." The New King James version translated this passage saying, "but his father kept the matter in mind." So, even though Jacob was a little offended at first, he did not dismiss the dreams. Jacob, older and wiser, knew God, knew the ways of God, and certainly knew the voice of God. Although he was a little put off originally, he kept the matter close to his heart. He knew those dreams meant something for he, too, had experience with dreams--firsthand. So, be deliberate and carefully selective when choosing with whom you share your dreams. Not everyone can get on board with you and share your vision. Not everyone has reached the level of love and maturity to "rejoice with those who rejoice." (Romans 12:15)
I won't get on my Facebook soapbox, but this story actually brings to mind a blog I posted some time back entitled, "Know Your Audience: What Are You Saying?" Often times, I believe we say things to make ourselves feel adequate or good enough, but in turn, we can unwittingly make someone else feel less than or inadequate. Proverbs 25:20 admonishes us that, "singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound."
So, all in all, be careful not to "cast your pearls before the swine" by revealing your God-given dreams to those who are not spiritually mature enough to support you and pray for you to see God's plan come to fruition...And for goodness sake, do not be a stumbling block for others. Life can be laborious enough without any unnecessary, labor-intensive sowing and reaping.
Proverbs 15:28 "The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words."
Scripture tells us that right on the heels of receiving a beautiful coat from his father, Joseph had two prophetic dreams which he insensibly shared with his brothers. In each dream, his family, represented by sheaves of grain in the first and the sun, moon and stars in the second, were bowing before Joseph. So, here we have the young man likely adorned in his beautiful, new coat telling the boorish brothers we've studied about thus far, that he would one day rule over them. This audience of choice was probably not the best. Before the dreams, the Bible tells us the brothers "could not speak a kind word to him." Genesis 37:8 tells us, "they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said."
Ponder this...even though we know God had a divine plan for Joseph and had ordered his steps, we find that Joseph actually became a stumbling block to his brothers. Recounting the dreams, no matter his intent, evoked hatred, murder even, in their hearts. Someone once told me perception is reality. His perceived bragging precipitated a plot of murder and the eventual enslavement of the young man at the hands of his own family. Remember the scripture found in Matthew 18:7, "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!" We must guard our words and actions very carefully.
After the second dream, Joseph shared again with the barbarian brood, but this time, he also told his father. Jacob's first response was to rebuke him, but then "his father observed the saying and pondered over it." The New King James version translated this passage saying, "but his father kept the matter in mind." So, even though Jacob was a little offended at first, he did not dismiss the dreams. Jacob, older and wiser, knew God, knew the ways of God, and certainly knew the voice of God. Although he was a little put off originally, he kept the matter close to his heart. He knew those dreams meant something for he, too, had experience with dreams--firsthand. So, be deliberate and carefully selective when choosing with whom you share your dreams. Not everyone can get on board with you and share your vision. Not everyone has reached the level of love and maturity to "rejoice with those who rejoice." (Romans 12:15)
I won't get on my Facebook soapbox, but this story actually brings to mind a blog I posted some time back entitled, "Know Your Audience: What Are You Saying?" Often times, I believe we say things to make ourselves feel adequate or good enough, but in turn, we can unwittingly make someone else feel less than or inadequate. Proverbs 25:20 admonishes us that, "singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound."
So, all in all, be careful not to "cast your pearls before the swine" by revealing your God-given dreams to those who are not spiritually mature enough to support you and pray for you to see God's plan come to fruition...And for goodness sake, do not be a stumbling block for others. Life can be laborious enough without any unnecessary, labor-intensive sowing and reaping.
Proverbs 15:28 "The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words."
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