The Dream
“Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more.”
Genesis 37:5 (ESV)
Joseph the dreamer has always inspired me. His story isn’t easy, but it shows us that a life of faithfulness to God and His promises is always worth it. I often find myself dreaming about the future—wondering what could be—and holding onto those God-given dreams, believing they too will come to pass.
Joseph was the son of Jacob (Israel), and only 17 years old when God gave him his first dream. In his excitement, he shared with his family that one day they would bow before him. As the youngest, you can imagine how well that went over with his older brothers and even his parents. Then Joseph had a second dream, and once again he shared it—same story, same outcome. God was revealing that Joseph would one day be in a place of influence, to the point that even his family would be under his leadership. I can only imagine the excitement in his young heart as God spoke to him!
But there was a problem… Joseph’s brothers weren’t exactly thrilled about this dream. He was already their father’s favorite, and this only made things worse. Their jealousy pushed them into a chain of devastating events: Joseph was thrown into a pit and left for dead, sold into slavery, falsely accused of sexual immorality, imprisoned, and ultimately forgotten.
Nothing in Joseph’s life looked like the dream God had given him.
What makes Joseph so remarkable is the character he showed at every point in his journey. He kept doing the right thing even when he was wronged in return. Joseph served faithfully in every house he entered, and God elevated him. When his master’s wife tried to seduce him and he refused, she accused him anyway, costing him everything he had gained.
In prison, Joseph once again earned favor because of his integrity. He interpreted the dreams of two fellow prisoners and asked only one thing—“Remember me.” And when they stood before Pharaoh… they didn’t.
Joseph walked through years of brokenness, accusations, disappointment, and unmet expectations. For decades, his life looked nothing like what God had spoken.
But then came the day. Pharaoh had dreams no one could interpret—until one of those former prisoners remembered Joseph. Joseph was brought before the king, interpreted the dreams, and in a single moment was elevated to second-in-command over all of Egypt. Years later, his family bowed before him, and the dream given to a 17-year-old boy was fulfilled when he was about 39.
Roughly 22 years passed between the dream and its fulfillment. The path didn’t look anything like Joseph imagined… but he stayed faithful. His heart never drifted from his Heavenly Father.
Maybe you find yourself in a similar place. Has God given you a dream? And has the journey looked nothing like you expected? Friend, you’re in good company. My challenge to you is simple: don’t give up. Don’t lose hope. Hold on to His promises. In His timing and His way, it will come to pass. Put your confidence in Jesus, live faithfully, and watch how He works all things together for good. No God-given dream is ever too far gone.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You so much for every friend reading this today. I pray that You would bless them and keep them. Lord, if You’ve placed dreams in their hearts, give them the confidence they need to keep moving forward. Even when the path doesn’t make sense, help us trust that if the dream is from You, it can and will come to pass. Strengthen our faith, steady our steps, and help us live fully for You. Amen.
