Dream Versus Desire

Dream Versus Desire

Genesis 37: ⁵ Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. ⁶ So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: ⁷ There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”

 

⁸ And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

 

⁹ Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”

 

¹⁰ So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” ¹¹ And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

 

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“Now Joseph had a dream” is the beginning of a turn of events that would shape the world. Joseph told his brothers the dream and they hated him even more than before. He then had another dream and told it to his brothers.

 

My Observations:

• Israel may have told Joseph about the vision he was given by GOD when he saw angels ascending and descending a ladder.
• Joseph was not in control of the dreams, rather they came from GOD.
• Israel and Joseph’s brothers misinterpreted the dreams as Joseph’s desire versus GOD’s prophecy.

 

GOD spoke to Joseph in dreams versus a vocal conversation. HE gave Joseph a prophetic view of the tribes of Israel bowing to him. This dream sounded like Joseph wanted his brothers to respect him because they would one day bow to him. Israel even questioned the dream.

 

Israel said something strange during his response to Joseph. He said “Shall your mother and I.” Wait. Rachel was Joseph’s mother and she was dead. This shows Israel’s belief in the afterlife. Israel also considered that GOD may be involved in this dream, so he “kept the matter in mind.”

 

I believe Joseph was trying to tell people that GOD gave him a vision, but since GOD chose to not disclose HIS plan, Joseph could only say what he saw. His brothers would not believe, even if GOD gave Joseph a clear vision with specific directions, because of their hatred.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about how HE spoke to Joseph through dreams?
• Has GOD given you a dream that has not come to fruition?
• Are you encouraged by the fact that GOD has a specific plan for you and HE is working it all out in HIS time?