Do Not Stop Believing

Posted by Dion Todd May 14th, 2024 1,279 Views 23 Comments

Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more. He said to them, "Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and behold, your sheaves came around, and bowed down to my sheaf." His brothers asked him, "Will you indeed reign over us? Will you indeed have dominion over us?" They hated him all the more for his dreams and for his words. Genesis 37:5-8 WEB.

Though it took a long time and a rocky journey, Joseph's dream became a reality. When Joseph was forty years old, he became second-in-command of Egypt, the most powerful nation on Earth. Now, as his brothers bowed in front of him, he could still remember the dream God had given him when he was just a teenager, over twenty years before.

Through dreams, God had shown Joseph that he would become a leader, and his brothers would come and bow down before him. He should probably have kept that to himself. Still, he told his brothers about it, and they sold the "Dreamer" as a slave to a group of traveling merchants for twenty pieces of silver (Genesis 37:28). His brothers said, "We will see what becomes of his dreams" (Genesis 37:20).

The merchants then took Joseph to Egypt with them and sold him to Potiphar, the captain of the guard. God was with Joseph, and everything that he did prospered. Soon Potiphar put him in charge of his entire house (Genesis 39:4).

Joseph served as a slave in his house until Mrs. Potiphar took a liking to him, for Joseph was well-built and handsome. When Joseph spurned her advances, she framed him for attempted rape, and Joseph was sent to prison.

God was with Joseph in prison. Everything that he did prospered there, and soon, he was in charge of running the place. Joseph served wherever God put him, and he was always promoted. Even prison did not stop his dreams from coming to pass. Instead, it helped fulfill them.

One night, Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret. Joseph had once interpreted one for Pharaoh's servant, and he told Pharaoh about Joseph. So Pharaoh had Joseph brought out of the prison. Joseph interpreted his dreams, and he was made second-in-command of Egypt. The promotion happened suddenly, but after decades of serving, waiting, and preparation.

God continued to be with Joseph while he was a ruler, and He gave him wisdom on what to do. Soon, his jealous brothers, who had sold him as a slave, came and bowed before him just as Joseph had seen in the dream. They needed food for their families. Joseph forgave them for what they had done to him. He realized that God had placed him in Egypt for a reason, to save lives. You can only connect the dots when looking backward.

God gave Joseph a dream, and though it took a strange course, it all came to pass when it was time. At every stage, it appeared that his dream was dead, that Joseph had missed it. Yet nothing, and no one, could stop it from coming to pass. Joseph's brothers selling him as a slave, Mrs. Potiphar accusing him of attempted rape, and every other lousy circumstance, simply pushed Joseph a little closer to his destiny.

No one has to believe in the dream God has given you for it to come to pass. Even if they despise you and do things to harm you, it will only help fulfill what God has told you. Don't stop believing what God has spoken to you secretly. Though the vision tarries, wait for it.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I wait for You and Your timing. I know the plans that You have for me are good. I don't understand the method sometimes, but I choose to trust in You. Please give me a clear vision, and help me keep a positive attitude while I wait. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: The Creation Photographer theme of the week is "Mother Moments" and is wide open for interpretation! Until we get our groups area going, we invite you to share your photos on the website home page. As always, if you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network.