Dreaming in the Dark

Genesis 37:5 – “And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.”

Chapter 37 introduces us to a young 17-year-old boy who lives a common life working for his father by tending to his sheep. Every night was basically the same as they herded the sheep and slept out under the beautiful starlit sky. Yet, on one very specific night while the boy slept, God gave him a dream that one day, upon it’s completion, he would save an entire race and radically change history. You would think such a dream would bring joy and excitement. Sure, every man wouldn’t believe him or care, but surely his family would. Unfortunately, Joseph quickly realized the more he shared the more their hatred for him was kindled. Many of us have experienced the same feelings and even been hurt by the ones we deeply love. What causes family and close friends to respond with such evil? Simply put: jealousy and envy. Their feelings do not dictate whether our dreams will still come to pass, only our response and attitude will. You may say, “But what if they lie or even physically afflict me? Surely my dreams are gone then.” Joseph’s brothers mocked him, threw him in a dark pit, and even sold him into slavery. But with a Sovereign God on your side, even the worst of circumstances will only elevate you and place you closer to your destiny. No matter how dark and dim it gets, allow me to encourage you today to keep dreaming, keep serving, and keep loving even those who have wronged you because after all, they are not worth losing your dream over.