Week 10 Monday

The Dreamer

Today’s scripture selection: Genesis 36-39

Key verse: Genesis 37:19

Joseph was a dreamer – literally.  He had vivid dreams.  One was of he and his brothers binding sheaves of grain – when suddenly the sheave he was binding rose up and those his brothers were binding bowed down to it. Another, well – this time the sun and the moon and the stars were bowing down to him.  Needless to say, his older brothers weren’t too pleased about this.  I mean, we are talking about a seventeen-year-old kid; who did he think he was anyway?  Still, his father loved him.  In fact, Israel loved Joseph more than the others – always adding fuel to the fire.

You may remember the story.  Things take a very violent turn.  First, the brothers plot to kill Joseph.  Then, they decide to just fake his death and sell their brother into slavery.  As the story unfolds, Joseph will have days of prosperity and days of hardship.  But, I’m getting ahead of myself.  For now, let’s just leave it at this – those dreams – turn out to be more than just the egotistical visions of a teenager.

And that brings us to our devotional thought for today.

We can’t always know what God has planned for us.

On the one hand, it’s a dangerous thing to make too much of our dreams, waking or sleeping.  It may be that we are just having momentary delusions of grandeur.  Or, it may be that we are falling into the trap of what I call “awfulizing,” making mountains out of molehills.  And sometimes, our worst nightmares – they are nothing more than indigestion – caused by that slice of pizza you ate before bedtime.

On the other hand, sometimes dreams, waking or sleeping, are significant.  It may be that God has something in the works that is important and we should listen to that “still, small voice” pushing us toward our destiny.  While it may not mean the sun and the moon and the stars are going to bow down to us – God may be about to bless us, or warn us or call us into service, or…who knows what?  So how do we know which it is – indigestion or heavenly vision?

All I can recommend is that you spend regular time in the scriptures and in prayer.  Be open.  Be ready.  Don’t jump to conclusions – but don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith, either.

Who knows – God may have something big in mind.

Prayer: Lord, help me to discern your will, whatever it is.  AMEN.