I really love the story of Joseph, it’s what encouraged me to start writing. Joseph shared two dreams with his brothers and as an only child, when I first read the story I really didn’t understand why his brothers got sooooo hostile about it. Then I spent some real time around siblings and it all came together. Joseph, insecure about being the youngest or emboldened by being the favorite or both, shared his dreams to shake things up. Joseph’s brothers didn’t just want dreams of their own, they wanted Joseph’s dream for themselves.  Even as you read into the decision making process from killing him to selling him you catch hint of Reuben using the drama to potentially set aside some favor.

I lost track along the way of the number of college students I’ve reminded to live in their own dream and not rush forward into the dream of someone else. If you are looking at graduating seniors, wishing it were you and not them, wait. Your time will come when you’ve put in the time required, not before. If you can’t believe she is dating him, knowing you are the better pick, wait. Your heart won’t withstand the comparison. You’ll find yourself becoming hardened and bitter towards them and yourself. When Joseph’s brothers turned away from their work to derail Joseph’s dream…you see their hearts…not good. 

It doesn’t seem to change with age either, at least not yet. The dreams of the 30-somethings come with upgraded countertops and spare bedrooms; cars with more features than spaceship; or the ultimately family portrait. None of which may be your dream. Don’t pursue those dreams for the pure sake of fear – afraid to be the only one without a 3 bedroom 2 bath house, with no spaceship in the driveway, and have a family portrait from a 2001 cell phone. Chasing the dreams of someone else will leave you constantly hungry, searching, and exhausted. 

We see it so beautifully with Joseph, he was sent into hardship to prepare him for just this moment, to provide and protect his family. His family, lost from their own dreams, found themselves hungry, searching, and exhausted. What a mirror of the life of Jesus, sent ahead of us into hardship to provide salvation and protect us from ourselves. What an image of life without Jesus – hungry, searching, exhausted. 

So while I’ve witnessed some epic sibling rivalry, filled with empty threats and tattling, nothing compares to the case of Joseph and his brothers yet, it’s all so familiar. I may not push someone into a hole, but I do keep information to myself to get ahead in some made up game of life. I may not sell someone into slavery, but I do hold them captive with sarcastic comments. I may not kill them, but I have killed dreams before with my quick words. 

Share in the comments – where do you see God moving in your life? Celebrate those moments!

I spoke on Joseph at our local of Women of Worth two weeks ago! You can check it out [here] or find it below.

Seamless Week 2 Bullet Points

• God speaks to Abram and tells him to leave everything known for unknown 
• Abram’s obedience becomes a pattern, we see Abram leave everything he knows, later we see him be obedient again when asked to sacrifice Isaac. Favorite quot of the week, “But Abraham knows something we also need to understand – the character of God.”
• Covenant requires two people to make a sacrifice, however God makes the covenant while Abram is asleep. God takes all of the responsibility. This promise impacts our life today. 
• Ishmael is wild; Isaac’s name means laughter
• Ishmael is the father of the Arab people, and Isaac is the father of the Jews. These to people groups still despise each other and fight over everything
• Judah was the fourth son of Leah and the reason she named him Judah was the first son to be named in praise of God. Judah is in the lineage of Jesus Christ. 
• Joseph is sold into slavery to the Ishmaelites, light bulb moment, descendants of Ishmael.
• God prevailed the evil intentions of Joseph’s brothers.