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Joseph was given a dream by the Lord as a teenager, but it was not meant for the present—it was to give him hope for the future.
(Jeremiah 29:11) “For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.
But Joseph in his teenage naivety (or stupidity—hence the title of this devotion), even though his older brothers were already jealous of him, thought it necessary to tell them the dreams he had of him lording over them one day.
Your life will always be filled with ups and downs, good times and bad. We live in a fallen world, but God will always bring His plans to fruition; trust Him.
(Hebrews 13:5) NLT
““I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
There are different stages of the vision; going from a vision to fruition. We will look at what Joseph went through and as we do, look at what you have been through, or are going through. Can you relate?
1. The Trial Initiated—Joseph, the Dream and the Pit
It may come upon you gradually or all of a sudden, but you find yourself in a very uncomfortable, scary place. Situations, people or even illnesses, and the trouble and change that may accompany will have us screaming, “God get me out of here!” Just like Joseph—the pit, the trial came. His brothers were tired of it and threw him into a pit. They had means to kill him but Rueben, whose name means, “Behold a son.” Even in our trials, even in our stupidity or failures—we are still God’s child, and Judah, whose name means “Praise,” come along and prevent it. So, in his spirit, he is humbled a touch and lifted out of the pit and into the next stage. Reminding you, this is still the beginning stage, he still has much humility to learn for the purpose God has for him.
But He leaves you, why? Like clay in the potters hand, it is to make something beautiful out of you. He can see the imperfections where you cannot.
(Isaiah 64:8)
“Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay; you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
2. Going through—Joseph sold into slavery to the Ishmaelites
You are going through—not screaming as much but still do not like it. Joseph is lifted out of the pit and sold to the Ishmaelites. I am sure his anger at the situation has lifted a bit. Growth is beginning.
(I Peter 1:6-9)
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.”
3. Humility, Growth & Placement—Joseph sold to Potiphar in Egypt and Prison
You have grown even more, and so has Joseph, so now, God putting Joseph into place where He will bring His vision and purpose for Joseph and the meaning of the dreams to fruition.
Are you in this place, in which you see new events happen, different people coming into your life, or maybe it is a job change or a move? God has a reason for the moves He initiates in you, they are for good even when we cannot see it; the moves are for growth for you and for His purpose and vision for your life.
(James 4:6-10)
“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
Joseph has been sold to Potiphar who was in service to Pharaoh in Egypt. God is placing him in position. This shows Joseph’s growth; he has shown his faithfulness to God.
As God moves you, you to have grown in the place you were, you have learned lessons as Joseph did. We know this because he had favor with his overseer in this point with Potiphar. So your growth is shining through.
But it is not over yet. As you grow, meaning you are not complaining as much and beginning to trust God it is showing in your character. You are spending more time with God, in prayer, devotion, worship and fruit is shining through.
Trust in God and strength from Him are showing in your character and how you are going through this stage. God’s plan is beginning to sprout but in a way that mean seem opposite to what the dream He gave you looks like.
Joseph is accused of accosting Potiphar’s wife. She came onto him and he refused and ran. To protect herself she accused him and naturally Potiphar believed her. He was thrown into prison.
Do you feel imprisoned in the new place you are at? Thank God because you are in position to learn more and be used of God to place you in the next step!
God had to get him into Egypt; He had to get him into position.
4. Buds of the Vision—Joseph Interprets His Inmates Dreams
Both inmates have a dream in which by the Lord’s help Joseph interprets correctly. This is a set up to finalize God’s plan.
Are you finding new people come into your life? Are things changing? Do not think of them as nothing. God can and will use anything He can to give you a setup, to encourage you or bring you a word. Do not limit Him or put Him in a box!
By this time, you should have grown, you are not complaining any longer or throwing your temper tantrums of where you are at and demanding of God, (as if you have authority over Him) to get you out of here now!
It had been 2 years since Joseph interpreted the butler’s dreams and he was released but Joseph wasn’t complaining, he just kept being faithful. We need to learn to be content in the place God has placed us because it is for a reason! To grow, learn, humble our self, and be pruned and have passions drawn out of us that could not have otherwise happened.
(Romans 8:28)
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
(I Corinthians 7:24)
“Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.”
5. God’s Vision & Plan in Action—Joseph – Deliverance, Promotion, Restoration
The butler finally remembered Joseph when Pharaoh needed a dream interpreted. Joseph was brought up out of the prison and given new clothes!
Do you get the meaning of this? New clothes as us, covered in the blood of Jesus and made right with Him, sins forgiven, and also a new path, a new destiny, wrongs made right!
This was the purpose of Joseph coming to Egypt, God had a plan, He had one all along. He knows “the end from the beginning and what is yet to come.”
Joseph interpreted the dream correctly, 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine, and Joseph, (through the wisdom that comes from God), told him to save back from everyone grain in the years of famine, so they would have some in the years of famine. This would draw people to Egypt for grain. Including Joseph’s family.
Are finding yourself uprooted, and in a place unfamiliar? Maybe it is not in a new city, but maybe you had to move within the city or maybe it is a new job or new position in that job? God is positioning you for His purpose and plan. Trust Him in the positioning process! He will not fail you!
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Is God doing a new thing in your life? Even though you do not understand, trust Him in the process.
(Isaiah 43:18-19)
“Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old. Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it?”
Because of Joseph’s faithfulness, humility learned in the trials and obedience he was delivered, and promoted and received restoration, forgiveness reigned in his family.
His family came to Egypt for grain and through a series of events, forgiveness was given and received and his relationship with his brothers restored and his dad, got to see his son again, a son he thought was dead.
And two nations fed: Israel and Egypt
But that means so much more. I invite you to read the story of Joseph and look for the parallels of Jesus and Joseph. It will amaze you.
Israel represents the Jewish nation, and Egypt- the Gentiles- Us. This is a foreshadowing of how we will all be united, forgiveness reigns, our souls saved.
When the Holy Spirit, or famine of the Holy Spirit, the word,
Happens in the end, all the Jews will COME back to Him, as in the story of Joseph. The Gentiles will help. We will all be united and through Jesus Christ our Lord and when we leave this earth, be clothed in robes of righteousness forever. New clothes, our eternal spirit, and new heaven and new earth.
(Amos 8:11)
“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.”
Be amazed by God and trust Him in the path, you will receive your dream and destiny. It comes through patience, perseverance, humility, faith and obedience.
(Isaiah 46:10)
“I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’”