Fulfilling a God-Given Dream
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. [1] “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. (Genesis 45:4-8 NIV)
Martin Luther King had a dream. Mother Teresa had a dream. Joseph had a dream. He actually had two dreams. But they both represented one God-given dream. In the dream, God shows Joseph that his other family members will bow down to him. This was the only thing young Joseph could understand about his dream. What he did not realize at the time, but would soon learn, is that a God-given dream is just a picture of how God will be glorified. A God-given dream is not like a map – that lays out the entire dimension of how the dream comes true. Instead, a God-given dream will show a picture of God’s purpose so that God can be glorified.
Joseph had a dream. But he did not realize all of the events that would lead to the fulfillment of the dream. He did not see himself being sold into slavery, to being put in prison, to marrying a foreigner and having children. He could not understand that he would later be able to interpret dreams, that he could be used in high political positions to affect world events. He could not possibly understand how he could be used as an instrument to save his people. In essence, he could not understand all of the implications of the dream that God gave him.
And how do we know that this is a God-given dream? How do we know that this dream was what God wanted to share with Joseph? Because when it was fulfilled, Joseph saw God’s purpose in it.
Everyone can receive a dream from God. God gave dreams to everyone who was going to be involved in fulfilling God’s purpose of bringing glory to Himself. What do I mean? God does not give a dream to you that fulfills only what you want. I mean to say that God does not give you a dream to have a big house or a big car. God gives you a dream (which may include a big house), but for a grander purpose.
He has dreams for you. He wants to show you His purposes. How do we know this? Because God says this in others places:
“And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
(Joel 2:28 NIV)
God gave dreams to Pharaoh, to Nebuchadnezzar, to Joseph, and to other servants that God used. He will do the same with you.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOD-GIVEN DREAM
1. God shares with you privately a dream
2. The dream is individual and specific, but at the same time far-reaching in implication
3. God will use you to accomplish the dream He has given you
4. The dream God gives you is one of the ways He will use you to bring Him glory
5. The dream that God gives to you is to be shared with people who will help you fulfill the dream
Even though you will be given a dream, you can expect difficult times to come before the dream is fulfilled.
You will be criticized, like the brothers of Joseph criticized him and his dreams.
You will be shunned, like the way Joseph was shunned by his brothers. Joseph was put in a hole and then sold into slavery because of his dreams.
You will have other hard and difficult times that will occur. Joseph was put into prison for a long time before his dream was fulfilled.
You will have doubts, but the dream will still stay alive. Joseph had doubts about his dream, but God helped him to fulfill his dream.
Trust God with your dreams. Be prepared to fulfill your dreams. Seize the opportunities to fulfill your dreams.
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