I have to be honest…
Writing a Sunday blog is strange for me.
Sunday is usually a day off…
A day of afternoon naps, chicken wings, chips, football, and worship. (Not necessarily in that Order!)
But honestly, what better day to look at the incredible dreamers in Scripture? These 31 Days will afford me 4 Sundays to investigate Biblical dreamers; men and women who dreamed dreams that were big, and beautiful, and for many… life-changing.
Here we go!
I don’t know that you could find a more impressive dreamer in Scripture than Joseph, the son of Jacob. (You can read his story in Genesis 37-50)
Joseph’s dreams were completely interwoven with his character. The two were inseparable. He dreamed what he dreamed because of who God had prepared him to become in the future. And his character was developed as he lived out the dreams God laid on his heart.
That didn’t go over so well with some people!
Not only did Joseph fulfill his dreams, he understood the dreams of others, as well.
His ability to understand dreams encouraged an innocent man.
It prepared a guilty man to face his fate.
It instructed a king.
He saved an entire nation because he understood the power and potential of a dream.
He was a dreamer and a dream-fulfiller extraordinaire.
His life should have been easy, right? He should have been lauded and applauded. Esteemed and extolled. Praised and promoted.
Yes… some of those things did happen…eventually… But wait… It wasn’t as easy as you would think. Consider this account from Genesis 37 verse 5:
“Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hatedhim even more.”
And that’s not all…
“And he related it (his dream) to his father and to his brothers; and his fatherrebuked him.”
Sometimes, despite our best intentions, despite our steadfast commitment to living lives of character, despite our humility…
Others will hate us because we are dreamers.
To them, our dreams will be intimidating,
or exasperating,
or just a Big.Waste.Of.Time.
Joseph was accused, convicted and imprisoned. He was abandoned, deserted, and sold into slavery. He was pursued by a married woman, forgotten by fellow inmates, and alienated from the family he loved.
Which begs the question… Was dreaming worth it? Would it have been better for Joseph to forget the dreams, abandon the ideals, and just mind his own business?
Sometimes, when people I love don’t, or can’t, or won’t understand my dreams, I’m tempted to give up. I think Joseph was probably tempted to give up at times, too.
So why didn’t he?
Why didn’t he quit?
What kept him going?
It’s hard to explain, but sometimes the dream itself causes us to keep on going. Regardless of misunderstanding and misinterpretation, the delight of the dream makes it all worth-while.
To a dreamer it isn’t “If” the dream comes true, but “When” the dream comes true. How could we not pursue something that to us is so real we can see it as though it already exists? Something that is so tangible we can almost touch it?
It’s not easy being a dreamer.
There are costs involved in dreaming.
Dreaming isn’t for sissies.
But for those who stick with the dream, those who persist in dreaming, those who see the dream come true… It’s all worth-while.
Do you wonder if Joseph considered the dream to be worth it in the end? I know he did and this is how I know.
“But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.”
Yep, Joseph got it! Regardless of the pain and rejection that his dream caused, Joseph was able to see the good it brought about in the lives of others.
The dream was worth it because the people were worth it.
Is your dream worth it?
That’s a question that must be answered if your dream is ever going to come true.
For me, the answer is ‘Yes”. The dream is worth it and I can’t wait to see it, touch it, and share it with others!
Megan
Megan Scheibner 