Be A Dreamer

Big Idea: Be a dreamer as you take on God’s perspective. God’s promises are faithful and true for those who love Him and follow after Him. We can easily think we are sidelined because our circumstances get bad or because things don’t seem to be working out, and yet God often takes our broken circumstances and messed up situations (in the case of Joseph it was some seriously messed up family dysfunction) and works them out for our good and the salvation of others. We don’t have dreams though. In fact, if you come and tell me you had a dream from God I’m going to say “that’s great and all but can you show me that somewhere in the Bible.” We have to know God’s promises in order to not think the pit is the end of our story.

Genesis 37 NASB95

Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had sojourned, in the land of Canaan. These are the records of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic. His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms. Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. He said to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have had; for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.” Then his brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, “Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” He related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind. Then his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock in Shechem. Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “I will go.” Then he said to him, “Go now and see about the welfare of your brothers and the welfare of the flock, and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. A man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, “What are you looking for?” He said, “I am looking for my brothers; please tell me where they are pasturing the flock.” Then the man said, “They have moved from here; for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’ ” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan. When they saw him from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death. They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer! “Now then, come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, ‘A wild beast devoured him.’ Then let us see what will become of his dreams!” But Reuben heard this and rescued him out of their hands and said, “Let us not take his life.” Reuben further said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not lay hands on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hands, to restore him to his father. So it came about, when Joseph reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the varicolored tunic that was on him; and they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, without any water in it. Then they sat down to eat a meal. And as they raised their eyes and looked, behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing aromatic gum and balm and myrrh, on their way to bring them down to Egypt. Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood? “Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt. Now Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit; so he tore his garments. He returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is not there; as for me, where am I to go?” So they took Joseph’s tunic, and slaughtered a male goat and dipped the tunic in the blood; and they sent the varicolored tunic and brought it to their father and said, “We found this; please examine it to see whether it is your son’s tunic or not.” Then he examined it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!” So Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. Then all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, “Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him. Meanwhile, the Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard.

Public reading of scripture = we need you to help us lead worship

Focus on Jesus & Redemptive history:

Give Jacob deceiving father through clothing parallel to what his sons did to him through the torn up cloak - that’s a great lesson that we aren’t even going to begin to look at.

Instead, we are going to look at the Joseph story through the eyes of the very first people who read the book. So we have to ask the question:

What is the purpose of the book of Genesis?

Explain why Moses wrote Genesis. Make it real by bringing them into the shoes of the Israelites.

The purpose of the book of Genesis is to give God’s people a framework for God’s redemptive story, where they fit within that story, and how it affected their lives.

Me:

What would you do if you knew that you would not fail?

Make it funny: Interpretative dance career? Designer shoes for cats?

Make it relatable: Probably some of you just want to parent your kids well. Maybe you would write marriage or relationships down on this card. Maybe it would be seeking freedom from addiction. Maybe you would just write a blanket statement and say life on your card.

But how would our mentality be different if we knew that success would be guaranteed?

What would that do to the risk we took? Like if your designer shoes for cats business required you to liquidate everything you have and put it up as collateral is that really a risk if you know you are guaranteed success? Is there any risk too big?

What about setbacks, bad circumstances, or seeming failures along the way? Like what if you started your designer shoes for cats and then owning cats as pets was outlawed? That would seem like the ultimate setback and yet if success is guaranteed, what does that setback really mean? Ultimately nothing. Now while imagining the day when owning cats as pets is outlawed is a fun thing to sit and think about, lets make it a little more practical:

What about our parenting of our kids? What if we knew they were going to turn out as healthy, well-adjusted, Jesus loving, world changing adults without fail? How would we view those times when they act out? How about that season where they may go prodigal on us? Is that world shattering for us or is it just part of the journey they are on that will lead them to where they will ultimately be?

What about the rough patch our marriage is in? Is it the end or is it just the fires if tribulation that will strengthen us to be better than every?

What about the relapse?

What about the financial or business or career disaster?

What about the ‘less-than-a-year-to-live’ diagnosis from the doctor? How about that storm? What if you knew that wasn’t going to be the case? How would you handle that news, all the tests, and all of the painful procedures and treatments if you knew at the end of it you were guaranteed to make it?

Now, we can dream about that stuff all day long and what our life would look like if success in any one of those areas were guaranteed. The problem is that nothing is guaranteed is it? In fact, to preach that that is possible is to peddle the very prosperity Gospel that is tearing the church apart right now. By definition:

The prosperity Gospel is the thought that faith in God somehow will grant success and prosperity in all of life.

Listen to me really really closely…that is hands down Satan’s greatest weapon against the church right now. Because what happens is when we do experience failure in one of those areas we link it to our lack of faith…or even worse it brings into question the goodness or power of God. We are watching people walk away from the faith by the thousands because they bought into a false view of God and how His redemptive story affects ours.

I want to look at the real hope we have. I want to see a greater hope that we see in the story of Joseph’s life and how that hope propels us to live in spite of our circumstances.

We get a brief introduction to who Joseph is and the type of relationship he has with his brothers and then we get this sort of foreshadowing thesis statement that becomes the driving force for the entire rest of the narrative. That central theme is seen in the first of four different dreams in the Joseph story. Here it is:

Genesis 37:5–11 NASB95

Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. He said to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have had; for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.” Then his brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, “Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” He related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

I want us to stop and put ourselves back in the shoes of the original audience reading this story before we draw any conclusions about this story.

Do the bring their minds back bit (you are an Israelite walking in the desert with the scroll of Genesis in your hands)…MAKE IT REAL!!!

Abraham…did he see the promise? Yes partially…explain

Isaac…did he see the promise? Yes partially…explain

Jacob…did he see the promise? Yes partially…explain

And then you come to the passage we just read in Joseph’s story…what are your thoughts?

Well…up to this point in the story, God is the only one who speaks in dreams and has the ability to see and affect the future. And so:

You know that God’s promises are good and true and trustworthy.

Did you know that there are over 160 different promises of God in scripture that we are told we can hold to as an anchor point? Some scholars took all 160 of those promises and combined the different thematic elements of them to produce a single promise of God. Do you know what the promise was that they arrived at? Here it is:

I am with you and will keep you wherever you go.

That is the same promise that God made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Joseph’s father) and the entire nation of Israel. I want to let that sit with you for just a minute and we will come back to it.

For now though, I want to talk about that picture behind the picture. I want to talk about the grand redemptive plan of God that Joseph’s story is meant to draw our eyes to.

Joseph and his story is foreshadowing the story of ultimate redemption that Jesus would bring to the entire world. Jesus used the one thing he knew he could count on us for to bring us salvation. God, looking back at Joseph’s story, and a hundred just like it, knew that we always kill the people He sends to bring us salvation and redemption. And so that’s exactly what God used. He sent Jesus and used the fact that we would undoubtedly kill him for our salvation.

That is what Jesus used to bring us salvation He came to endure the worst circumstances imaginable on our behalf. The worst circumstance imaginable is to stand guilty before an infinitely holy God and endure the punishment we deserve and that is exactly what Jesus did. Just as Joseph endured a torment at the hands of his brothers that would ultimately lead to their salvation, Jesus endured torment at our hands as we sold him out for a few pieces of silver. It was this act that brought our salvation just as it was Joseph’s imprisonment and slavery that would eventually lead to the salvation of the very brothers who sold him into slavery.

And that’s the story of God’s redemptive plan as seen in the story of Joseph…but…let’s break it down even more practical.

Do you know what is particularly interesting about Joseph’s story? It is that there is not one moment where Joseph gripes about his circumstances.

Not when his brothers are standing there deciding whether to kill him or not.

Not when he is being thrown into the pit.

Not when he is being sold into slavery.

Not when he is being falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife.

Not when he is being unjustly thrown into prison.

Not when he is forgotten by the man he saved in prison.

In fact, we get one moment in Joseph’s entire story where he reflects on the gravity and purpose for his circumstances and here it is:

Genesis 50:18–21 NASB95

Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? “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.

I am going to be honest. If I were in Joseph’s place, I am not sure that would’ve been my response. But here is what his response shows us. His response shows us that Joseph was holding onto the promises of God throughout all the circumstances. God’s promise of redemption and salvation was what allowed Joseph to endure everything he did and come to respond the way he did.

I think of another character in the Bible who shows this same kind of response in the face of bad circumstances. I think of Paul’s words in the book of Philippians as he was unsure whether his imprisonment and torture was going to end in his death. Here is what he said:

Philippians 1:21 NASB95

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

I mean…you couldn’t shake this guy! How are you going to threaten a guy who talks like that? What circumstances, what torture could you possibly throw at this guy who has this mentality. Listen to what he says just a few chapters later in the same book:

Philippians 4:11–13 NASB95

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Ya’ll look at me really closely here because this is where God’s redemptive story and the response that Joseph and Paul have showed us meet. Get ready for the plot twist…

You are not Joseph in the story…you and I are the brothers.

Because of our sin, we traded Jesus’ life for a few pieces of silver as we killed him. It was our deceit, our lies, our hatred, our brokenness, and sin that killed Jesus…not the Romans and not the Jews. And yet, not even the circumstances of death separated Jesus from the victory of the resurrection promised to him by God. And through Jesus’ death, we (just like the brothers) enjoy the reward and promises of God. And now, not even the circumstances of death can separate us from the reward of eternal life.

Just like Joseph, Jesus has spoken kindly to us. He has said, I forgive you, come and have life everlasting.

And so I think that allows us to end in a couple of different places.

First, perhaps you walked in here feeling like you are in the pit. Maybe that is the pit of a broken marriage. Maybe that’s the pit of anxiety or depression or addiction. Maybe that’s the pit of some secret sin. Maybe that’t the pit of a broken heart over a wayward child or the loss of a loved one. Maybe its a financial pit you think you will never claw your way out of.

If that is you…let me remind you of one of the promises of God that you need to hold tightly to today:

Romans 8:28 NASB95

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

If you are following Jesus, know that you are called according to His purpose. Also know that that verse does not promise you that your circumstances will necessarily get better. We also have enough stories in the Bible to know that you may never understand what that good is this side of eternity. If anything that verse begs us to ask ourselves this question and then live in light of the answer:

Can I trust that God’s promises are trustworthy, good, and true?

Can I trust that God is working whatever this terrible circumstance is for my good. Even if it never gets better and even if I never understand why this side of eternity, can I trust that I will get to experience the same type of freedom, blessing, and closure that Joseph did on the day he saw God’s promise come to fruition and then live in light of that reality?

And secondly, I believe this story is ultimately meant to bring our eyes to Jesus. You know, we talked a lot today about the people who read these words for the very first time…do you know that they missed the ultimate lesson of this story…that it is God alone who can save and redeem. They wandered around the wilderness for forty years and all died because they failed to trust the promise of salvation from God even though they had seen it played out and had the same story of Joseph that we do. We don’t have to make the same mistake.

In fact, right where you are sitting, you can cry out for the salvation of God. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. You can simply say: “God forgive me and save me…I choose to follow you.” No matter what your circumstances, there is hope in the promise of God’s salvation. Not even the circumstance of death is the end of your story. You can have the same attitude that Paul had…nothing can touch you. How would that change your story? How would that kind of attitude change your attitude towards risk, or failure, or setbacks or bad circumstances if you knew that God was with you working all things for your good and you will one day spend eternity with him in paradise?

I am about to close us in prayer…if you pray that prayer calling out to God for salvation will you please let someone know so we can begin helping you with your next steps of faith?