The dangers of dreaming!

Genesis 37:2–4 NIV

This is the account of Jacob’s family line. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

Intro

Jacobs sons men that God has called for various things and men whose offspring God will use in incredible ways, But most of his sons were born from his first wife Leah, handmaiden. You see Jacob only wanted one wife. He only loved one women and that was Rachel, but Rachel was barren and couldn’t have children. So Leah and Rachel handmaidens would give Jacob kids.

Now Jacob loved his children but you see Rachel longed to give birth and was disgraced because should could not. So when God allowed her to conceive a child, she saw God s grace and praised God.

Joseph was her son of grace. He was a blessing, that no one thought would come.

There is nothing wrong with that, Praise God, but you see Jacob loved Rachel, and saw that Joseph was this miracle and because of that he allowed himself to favor Joseph over the other sons.

Favoritism destroys families and annihilates relationships. guard against favoritism my friends.

It is sin

Jacob should have known better, or at the least when he noticed the division alter his actions.

No one is perfect, but when we notice our faults we should go to the Lord and resolve them.

God gives us dreams, we must work to be wise in understanding them.

Genesis 37:5–8 ESV

Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

Josephs dreams were from God and pro phetic, but they needed humility and wisdom to guide them.

Joseph lacked both. therefore he boasts about the dreams, I’m going to rule over you!” haha!

A slap in the face of Reuben, the oldest in particular, because Reuben was entitled to the blessing and inheritance of Jacob.

Humility is critical when God begins to move.

Here Joseph gets another dream where he is told that not only will his brothers bow, but his parents also. Notice Jacob finally has enough. He chastise Joseph, and gets a little taste of what his other sons have been dealing with.

The temptation when God begins to move is to say look at me look at me. When we begin to do that, we begin to undermine the work God is trying yo accomplish.

Joseph is being spoken to by God and he is squandering the power of the moment because he is lacking in maturity and wisdom.

Even when we mess up God still has a plan.

He can use even the hardest people, to bring glory to His name.

Jacobs family is falling apart. Joseph is hated so one day Jacob send Joseph to find his brothers who are in the field. Joseph cannot find them.

But them a man shows up and find Joseph wandering in this field.

Jewish scholars belied this man to be angel, or a preincarnate appearing of Jesus.

So here Joseph couldn’t find his brothers and he ends up wandering, so God sends along someone to direct Joseph to his brothers.

Closing

Who are about to sell him into slavery.

So Joseph is walking in pride and arrogance with a savoir complex and Gods answer is to direct him to some very angry brothers.

Who will sell him into slavery and lie to their father claiming that his miracle child had died.

They get rid of Joseph and teach their dad a lesson.

Why would God allow Joseph whom He had called to walk into so much pain?

Because, He had to develop Joseph character into His own. Josephs pride and arrogance would have to go if God was going to use him to run Egypt.

Sometimes God allows us to walk into things that hurt, not because he hates, but because he is developing His character in us.