Joseph – The Dreamer

Joseph – The Dreamer

This Sunday, we were privileged at CDC to hear the message given by our own Pastor Micky Kua, on Joseph-the Dreamer from Genesis Chapter 17. Continuing our studies on a series of important Bible Characters, we now come to Joseph. And Joseph is a very important character indeed, with his story alone taking up one quarter of the book of Genesis. Indeed, through the life of Joseph, we shall see how God’s promises to Abraham were actually fulfilled through him.

Firstly, it was Joseph who brought the family of Jacob to Egypt where they flourished and became a large nation. Secondly, this nation, the nation of Israel, became the light-bearer, the herald of the knowledge of the one true God to all the other nations. Thirdly, it was from the nation of Israel that the Savior, our Lord Jesus came who would bring salvation to the nations. In fact, the life of Joseph is actually very closely symbolic of Jesus Christ – starting life as the favorite son, betrayed by his brothers, thrown into the dungeon, and then rising to become the savior of his family.

As a small family of 70 (in those days), the clan of Jacob were constantly at risk in Canaan. If their neighbors ganged up on them, they could be easily wiped out. Furthermore, the threat of famine was also very serious, threatening their very survival. Through Joseph, Jacob’s family found providence of food and safety in the land of Goshen. Furthermore, in Goshen, they were separated from the Canaanite and the Egyptians, and thus, not corrupted by the idolatry and sexual immorality rampant in these cultures. It should also be noted that the migration to Egypt of the Israelites had already been prophesied by God to Abraham, who told him that his descendants would be enslaved for 400 years in the Egyptian land.

The underlying fundamental truth that Pastor Micky wanted us to know is this “God has a plan and purpose for each of us”. As God promised Jeremiah in Jeremiah 29:11 “I have plans to proper you, and not to harm you.”, so too God had good plans for Joseph, and although he did not see it during his early years, he came to understand later why he had to go through what he went through. God’s plans are always good.

Joseph started life as a very ordinary person, like you and me. However, he chose to be obedient to God, and God worked mightily through him to bring about great things. Similarly, God can use us mightily, if we only hold on to our faith in Him, and serve Him faithfully in obedience. God can do all things, turning water into wine or feeding five thousand with five loaves and two fish. We need only to be available to Him, and in His time, He will raise us up for His glory and purpose.

As many of us do, Joseph had family problems. His father practiced favoritism upon him, lavishing gifts and attention upon me far more than any of his brothers, and this aroused deep hatred in the hearts of his brothers. Joseph was perhaps blinded by naivety to his brother’s growing resentment, but he only made matters worse by telling them about his dream of the sheaths of wheat, and the sun, moon and stars bowing down to him. As parents, we must be very careful not to show favoritism to a particular child at the expense of another. Each child is different, but we must learn to love them the same, though it may not be easy.

A very good point to note is also the personal faith of Joseph, who had a very strong personal relationship with God. The godly values and fear of God that he showed when severely tested must have been cultivated from a young age, and Jacob must have played a very important role indeed in bringing up Joseph in the ways of God. It is so important for parents to teach their children early, from a young age, for godly principles formed may well be their foundation in facing all of life’s difficulties in the future. Similarly, in his letter to Timothy, Paul credited young Timothy’s strong faith to the teaching of his mother and grandmother. Some parents believe in being “liberal”, letting their children make their own mistakes and decisions in life. However, if we don’t take time to teach our young, there is no way we can compete with the worldly values bombarded by the mass media and peer pressure our children will face as they grow older.

Another good trait that Jacob thought Joseph was responsibility and working skills. Jacob taught Joseph to be responsible and honest, and he told the truth about some of his brothers, even though they would hate him for it. Joseph cared for the welfare of the family and wanted to please his father, not just for his own convenience. Joseph also persevered to find his brothers, even though they had moved on from their designated place. It is said that testing brings out the true nature of a person. The purity of gold can only be revealed once the fire burns up the dross, looking clear like a mirror.

In conclusion, we were exhorted to be honest in integrity, care for the church and family, be obedient to God, and persevere through testing. May the Lord help us learn to be like Joseph, and also teach our children to do the same.

God bless,

Jason