From the Dream to Its Manifestation

Daily Devotion | Day 251

“So he [Joseph] told it to his father [Jacob] and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, ‘What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?’ And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind” (Genesis 37:10-11, NKJV).

Genesis 37 tells us that Joseph had two dreams (v. 7 and v. 9). Both dreams were symbolic in nature. But they both suggested that Joseph would be a great person. Furthermore, the dreams indicated that he would be head over his family. Joseph was 17 years when he had these dreams. At that time, he did not know the specifics of the dreams. Nor did he know the timeline of the dreams. But he knew that something big was in store for him. We can learn a lot from the events that surrounded Joseph’s dreams. But let’s focus on a couple of lessons.

Lesson 1: Use discretion when you share your dreams. – Joseph got in trouble because his father loved him more than his other sons. His brothers hated him for this (v.4). Things got worse for Joseph when he shared his dreams with his brothers and his father. They all understood the implication of the dream: Joseph was going to be elevated above them one day. As today’s passage tells us, even his father rebuked him for daring to share such a dream. His brothers envied him and hated him even more.

When you have a dream, especially one that concerns your personal elevation in life, not everyone needs to know. You can have a dream similar to Joseph’s. Or, your dream may be in the form a heart desire, a personal vision or goal which you are convinced is attainable. Whatever the case is, be aware that not everyone is happy to see you rise in life, including those who smile at you. Not everyone believes in you, either.

You may not hate anyone, but someone may harbor hate for you. You may not envy anyone, but others may envy you. We all know this, but when we are excited, we tend to forget reality. In his excitement, Joseph shared a lot, and it nearly cost him his life. As he discovered, sometimes even family isn’t what you would expect. Some people cannot bear the thought of you rising in life. Your dream is yours, and your alone. Handle it with wisdom and discretion. Sharing your dreams with the right person is as important as the dream itself.

Lesson 2: Exercise patience as you wait for the manifestation of the dream. – It’s one thing to have a dream. It’s another thing for the dream to manifest. Joseph knew that what he saw was not a figment of his imagination. How he handled himself from the time of the dream to his eventual ascension to Pharaoh’s right hand tells that he did not quit believing. He maintained his moral integrity and his love for God, even when the odds were stack against him. The time between a dream and its realization is vital. It requires patience and unwavering trust. 

Learn from Joseph. Keep your focus. Keep your integrity. Keep the dream alive in your heart, knowing that with God, all things are possible. Joseph’s dream came to pass after roughly 13 years of pain, slavery and betrayal. The best part is, his brothers and his father lived to see the dream manifest.

Blessing: May the Lord cause His promises and blessings to manifest in your life. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

For further study: Hebrews 11:8-29