They Hated the Dreamer

(Genesis 37-38)

Jacob (Israel) had twelve sons by his wives and these twelve sons would become the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel. The journey to get to that point was an interesting ride, for sure. Our reading brings us a couple of interesting stories from the lives of Israel's sons. The story of Joseph and his brothers will be front and center in my blog today.

Perhaps becasue Joseph was born so late in his father's life, Israel loved him more than all the other sons... and they knew it. Little doubt is left that Joseph also knew it and might have used that for his benefit on occasion. This all produced jealousy among his brothers and led to an event that would change everything in the family for generations.

Joseph is a dreamer. I am not sure how we are to take that, but he is given to dreams and they are undoubtedly from God. The first dream that we are given deals with Joseph and his brothers. "Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it." (Genesis 37:6-7) Needless to say, his brothers were not impressed with a dream that had them bowing to their little brother. "His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said." (v 8)

His next dream had the sun and moon and eleven stars bowing down to him. His father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?" (v 10) This didn't sit well with his brothers and they were jealous of him. Jealousy and pride are a wicked combination that will always end badly and the story of Joseph and his brothers is no different. I understand that God is working through all of this and that the story takes lots of unexpected turns down the road, but today we find the older brothers hating their youngest brother and plotting to kill him.  "Here comes that dreamer!" they said to each other. "Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams." (v 20)

With yesterday being Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, this story takes on new life for me today. It would seem that dreamers have always been hated. Whether we are talking about Dr. King, President Kennedy, Robert Kennedy or John Lennon; dreamers have not fared too well in this world recently. Those that are willing to be visionaries about a different future are all too often hated for their dreams. Of course the greatest dreamer of all time was the Son of God. He dared to come into this world with an entirely new view of religion and the relationship between God and man and proclaimed the end of old way of doing things. Jesus was hated for His dream.

Those that followed the Dreamer and dared to dream with Him were hated as well. Paul was hated for his dream and in Acts 9; we read that those that heard his dream conspired to kill him. (v 22-24) With the exception of the apostle John, history records that every apostle was killed by those they came to serve. They hated the dreamers. So, what does that have to do with us, you and me? It would seem that we live in an age that needs dreamers, someone to speak out about what the future can be like, and someone to speak up when wrong is lifted up and proclaimed as right. Someone, who fearlessly dreams and speaks about what Jesus accomplished, both through His life and death. We need a dreamer that can place the vision of taking the world for Christ in this and the next generation.

We need dreamers! The church needs dreamers. God needs dreamers. Will you be hated? Most likely. Will you be made fun of? For sure! Will you be killed? Could be! Will you make a difference? Most definately! Will your life be worth living? Absolutely! I encourage you today... be like Joseph, be a dreamer. When the New Covenant began and the Holy Spirit came upon the first disciples in Acts 2, Peter tells us that this was a fulfillment of the prophecy in Joel 2.

In the last days, God says,
   I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
   your young men will see visions,
   your old men will dream dreams. (Acts 2: 17)

Dream dreams, have a vision of the future. Dare to dream of a world that follows Jesus. Dare to dream of a country that honors God. Dare to dream of a town that worships together. Dare to dream of your neighborhood united in its belief in the Creator. Dare to dream of your home being a faithful witness for Jesus. But start with a dream for yourself..... May God richly bless each of us as we dream.