“5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, ‘Listen to this dream I had: 7 we were binding sheaves of corn out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered round mine and bowed down to it.’8 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.9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. ‘Listen,’ he said, ‘I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.’10 When he told his father as well as his brothers, 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?’ 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.”NIV

“His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind” (11).

‘God gave Joseph betimes the prospect of his advancement, to support and comfort him under his long and grievous troubles. Observe, Joseph dreamed of his preferment, but he did not dream of his imprisonment. Thus many young people, when setting out in the world, think of nothing but prosperity and pleasure, and never dream of trouble. His brethren rightly interpreted the dream, though they abhorred the interpretation of it. While they committed crimes in order to defeat it, they were themselves the instruments of accomplishing it. Thus the Jews understood what Christ said of his kingdom. Determined that he should not reign over them, they consulted to put him to death; and by his crucifixion, made way for the exaltation they designed to prevent.’ Matthew Henry.

God often spoke to people in dreams in Bible days. It is interesting that in the present day, there are many stories emerging of Muslims encountering Jesus in dreams. Whether through dreams or not, God can give someone an outline sense of the direction their life will take. Sometimes a person may receive detailed insight. Among the gifts of the Holy Spirit there are ‘revelation’ gifts. We are never in control of them. The Holy Spirit is sovereign and distributes the gifts as He wills. But I believe it is my place to eagerly desire the best gifts, and be open to the supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit.

Young Joseph had remarkable dreams. Furthermore, they came true. ‘You can’t put an old head on young shoulders’, and he was probably unwise in how he handled what he’d been shown. But even as ‘’his father rebuked him’’ he was wise to keep ‘’the matter in mind.’’

Stay open. Keep in step with the Spirit. You never know what He might show you…or accomplish through you.

PRAYER: Lord, I pray earnestly that we your people may move in all the gifts you want to give us – to the glory of your Name.