The Dreamer
(By Theanna Joyce)
I wonder how Joseph felt about the presence of God. Did he sit in the jail in Egypt wondering where God was and why He’d given him those dreams so long ago?
It was the dreams that fueled his older brothers’ fury. They saw him a long way off, recognized him by the princely coat their father had given him, and conspired to do away with him and with his dreams.
The dreams, two of them, told the same story of his brothers bowing down to him. Was there arrogance in Joseph’s voice when he shared it with them? Perhaps naivety?
He was only 17, after all. Regardless, his brothers, who already hated him because he was favored by their father, hated him even more. Whatever his tone, nothing he said excused what his brothers did to him.
Then, an opportunity arose. The brothers were miles away from their father, taking care of his flock, and up came Joseph.
It’s ironic that Joseph, in obedience to his father, went to check on his brothers’ well-being (Hebrew word: shalom), while it’s his well-being that was in peril.
His older brothers grabbed him and threw him into a pit and then sold him. He was brought down to Egypt and bought by Potiphar. His fortunes seemed to change as God’s favor brought success to all he did, but then false allegations were spread, and he was dumped in a prison. Like a puppet moved around a stage, Joseph was taken places without any choice in the matter.
Did he struggle to understand how his choice to do the right thing, by resisting Potiphar’s wife’s advances, could lead to such trouble? The reader of this story* must wonder too, especially since in the previous chapter, his older brother Judah did the wrong thing and good came out of it.
In prison, things seemed to be looking up. Joseph was given favor and success. Finally, he had the chance to do something for someone who might be able to get him out of there! But instead of being delivered, he was forgotten.
I wonder, do you ever feel this way?
Not many of us have experienced the same things that Joseph experienced, yet that’s not to say many haven’t felt forgotten. Maybe you’ve never landed in prison for doing what’s right, but many have done the right thing only to have trouble multiply from it. Maybe you’ve never been sold by your brothers, but many know what it is to be betrayed, or to grow up in a home with hatred, conflict, or favoritism.
Yet several times in Genesis 39 we read that “the LORD was with Joseph.” What does this mean? What does God’s presence mean?
It can’t mean that bad things won’t happen, because then Joseph wouldn’t have been hated and sold and treated as he was. This story, with all its twists and turns, shows the flourishing that follows the presence, blessing, and protection of God alongside the letdown when things seem to fall apart. Through it all, God was with Joseph. This is a truth that the narrator of the story records twice, and that others around Joseph saw as well.
God’s presence with Joseph wasn’t a warm, fuzzy feeling, but rather His keen attention in shaping Joseph’s character and bringing everything about for good.
Of course, Joseph couldn’t see the way that God was working things together. He had the dreams God had given him, but it wasn’t in his power to achieve them. All he could do was trust in his God and walk according to His ways.
The question of God’s presence is one we wrestle with too.
If we confess Christ is Lord, then He is with us — in all the ups and downs of our weeks and years, He is with us! This truth is repeated in Scripture several times and in various ways. Jesus Himself says that whoever goes to Him will never be cast out (John 6:37); the Spirit of God dwells in us and confirms that we are His and guarantees our inheritance (Romans 8:16; Ephesians 1:13-14).
I wish I could ask Joseph what helped him remain strong in his hope in God while he went through so many hard times.
Perhaps it was the story of his great-grandfather Abraham, who waited 25 years for God to give him the son He had promised. Perhaps it was the story of God providing a ram in the place of his grandfather Isaac, when he was offered up as a test of Abraham’s faith. Perhaps it was the example of his father Jacob, renamed Israel, who built an altar to God and described Him as the one who answers him in the day of his distress, who has been with him wherever he has gone (Genesis 35:3).
Thankfully, restoration is around the corner in Joseph’s story. It takes two years, but eventually Joseph is delivered from prison and he is exalted to a position that would lead to the fulfillment of his dream!
Just like Joseph had a dream, we have a promise. Revelation 21:5 tells us that “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’”
Just like God was with Joseph, He is with us, and He is making all things new. His purposes cannot be thwarted by any human malice or failure any more than they could have been in Joseph’s day.
Restoration may not come as expected (Joseph likely never pictured himself in Egypt) and it may not come today, but based on the faithful character of God, it will come!
I don’t know if you’re an active dreamer or not, but let’s dream of this! Let’s ponder God’s promise and walk faithfully as we depend on His faithfulness.
As we navigate the twists and turns life throws at us, may we be firm in our faith like Joseph and hold onto God’s promise of restoration with an unshakable grip.
*The whole of Joseph’s story can be read in Genesis 37, 38-50.
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