Joseph: “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”
The innocence of a child. He was only 17 years old, and his brothers were grown men.
What did they suppose? Their reaction was recorded, they said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us?” And it says, “His brothers were jealous of him…”
Why didn’t they see that God was speaking?
As I ponder this, I remember what Joseph said to them later, when the dreams came to fruition,
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done…”
As I read this story I wonder at how foolish Joseph was. But in light of his own conclusion about things in verse 20 there, didn’t God know the sons of Jacob? He knew people, and how they’d react! His purpose was accomplished because he is the one who:
…works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
So this points back to one of my favourite scriptures,
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
JB Phillips puts it this way:
They knew all the time that there is a God, yet they refused to acknowledge him as such, or to thank him for what he is or does. Thus they became fatuous in their argumentations, and plunged their silly minds still further into the dark.
So in my own life, as I look back, I acknowledge and Glorify God! He’s in control! Always has been and always will be! We are not victims! We are at the mercy of God!
John 1:12-13 NIV also says this…
- he gave the right to become
- he gave them the power to become
That tells me about our gift of free choice!
If you believe in God, in Jesus Christ… you also believe in his word! Hebrews 11:6 says He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him!
Matthew 6:33-34 …and all these things will be given to you as well. If you seek first his kingdom and his righteousness…
At this point in my life… I am realizing my part and his part,
Where ever I am successful it is by His plan… and wherever I fail, that also… God is not limited by me, or anyone else… if God is for me, who can be against me, that’s a scripture also! Romans 8:31
More later…
Running Down Vimy 