Read Genesis 37:2-11 in your personal Bible or at the link provided.
Review
1. What was Joseph’s relationship like with his brothers?
2. How did his brothers respond to his dreams?
3. How did his father react?
Reflect
The story of Joseph starts off with two dreams. He dreamt that he would one day rule over his brothers, and not surprisingly, this wasn’t popular with them. In the Old Testament, dreams were a key way that God spoke to His people. Joseph was no different. And his dreams were received with hatred and jealousy. To him, the dreams felt like reality, but they wouldn’t actually become reality until several years later.
In our own lives, dreams can often feel like reality too. Sometimes they seem crazy or delusional, or they feel like they’re from God. We’ve all had dreams, some of them from very early on in childhood. Like Joseph, some of our dreams have been rejected by our family and friends. Other times, they’ve been accepted or encouraged.
Whatever dreams you carry today, have you told anyone about them? How do they line up with God’s plans for you as expressed in the Bible? Is there anyone who has entrusted their dreams with you? How can you encourage them to follow God’s will as they chase after their dreams?
Respond
Pray through today’s reading, reflecting on the questions just posed. What do you think God is prompting you to do in response? Write it down, share it with a friend, and take a step to start making it happen.