(Gen 50:20 ESV) As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
This morning we continue our new series entitled, “Faith and Patience VOL III – Never Give Up!” Last night the Father blessed me to preach in a jail. The room was full of men who wanted to know if their dreams would ever come to pass. As believers, we must remember that Godly dreams don’t have an expiration date. If God gave us the dream and we are still alive, then the dream can still come to pass. If blood is flowing through your veins and air is still flowing through your lungs, then God is not through with you! Let me tell you about a dreamer this morning.
Joseph was Jacob’s 11th son and he loved him more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age (Gen 37:3). Jacob gave Joseph a coat of many colors and his brothers hated him for it (v.4). To make things even worse, Joseph dreamed a dream that he would be above all his other brothers and even his parents. What he did not know was all the challenges we was going to have to go through before he saw the dream come to pass. But through it all, the dream would keep him going. Faith is expressing confidence in God and His Word. Joseph expressed confidence in the dream when he told his brothers and his father about it. This, however, backfired on him and his brothers hated him the more.
One day his brothers went out to feed the flock and they did not take Joseph. His father later sent Joseph out to check on them (37:13). His brothers seized the opportunity to get rid of him. They threw him into a pit, plotted to kill him, but then decided to sell him as a slave (for 20 pieces of silver). Joseph was then sold again, this time an officer in Pharaoh’s court named Potiphar (v.36). Since the favor of God was upon Joseph and since he believed in his dream, everything he touched was blessed. I am sure that all sorts of thoughts must have rushed through his mind. He may have even questioned how the dream would come to pass if he was slave; but he remained faithful everywhere he went and God blessed everything he did. Potiphar put him over all the crops and the crops prospered as well (39:3). Unfortunately, Potiphar’s wife also took a liking to Joseph, attempted to sleep with him, and after Joseph refused, she accused him of attempted rape. So Joseph was thrown into prison (39:20), but this was not just any prison. Since Potiphar worked directly for Pharaoh, then this was the Egyptian national prison. Soon Pharaoh’s butler and baker were also imprisoned. God blessed Joseph to interpret a dream for the butler and the baker. Later, Pharaoh had a dream that none of his advisors could interpret. The butler (who had had been released from prison and reinstated) suggested they give Joseph a try. Sure enough, God blessed Joseph, he interpreted the dream, and what happened next was amazing. Pharaoh decided to promote Joseph from prisoner to Prime Minister that moment. The blessing was still on Joseph and Joseph led Egypt through a terrible time of famine. Joseph’s brothers were not as prepared and they came Egypt for help. When they did, the dream finally came to pass.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Remain faithful and keep the dream alive. Joseph went from a pit to Potiphar, from Potiphar to a prison, but then from the prison to a palace. The entire time he was faithful, God blessed what he did, and he kept the dream alive in his heart.
2. God can take a setback and turn it around into a setup. The brothers did what they did to hurt Joseph, but they were actually ushering Joseph down the road to his destiny. What people mean for evil, God can turn around for your good.
3. Never give up. This might sound like a quick story when you read it like this, but it took over 20 years. Delay does not mean denial. You must on hold to your faith and keep God’s dream alive in your life! Don’t ever give up…. It shall come to pass!
Closing Confession: Father, I operate in faith and patience and I never give up. No matter the setbacks, no matter the challenges, and no matter the opposition; I will not allow what I see to change what I believe. I know You can turn every seemingly hopeless situation around. You can take my setbacks and make them setups! I believe that You will. Therefore, I shall be faithful every day and I know You will honor my faithfulness and bless me everywhere I go. I keep the dream You gave me alive in my heart and it shall come to pass. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
