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HELEN SANDERS
6-1-2024
LEARNING FROM THE PROCESS
In Genesis we learn that Jacob had twelve sons. The two youngest were brothers by his wife Rachel that died in childbirth. Jacob loved Joseph more than all of his other children [Genesis 37:3]. Because of his love for him Jacob gave him a beautiful coat consisting of beautiful colors, not drab like the rest of the brothers coats. None of the other brothers had one, including Reuben, the oldest. This love for Joseph caused a lot of jealousy within the family. Not only was Joseph favored by Jacob, but God gave Joseph dreams that stirred up this jealousy until it became hatred.
Often, when God gives us a dream or a revelation, we do not fully understand all of it, unless we wait on God, and he reveals the meaning to us. Joseph, being a teenager, shared his dreams with his brothers and they hated him even more. The dreams indicated that they would have to bow down to him. Furthermore, when Joseph shared the dreams with his father he was rebuked. [Genesis 37:10] All of this led to Joseph’s being thrown into a pit by his brothers with the intent to kill him. Fortunately for him, God had a plan and sent some merchantmen along and his brothers sold him as a slave to them instead of killing him.
Joseph’s journey went from being the favored son to being a slave. He served his new master faithfully but was lied upon by his master’s wife, and also put into prison. While in prison he was betrayed by those that he helped. Years passed, and I am sure he wondered about the dreams he had been given. Yes, those dreams would come true, but it did not happen immediately.
In spite of Joseph’s youthful bragging, God used him in His timing. It took years for the revelation of what those dreams meant until they came to pass. Often revelation is a process. God had a plan for Joseph to be the deliverer of his family. His dreams came to pass when his brothers came to Egypt to buy grain. Little did they know that Joseph did not hold what they did against them. In Genesis 45 we see the reunion with his brothers and Joseph said in verse 8a, “So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God….”
When our circumstances look far from favorable, and any hope of our dreams coming to pass in our timing seems remote, we must embrace the Lord in our faith, knowing that God’s timing will surely bring it to pass, if we don’t murmur and quit on God. During the years that Joseph was separated from his family he grew up. He became exactly what God had planned him to be. He lived a humble life, trusting that God would see him through. Let us have that same spirit as God is developing in us what needs to be done to see our dreams come to pass.
Often, when God gives us a dream or revelation it is not for now. We can learn a lesson from Mary, Jesus’ mother, when she became pregnant with Jesus. She did not tell everyone; she hid in her heart what had happened to her. Only years later did she reveal what had happened to her. Have you been given a dream or vision? Be careful who you share it with and learn from the process.
GOD BLESS YOU
RUSSELL AND HELEN SANDERS
SPIRIT OF LIFE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL
www.spiritoflifeintl.org
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