King James Daily Bible Study: God Dreams Big For You
Date: Thursday January 13, 2011
Chapters: Genesis 37-39
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Details of Today's Reading: Joseph's dreams, his brothers envy of him, Jacob's love for him, Joseph's brothers plot to kill him, but sell him instead, Judah's sons and daughter-in-law, Joseph is brought to Egypt and works for Potiphar, Potiphar's wife traps Joseph and she has him out in prison, and Joseph finds favor from God.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
The word dream is defined as a vision, images, thoughts, or emotions passing through the mind during sleep. Some people also day dream in which they see these visions, thoughts, or emotions while they are awake. The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” - Proverbs 29:18. God wants us to dream, in fact, He wants us to dream big, but He wants us to make sure that we dream big in His Word. The amazing thing about God that much of the world will never understand and even a lot of Christians as well is that He wants to see us prosper and enjoy everything that He created for us. The reason why so many people do not is because their dreams do not match up with God's Word. When we allow His law to guide us He will never stop providing for us. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” - Psalm 1:1-3.

Joseph was Jacob's first son with his beloved Rachael, unlike his half-brothers he was godly and well mannered. Jacob favored him more than the others and it was for that reason that they were envious of Joseph. On top of that Joseph had dreams, big dreams that he would tell them, which made things even worse. “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.” - Genesis 37:3-8.

Joseph's dream was a vision that his brothers would one day bow down to him as they would a king, now, you can imagine why they were angry. They must have truly believed that his dreams were, in fact, prophetic though since they did not disregard them and youthful nonsense. When God gives you a vision, it is usually one that others can not imagine, but if they have been around you for a while and know that you live your life for God they will not disregard them as nonsense, but will mock you. However, you can be sure that God is with you and it will come to pass, no matter how many obstacles you face in the process. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:1,2.

Their hatred and jealousy over Joseph caused them to plot and evil scheme to get rid of him. “Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him. And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again...And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.” - Genesis 37:20-28.

Now, you can imagine what Joseph must have been going through, wondering how his brothers could have done such at thing, perhaps relieved that he was sold rather than killed, wondering where his life was heading. Maybe he talked to God along the way, asking Him why this was happening to him. When people hurt us, especially family, I imagine we all question why God allows it to happen. However, God has a plan and purpose for all that we go through, every obstacle prepares us for that dream coming true. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28.

When Joseph arrived in Egypt he was regarded as just a slave, but soon found favor from Potiphar, the captain of the guard. “And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.” - Genesis 39:1-4.

Joseph was blessed, wonderfully blessed, even in the house where he was a slave. God's presence with us, makes all we do prosperous. Godly men are the blessings of the place where they live, the prosperity of the wicked is, one way or other, for the sake of the godly. Here was a wicked family blessed for the sake of one good servant who was in the grace of God and Potiphar new it. When we choose to follow God we may become separated from our friends and family, but we will never be separated from our God. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:38,39.

Often, because we choose to follow God we are going to attract the wicked, Potiphar's wife has been watching Joseph, probably for quite some time, she became infatuated with him and was determined to get him in bed with her. “And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.” - Genesis 3:7-10.

Joseph knew that even the mere thought of being with this woman would be making him sin against God, notice he did not say his God, but God. God is God of all and those who choose to follow Him through Christ find His grace. Of course, we will fall out of His grace from time to time, but we will never fall out of His love for us. He will always guide us back into His grace. “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” - II Corinthians 9:8. You know Potiphar's wife had Joseph cast into prison because he refused her and God even blessed him in prison? “And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.” - Genesis 39:20-22.

God has big dreams for us, we can choose to see our circumstances as opportunities to make those dreams come true or we can choose to be depressed and do noting in hopes that something will get better., but God is amazing, under the most unique circumstances He will make us prosper through them. Perhaps the most shocking news to people, especially family and friends, is that we will or will not do something because God. You will not get a good response, even Christians will tell you that you are crazy. Let me tell you that you will know who your true friends are when you refuse to do something because it is against what God would want. “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” - Job 23:8-10. Praise God!

Jesus Christ Revealed: Jesus Christ is revealed through Joseph who was rejected by his own brothers and sold for 20 pieces of silver, Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver, imprisoned, crucified, and became our Savior and soon will return to rule the world. “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.” - Matthew 26:14,15.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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