My Dream (Ala mi)

 

METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA

DIOCESE OF OSOGBO

NINETEETH (19^TH) SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME/NINETH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

9^TH AUGUST, 2020.

GOD’S WORD TO GOD’S PEOPLE.

THEME: “My Dream (Ala mi).”

TEXT: Genesis 37:5,19&20

"Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. Then they said to one another, "Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit, and we shall say, 'Some wild beast has devoured him'. We shall see what will become of his dream!"

The writer of the first book of the Bible commonly called Genesis now turned to a new section of the book dedicated to the generations of Jacob (Gen. 37:2). Here in the new section, which is dedicated to the family of Pa. Jacob, the son of Isaac (Gen. 25:19), the chief actor or character is no other person than Joseph the dreamer, whose name is mentioned twice as many times as that of his father in chapters 38 to 50 of the book, Genesis. For us Christians, the story of Joseph and his dreams is one of the richest Old Testament illustrations of Jesus Christ. Just like Jesus, Joseph the dreamer was the beloved of Jacob his father and he was obedient to his father’s will. He was hated and rejected by his own brothers who sold him into slavery. Joseph was also falsely accused and unjustly punished like Jesus Christ, but finally exalted from his low estate of suffering to a powerful position of prime-minister in Egypt, thus saving his father's household from death during famine. Joseph was indeed a man of clear and significant vision which came from God through dreams. His close and vital relationship with God made him dreamt about his bright future. As a young man of 17years old, Joseph knew that God had something special in mind for him in life. And because God was with him, his dreams of brighter future finally came to pass. Our focus today is, therefore, to see every Christian as a potential dreamer of a great and better future with Christ on our side. We shall do this by looking at the early life of Joseph as contained in Genesis chapter 37, the appointed Old Testament reading for this 9th Sunday after Trinity.

It is important to let you know that there was no unity in Jacob's house. We are all aware of how much Jacob loved Rachel, his second wife and how low his love was for Leah (Gen. 29:30 & 31). The rivalry of his first two wives, who were sisters, did not allow peace to reign in Jacob's family, and that of his other two adopted wives didn't diminish the tension in his house. Fellow Christians, what do you expect in a home where we have one father, four different mothers and twelve sons? Multiple problems of course. Well, the disunity in Jacob's home shouldn't be strange to us, Bible students, because Jacob himself came from a divided home, and thus brought the seed of disaffection with him into his own family. Hence, it is not strange to note the kind of hatred Joseph brothers had for him as a result of their father's special love for him and his boisterous dreams. Not only that, Joseph was hated for his integrity (Gen. 37:2). It was not easy at all for Joseph to work and walk alongside his half-brothers, because their way of life was different from his. He was always reporting the evil deeds of his brothers (Dan, Naphtali, Had and Asher) to Jacob their father (Gen. 37:2). Why was he doing this? If we may ask. Was he a spy? Later events did provide answer to our question. Though, Joseph was young, yet he has common sense and spirit of discernment. If what his brothers were doing was not terribly wicked, he wouldn't have told his father. We must also know that Joseph was not going to tell lie whenever his father asked him about his brothers' deeds on the field.

Joseph's integrity was further proved when he had dreams and did not hide any of them from his brothers. Despite their hatred for him, he was sincere enough that he told them the details of his dreams (Gen. 37:6-11). Could this be an evidence of Joseph's adolescent immaturity? Surely, his two dreams could not help to unite Jacob's family, rather they irritate his brothers all the more and made things worse for him. His brothers thought within themselves, how could it be that Joseph will become a ruler; and they would bow down to him? This of course seemed contrary to reason and totally absurd or ridiculous. "O doodi, ki baba lo dowo omo ohun lorun." It is contrary to reason for father to pray to his son in heaven. The dreams, however, could be God's way of confirming Jacob's choice of Joseph, his faithful son, especially his second dream, which also upset his father. Being confused and tensed by the report of Joseph second dream, Jacob rebuked him, but he pondered on the dreams in the private (Gen. 37:11). After all Jacob himself had received messages from God through dreams (Gen. 28:12f, 31:1-13). Obviously, the revelation of God was given in various ways in the Old Testament. For instance, God used dreams to speak when the Israelites were living in the land of pagans. He announced the Egyptian bondage initially to Abraham through dreams (Gen. 15:13). It was in a dream that God promised Jacob his protection and prosperity in his sojourn with Laban, his uncle (Gen. 28:12, 15). He as well predicted that Joseph would rule over his family in two different dreams as contained in our Old Testament reading (Gen. 37:1-28) today.

The background of Joseph's first dream was agricultural (Gen. 37:7) and as such we may derive some hint here of the manner in which his authority over his brothers would be realized. Certainly, his brothers bowed to him when they came for food in Egypt (Gen. 42:1-3) The second dream has to do with heavenly places (Gen. 37:9) The sun, the moon, and all stars bowed to Joseph. Culturally, these astronomical symbols represented 'rulers', and as such one may conclude that the dream is all about Joseph's elevation over the whole household of Jacob and even beyond (Gen. 37:10; 41:40; 47:5-11) (Gen. 37:10). Yes, God can select the young over the elder, and he can declare his choice in advance by a dream (1Sam. 16:7). However, God's choice of a leader often brings out the jealousy and hatred of those who must submit to such leader. Instead of recognizing God's divine choice of Joseph in our text (Gen. 37), his brothers looked for ways to destroy him so that he would not fulfill his destiny (Gen. 37:19&20). You and I will fulfill destiny in Jesus name, Amen. They later sold him without knowing that they were only helping him to arrive the place and center of his destiny more earlier.

If I may ask, does God still speak to his chosen people in dreams today? Or is it through the Holy Spirit that we Christians receive guidance using God’s word as we pray and ask the will of God? My answer to the two questions is both. God still speaks to his people through dreams and guides them through the Holy Spirit. After all the Bible makes it clear that “…it shall come to pass afterward that I (God) will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions” (Joel 2:28). God as well spoke to Joseph, the husband of Mary, in dreams when he was thinking of abandoning her (Matt. 1:20:25; 2:12-13, 19-22). That notwithstanding, we must be very careful with dreams and the dreamers today, because dreams can be self-induced or even influenced by the Devil (Jer. 23:25-28) But still, God is sovereign and can use dreams to accomplished his purpose and will if he chooses to do so. However, his usual way of communicating his plans and will to us his children in this dispensation is through the Holy Spirit, and the teaching and preaching of his word (John 14: 25-26; 16:12-15). What is your dream in life? Do you desire a better tomorrow and fulfilled future? Be positive about the fulfillment of your dreams. Be selective about the people you tell your dream; avoid dream killers. Brethren, be courageous enough to pursue the fulfillment of your dreams by faith in Christ Jesus. Remember that Peter could not fulfill his dream of walking on the sea (water) like Jesus because he lacks courage and he as well doubted in his heart (Matt. 14:28-31). Your relationship with God is also vital in having a clear dream or thought of your future. Get connected to Jesus Christ now for without him you can do nothing (John 15:5). Know this, God will find it difficult to reveal himself or secret things of the kingdom to a sinner, so be a man or a woman of integrity like Joseph, who did not only expose all evil deeds of his brothers, but flee from doing what was evil in the sight of God and men. (Gen. 39:7-11). Men and brethren, I want to assure you today that when you remain different to the things of the world and be faithful to God and humanity, your dreams will never be thwarted and you will not be disappointed. Put your hand into the hands of Jesus Christ and he will help you realize all your life dreams.

Let us pray.

Rt. Rev. A.K.O. Ogunrinde, JP, FICT.

Bishop, Diocese of Osogbo.

OS-CAN Chairman.