Joseph Dreams of His Brothers
Illustration by Owen Jones from “The History of Joseph and His Brethren” (Day & Son, 1869). Scanned and archived at http://www.OldBookArt.com Public Domain Wikipedia, CCL
Meditation
Saturday, Ordinary 19, Proper 14, revealed the Old Testament lesson of Joseph’s first dream of his future, where the sheaves of his brothers bow down to his sheaf. His brothers weren’t pleased with the implication. Then Joseph dreamed that the sun, moon and eleven stars bowed to him. His brothers and father were not impressed. The story had two aspects: one) the truth of the future for Joseph was accurate and two) the way Joseph presented it to his brothers and father. Perhaps part of it was simple youthfulness-lacking-tact, but the way the brothers and father reacted, the tension resembled a family dynamic where one was ‘lording’ it over the others. There might have been a little pridefulness and arrogance. Was it so much that it contributed to the seed of jealousy and bitterness that resulted in his being sold to slavery later? Not that Joseph was responsible for their actions, but there was the foundation on which the trouble of his life was built.
The person of Joseph was an archetype of Jesus. He is one of the few about which there is nothing sinful written.
The next years of Joseph’s life would be humiliating and undermining of his spirit and life. It would test him before the truth of the dreams would become a reality.
The New Testament lesson in Matthew dealt with the confrontation of Jesus by the Sadducees demanding a sign. They were not interested in learning about Jesus, but only in tripping him up. Their only goal was to humiliate Jesus and to make him look bad. They didn’t really see him as the Messiah and didn’t ‘get it’ that Jesus had access to knowledge and power way beyond what they could imagine.
Jesus saw their falseness and called them evil for it. He gave them the sign of Jonah—three days in the belly foreshadowing his three days in the grave before his resurrection. But they wouldn’t get it.
Joseph had a sign of his future. He may not have handled it well, but it might have also given him hope during the coming nightmarish years he would endure. Jesus offered those who were willing to see a sign of Jonah a glimpse into the future of his life—the key aspect of the Good News—that Jesus would rise again from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus separated Christianity from all other religions. Jesus offered that glimpse and yet the Sadducees refused to see it.
We must see the signs of God at work in our own lives. Studying the Word and keeping our minds open to God’s leading helps us recognize the signs when they show up in our lives. We can ignore them, or be sensitive to God’s leading. The results can be stellar like Joseph’s life or they can be devastating like the Sadducees. God gives us a chance, every day.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Click on the Scriptures for links to biblegateway.com, where many translations of the same text enhance the understanding the readings, which come from the (RCL) Revised Common Lectionary – Daily Lectionary
Readings. I add a Daily Prayer to bless you with God’s Favor.
Enjoy the Daily Encouragement and Bible Study and may you be inspired to be your best self for Ordinary 19, Proper 14.
Ordinary 19, Proper 14
Blessed are They Whose Ways are Blameless – Zion Christian Press
Joseph’s Dream of Stars
Illustration by Owen Jones from “The History of Joseph and His Brethren” (Day & Son, 1869). Scanned and archived at http://www.OldBookArt.com where it was marked as Public Domain. Wikipedia CCL
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Ordinary 19, Proper 14
Christ Be My Leader — Michael Walther
Ordinary 19, Proper 14Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20105:1-6,%2016-22,%2045b;Genesis%2037:5-11;Matthew%2016:1-4&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV
(multiple versions)
Saturday, Ordinary 19, Proper 14
Psalm 105:1-6
Psalm 105:16-22
Psalm 105:45
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
King James Version (KJV)
6 Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
King James Version (KJV)
5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:
Joseph’s Dream of Sheaves Bowing; Image from page 37 of “Bible primer, Old Testament, for use in the primary department of Sunday schools” (1919) Internet Archive Book Images, flickr CCL
7 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.
8 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.
9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
Joseph’s Dream — Image from page 26 of “Chap-books of the eighteenth century” (1882); Internet Archive Book Images; flickr CCL
10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, you are gracious to us. The signs you have given us are clear and true. We can count on your promises. Empower us to keep the faith, even as Joseph did, when he say the sign and believed. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Ordinary 19, Proper 14 Music
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise — Jaron and Katherine Kamin
Ordinary 19, Proper 14 Humor
Good Versus Evil
©Jeff Larson, Used by permission
Make Me a Captive Lord – Dimitar Dimitrov
I hope you found a chance to encounter your Creator and experience the Love of God and the joy of Christ in Ordinary 19, Proper 14.
Conclusion
Saturday, Ordinary 19, Proper 14 shared testimonies of signs and wonders. Joseph’s dreams foretold the future of his rise to power, but his journey would first go through many years of frustrations, false accusations and disasters.
Jesus offered signs and miracles to anyone who would hear, but recognized those that would not be willing to believe. The Sadducees preferred their power as rulers of the Jews to learning about the truth of salvation.
We have choices in our lives. Will we choose like the Sadducees or be like Joseph and endure hardships without complaint; suffering and rising to the challenge, until that day when God brings us victoriously to the specified time where we, like Joseph, will see our dreams come true.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. Please like if it was meaningful. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
Please like if you are blessed and don’t hesitate to comment or contact me. I love hearing from you.
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