Preparation Before Promise: Part 1

But Joseph dreamed yet another dream and told it to his brothers [also]. He said, See here, I have dreamed again, and behold, [this time not only] eleven stars [but also] the sun and the moon bowed down and did reverence to me! Gen. 37:9

What an exciting and fulfilling experience it is for God Himself to reveal His purpose for you. It’s a beautiful thing to receive a Word from the Lord. The God of the universe has zeroed in on you to speak to you about His plans for your life. What a blessing! I believe that many of God’s people are in a place where they have received a promise from God, but are in a season of preparation. Or as we like to sometimes call it, “the process.” I believe within that process, there is preparation taking place. In the time of preparation God is building your character and developing your trust in Him. He’s not a God who would set you up to fail. That’s why before He brings you to the place of promise, He has to straighten out the kinks in your character that would cause you to blow it.

There are a few things that Joseph had to learn as a young man before he came into what God had prepared for Him.

1. Humility – As we see in Genesis 37:3, Joseph was loved more than his brothers and he knew it. Their father Jacob treated him as the favorite. In verse 2, the bible says while he was shepherding the flock with his brothers, he brought his father a bad report of them. He was a tattle-tale. Sometimes, we need to learn to cover other people in love and not point out their flaws as if we have none. In verses 13 & 14 we see his father send him to check on his brothers as they were shepherding the flock in Shechem. Why wasn’t Joseph with them already? He was an able-bodied young man; surely he could work. He was spoiled. God gave him 2 dreams about what He had planned for Joseph. In verses 6 & 7, we see Joseph telling his dream to his brothers who hated him. In verse 8, we see their reaction was less than favorable. So why in verse 9 would he brag about having another dream about God’s awesome plan for his life? This young man was the crème of the crop in that family and he knew it. However, he needed to learn humility before God could raise him up. We see this as he went from the favored, spoiled son to a slave and prisoner. What are the areas of your life where you see God is humbling you? Teaching you how to serve rather than be served…learning to submit to authority rather than others submitting to you. A good leader must first be a good follower.
    
2. 
   Reliance on God – As a young man, Joseph was accustomed to being favored by his father, Jacob. But now we see in Genesis 39, Joseph learning to rely on the favor of his Heavenly Father. Joseph prospered in all that he did because the Lord was with him. Joseph had to understand that it was God who kept and provided for him. It was God who blessed him and had a purpose for his life. It was the hand of God on his life that caused him to be favored by Potiphar and the keeper of the prison. Despite of his struggles, he had to learn that God was with him. He had to trust God to bring him to the place of promise despite of what he saw and endured, just as you should. The bible says that “God watches over his word to perform it” (Jer. 1:12). He’s watching over your situation to make sure His word comes to pass.

I believe Joseph went through the process that many of us are going through right now. Be encouraged as you allow the Holy Spirit to work in and around you. Remember, it’s God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). Embrace this time and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you in your circumstances. Humble yourself under the Mighty Hand of God that He may exalt you in due season, casting all your cares on Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7).

Stay Encouraged,

A.M.