Do you have a dream?

The Journey to the Resting Place of God

(Genesis 37:1-11, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, July 5, 2015)

[37:1] Jacob lived in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan.
[2] These are the generations of Jacob.
Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. [3] Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. [4] But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.

God rested on the seventh day from all His works (Genesis 2 and Hebrews 4). Jacob was on a journey to His resting place. The remainder of Jacob's life, though already very remarkable prior to the birth of his favorite son, was largely defined by events surrounding the young man Joseph. So clearly the beloved of his father, Joseph would only reach a glorious end through much trial.

[5] Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. [6] He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: [7] Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” [8] His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

Joseph's dreams were not the source of his brothers' antagonism toward him, but they certainly did not help matters. These dreams were divinely inspired—special acts of God's providence that would find fulfillment in the years to come. Joseph would one day reign over his brothers like a king.

[9] Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” [10] But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” [11] And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

Jacob did not know what to do with Joseph's second dream where even Joseph's father and mother would be placed beneath their great son. Joseph's brothers were jealous, but Jacob “kept the saying in mind.”

Put the Word to Work: Joseph was at the beginning of a journey that would bring him very low before he would be lifted up to a resting place of reigning honor. This same path to glory would one day be traveled by the final King of the Jews and His beloved followers. It is of great aid to us as we face the trials of the journey, to reflect upon the assurances that the Lord has given us regarding our final destination. We shall reign with Christ forever.

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascents—Psalm 132:8

[8] Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.

Gospel Reading—Matthew 23:1-36 – Seven woes to the scribes and the Pharisees