Dear God,
What about my broken dreams?
(Gen 37 : 1-11 ; 41 : 37-43)
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
— Genesis 50 : 20
The Story of Joseph
Joseph was the tenth and favourite son of his father, Jacob, who had twelve sons. In his sleep, God gave Joseph dreams that meant his brothers would one day be his subjects. Jealous and angry, his ten older brothers schemed against him. They sold him as a slave, and told their father that a wild beast killed him.
Joseph wound up in Egypt as a slave to an official’s household. The Bible tells us that the LORD was with him and gave him success in everything he did, so his master put him in charge of his household. Yet after refusing the advances of the mistress of the household, he was wrongfully accused and was thrown in prison.
Even in prison, God’s favour followed Joseph such that the warden entrusted the prison to his care. There, Joseph spend two years, seemingly forgotten, his dreams done for.
Two years later, the Pharaoh had dreams that troubled him. By God’s design, Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s gift of interpreting dreams, and called for him. Joseph told him that God will cause seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine in the land.
Pharaoh, seeing how God is with Joseph, put Joseph in charge of the country. Under Joseph’s administration, Egypt harvested the abundance to weather the famine. The abundance provided for even those outside of Egypt, including Jacob’s family and Joseph’s brothers. Jacob moved his family to be with Joseph in Egypt. There, Jacob’s descendants grew into a nation. So, against all odds, God brought his dream for Joseph to pass.
Discussion Questions
Recall a recent disappointment that you faced. What was the extent of the damage left by the disappointment?
Despite the circumstances of Joseph’s downward-spiralling life, the Egyptians could see that “the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did” (Gen 39:3-4, see also 39:21-22; 41:38-40). If you were Joseph, what might you say is the reason for this anomaly?
To Joseph, the culmination of his big dream was not in attaining the position of power as second-only-to-Pharaoh, but rather in the fulfilment of God’s redemptive purpose, which is “the saving of many lives” (Gen 50:20). Read also Paul’s description of himself in Philippians 3 : 7-14. What do Joseph and Paul teach us about the qualities of a solid dream?
Read Psalms 37 : 3 - 6. How does these commands and promises speak to your hopes and desires?
Have you talked to God lately about your hopes and dreams? Take some time with the prompt below to write and ask God about it in your letter. “Dear God…”
In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.
— Hebrew 2 : 10
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
— Matthew 11 : 28-30
PRAYER JOURNALLING:
WRITING A “DEAR GOD” LETTER
This week, continue a letter to God, writing about the question:
“Dear God…What about my broken dreams?
Honesty before God about your dreams is a great way to start the new year. Pour it out…what are your dreams, no matter how impossible they seem?
Honesty about your disappointments and broken dreams are a place of prayer to meet with God. Let him hear your heart.