You Can’t Tell It All!

One of the things that gets us in more trouble is the things we say. It’s like when we can get new information, we can’t wait to tell it. While Joseph is said to have wound up in trouble for telling his dreams, was it that he spoke it, or was speaking it confirmation of the will of God for later when it came to pass?

9And 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. Genesis 37:9 (KJV)

Joseph had already offended his brothers when he told them his first dream of them bowing down to him. They already resented the privileged position he had with his father, who had made him a coat of many colors, quite an honor in those days. Then he has another dream, and it includes his mother and father bowing down to him. This took the cake for the whole family – who did Joseph think he was?

Looking at his plight, and the result which wound up having him sold to traders and then causing his father untold sorrow because his brothers brought his coat of many colors with blood on it, saying he had been killed by an animal – in retrospect was Joseph telling his dreams wise?

I have often thought on this. Maybe he should have held his dream to himself, or maybe only shared it with his father who dearly loved him. I don’t know. Maybe Joseph would still have wound up in Egypt and still become prime minister during the time of the worst famine to hit the region. However, would we have record that God showed part of this to Joseph prior to it happening?

These are questions that we can’t answer, though many try. The ways of God are often a mystery, complete with twists and turns and sometimes captivities. The result however is multiplied blessings, beyond the little we think we see, even beyond our wildest expectation.

In reference to telling our dreams, as a general rule it is good to seek God as to what to do with a dream. God appoints people in our lives to help us through times and seasons we don’t understand. One thing is for sure, it would not be wise to tell a brother or sister anything good who already has ought with you!

Maria