The Young Dreamer By Anna Darlene Edmondson
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good…” (Romans 8:28 ESV)
On several occasions, I was late for supper and Mom yelled, “You’d better make a beeline toward home, young lady!” I didn’t know the meaning of ‘beeline’ then, but since learned it’s a direct route to a certain destination without detours. On that note, let’s look at a character in Genesis named Joseph. Highly favored, perhaps Joseph imagined the dreams God gave would carry him along an easy path without potholes. So far so good…that is, until he shared the visions with his family. Jealous hatred entered his brothers’ hearts, and they formed a different opinion of how Joseph’s life should end. They conspired murder, but sold him to traveling merchants instead. Eventually, the young dreamer became property of an Egyptian official.
Together with leaving his homeland (Canaan), his mother, Rachel's, death, and the possibility of never seeing his father, Jacob, again, Joseph hit bottom, literally (Genesis 37:24). To add fuel to the flame, the Hebrew slave was falsely accused of rape and thrown into prison. Tortured both inwardly and outwardly, Joseph trusted God. By correctly interpreting the Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph found release from bondage. These adversities prepared Joseph for the deliverance of countless lives including his birth family. We learn that the Lord’s purpose will be accomplished in all people. Sometimes, as seen in Joseph’s life, God allows gut-wrenching heartaches to bring about a greater good (Genesis 39-45). Even though tormented, Joseph’s character remained Christlike, showing forgiveness “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). How might we change, if we believed, "He who began a good work in us will complete it?"
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