The life of Joseph, the dreamer, teaches us foundational truths to assist us in reaching our dreams. His personal challenges, sibling rivalries, blatant temptations and false imprisonment would cause a lesser man to throw in the towel and give up. I am convinced that change happens by choice not by chance.
I heard a quote recently that stated, “If your memories are bigger then your dreams, then you are already dead.” Throughout the stages in Joseph’s life he relied on his dreams to keep him moving forward from the pain of his past. He made a choice to give his best regardless of the path that brought him there.
Joseph had:
1. Ability To See: Vision
2. Ability To Speak: Confidence
3. Ability to Believe: Faith
Lastly he possesses the . . .
4. Ability To Press On: Tenacity
How do we continue when life has knocked us to the canvas of life? How can we keep moving forward when every step seems to create a new problem?
In Joseph’s life we see how the enemy tried to strip him of the hope of the dream. Satan could not take the dream away from him because he did not give it to him. He could however, attempt to take his hope away and in essence cause Joseph to give up on his dream.
We must identify how the enemy works:
1. He Will Attempt To Use Those Closest To Us To Discourage The Dream.
It amazes me how very few parents or siblings actual support the dreams of others today. Like Joseph’s brothers, they want you to settle for life like they have. It is not always out of hate but from loving protection that a parent will unknowingly discourage the dreams of their children. I am not implying that your family is the enemy but I am saying that they can be sincere and still be sincerely wrong.
2. He Will Strip Us Of Our Identity
The enemy must remove our identity in order to void our destiny. On three different occasions Joseph’s clothing is removed. First, his coat of many colors given by his father is taken by his jealous brothers. This was an attempt to take his favor. Second, his house coat of authority in Potiphar’s house is ripped off him by Potiphar’s wife in an attempt to sleep with him. She was not pulling on his coat; she was pulling on his destiny. Lastly, his prison garments are removed as he prepared to stand before Pharaoh. His graduation day came, today was his day of promotion. His days of trouble are now over.
3. He Tries To Place Us Under The Bondage Of Another
This one is very interesting. Once in the pit and his murder reconsidered, his brothers sell him into slavery to their distance cousins the Ishmaelite. The one with a promise is held captive by those without the promise. It is amazing that the son of promise is sold into bondage to what Galatians 4:22-23 calls the, “human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise.”
You see Ishmael the first born of Abraham was not considered the son of promise because it was a human attempt and his mother was a slave. Isaac was the son of promise because he was born of a free woman, with a promise and it was “God’s own fulfillment of his promise.”
How many times are we held captive by those without a promise on their lives? Our bosses, supervisors, spouses, parents or siblings words of doubt have taken us captive. Joseph’s body may have been in bondage but his spirit, integrity and mind were free to dream!
To his credit, Joseph continues to serve with honor. I can’t change the circumstance so I will control what I can, me. He does his best to serve with honor & excellence.
Make a choice today to remember the enemy didn’t give you the dream, so the enemy can’t take it away.
Next, how to respond to setbacks.
Tags:
bondage,
change,
choice,
discourage,
dream,
identity 
