The dream God gave Joseph was not about him feeling good because he was now the number two guy in Egypt, but about positioning him to feed his family and the world in time of famine. When God gives us a dream, it will bless us – and others. The Bible says, ‘God so loved the world’ (John 3:16). When we let Him, God’s will use us to help fulfil His will. From Joseph’s family would come Jesus, the Redeemer of the world, but Joseph’s family was being threatened with extinction. So God put a plan in place which involved Joseph interpreting Pharaoh’s dream and being elevated to the throne so that His plan could be accomplished. Joseph’s story proves that a God-given dream will change our attitude towards others, including those who mistreat us. It will make us more gracious, loving, and forgiving. Remembering how they betrayed him, Joseph’s brothers trembled as they stood before him realising he held their fate in his hands. But he refused to retaliate, or even utter a word about what they’d done. He told them: ‘I will provide for you.’ Instead of revenge, he wanted the relationship restored. He looked beyond their actions and saw God at work in all he’d been through. ‘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 NIV). How we treat others, especially when we’re in a position of authority, is really important. We should never abuse any authority that we may have been given. We need to be treating people how God treats them – with love.

What Now?

Find a quiet space, and ask God to use things that have happened in your past for His good, and for the good of others.