THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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Sometimes younger people don't understand what's happening....usually 'cause they aren't LISTENING.
Grandmother was concerned about Suzy's vocabulary. Frequently she advised the child concerning her chosen words. One day, she said, "Suzy, I would like you to do something for me. Would you please promise not to use two words? One is 'swell' and the other is 'lousy.'"
Suzy asked, "Sure Grandma, what are the two words?"
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Gen 37:5-17
5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:
7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.
8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
9 And 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.
10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.
12 And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.
13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.
14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?
16 And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.
17 And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.
KJV
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We can't get the entire story of Joseph here, but here are a couple things we can learn from this part of the story.
These dreams undoubtedly caused the fires of hatred to flame even higher. Joseph told the dreams. Did he not know that he would anger them? Even though he was only 17, and unfamiliar with worldly ways, he was surely "rubbing the cat the wrong way." Joseph told the dreams in innocence, because he certainly didn't want to anger his father. And the brothers envied Joseph, but his father listened.
We who believe the Bible is God's truth, do certainly have a direct revelation from God. However, there are many with whom we converse that don't KNOW the Bible, let alone BELIEVE it. It is best to give testimony about what God has done in our lives before we try and pound the truth into someone else.
Shechem is about fifty miles North of Hebron. That may give us some idea of how LARGE Jacob's flocks were. Joseph willingly made the trip. How many of us would willingly go where we KNEW we were unwanted?
Sometimes it's difficult to share Jesus with someone because they don't allow friendships easily. It is best to make friends with someone before sharing the gospel. Start with your neighbor!
Joseph didn't find the brothers where they were supposed to be. How many times has our Saviour come to us and not found us where we ought to be? (IE. in church, in prayer, in Bible study, in witnessing, etc.)
God DOES want to USE Christians. Let us start by being where we are supposed to be!
Love ya,
Bruce