When talking about dreams, I think about Joseph and the dream that got him thrown into a pit, (Genesis 37:5). In the past, I missed the point where Joseph had a second dream, Genesis 37:9, about the same thing.    Joseph’s dreams were so powerful that his family could not accept the content of the dream because it seemed to show them in an unfavorable situation.  So, his brothers plotted against him and thus Joseph’s journey began.  We often hear the message “From the Pit to the Palace” describing Joseph journey.  I would like for us to take a second look at the life of Joseph after he was thrown in the pit.

So often when God gives us a dream, we think it is about us.  We go about trying to figure out what to do, trying to work out the details of the dream and we never do because it is about God and His plan.  Joseph’s dream turned out to be about serving.  He serves as a slave in Potiphar’s house; he serves while in prison, he serves the butcher and the baker by interpreting their dreams; he serves Pharaoh by interpreting his dream, he serves as the King's right hand man to prepare Egypt for years of famine on the earth.  Joseph eventually serves his family as they come to Egypt for food and serves his family again by moving them to Egypt.

Joseph states in Genesis 45:5, “But now do not therefore be grieved with yourselves because you sold me here.  For God sent me before you to preserve life.”  In verse 7 he goes on to say, “God sent me before you to preserve a prosperity for you in the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”  This sounds like Jesus, who was sent to save lives through a great deliverance also.  No wonder Joseph is a type of Jesus. 

God knows the end from the beginning.  He knew every step that would take place in order to get Joseph in the right place at the right time.  God gave Jospeh a dream knowing he would tell his family about it, knowing his siblings would turn on him, knowing he would be sold into slavery, knowing he would suffer many things, knowing he would maintain his integrity, knowing he would eventually rise to the top and be in position to be used of God to bring about a great deliverance.

We all have dreams, and my dream from God was about pastoring his sheep.  I thought I would pastor a church or marry a pastor and co-pastor a church.  I believed the dream; I just did not understand the dream.  After years of sharing my dreams with pastors and being shut down, God one day spoke to my heart.  You are caring for my sheep; therefore, you are shepherding, pastoring them.  I have been serving God by caring for and feeding his sheep.  It was not about me, but about how God wanted me to serve him.  The same is true for you.  People speak of purpose, and not knowing their purpose, I tell them to start serving, start doing something for others and eventually you will find your place in the service of God.  It is not about you; it is about how God wants to use you.  Make yourself available!