I had a rather vivid dream last night, or more accurately, early this morning. Our fantasy baseball league was preparing to participate in the annual player draft. First on the agenda was the awarding of trophies from last year’s split season. Long story short, this means we have a winner for the first half of the season and a winner for the second half of the season. 

This draft and award ceremony was different from others. There was an audience and a stage, and I was the emcee. I ran from the back of the room and slid onto the stage like a baserunner stealing second. I hopped up, grabbed the mic, and said something devastatingly funny that nobody laughed at. 

Tough crowd. 

Then I woke up. It was only a dream.

Pharaoh dreamed about cows and stalks of grain. The narrative of this part of the chapter ends with the words, “and it was only a dream.”

We remember, of course, how Joseph’s story begins with dreams. His brothers called him “that dream expert” (37:19). It was not spoken in complimentary tones. They probably considered Little Joe’s vivid dreams “only dreams.” But if we keep reading this chapter and what happens next, we discover pretty quickly that when Joseph gets involved with dreams, big things happen. 

Again, long story short, Joseph ended up living the life of his dreams. 

Then what? 

Remember what God said to Abraham? How he blessed him to be a blessing to the whole world? It wasn’t merely Old Abe who was assigned that opportunity and responsibility. God blesses us so that we can bless others. This is true for us in terms of wealth and responsibility. It is also true for us in matters like grief. The Apostle Paul writes about these matters extensively in 2 Corinthians chapters 1, 8, and 9. 

As we have been blessed, we are to bless. 

You know what this means, right? It means I will win my fantasy baseball league again this year. Or not. 

What this means is that when God gives a dream, when God gives blessings, we are to pay attention, and we are to live aligned with the truth he has made known. 

It is interesting that the Joseph of Genesis and the Joseph of the Gospels received dreams from God. Interestingly, we don’t see this kind of communication from God to people more often. In other words, let’s be careful about thinking our dreams are more important than they are. Let’s make sure anything we think might be God’s dream for us is affirmed by the truths of the Bible and confirmed by wise leaders who walk with God.

We are among the most blessed people who have ever lived. We are richer than kings of old. As God has blessed us, let us live lives of scandalous generosity. Live with an open hand. It is only open hands that God can fill. 

Pharaoh, Joseph’s brothers, and even his father did not give Joe’s dream expertise the weight they should have until they did. The brothers said, “It’s only a dream.” Jacob said, “It’s only a dream?” Pharaoh said, “It’s only a dream.” 

Joseph said, “Here’s what God is saying.” He listened to God carefully and obeyed him fully. He saved a nation, his brothers, and his father. Wake up, listen up, and do what God says. It’s the best thing for everyone. Always. 

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I will listen to God carefully and obey him immediately.

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Our Father, hearing and obeying you is the best thing I can do for me, mine, and everyone else. Develop in me a disposition that says, “Whatever you want, that’s what I want to.” Form in me a ready obedience. Fill my heart and mind with your dreams and your directions. Thank you that all of your paths lead us ever closer to your heart. Amen.