“Dreamer”

SERMON FOR RCW BACCALAUREATE

At Emden Christian Reformed Church

 Renville, MN            

    "Jacob settled in the land where his father had lived as an alien, the land of Canaan. This is the story of the family of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father.

      Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.

    Once Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream that I dreamed. There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright; then your sheaves gathered around it, and bowed down to my sheaf.”

    His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Are you indeed to have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more because of his dreams and his words. He had another dream, and told it to his brothers, saying, “Look, I have had another dream: the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

     But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him, and said to him, “What kind of dream is this that you have had? Shall we indeed come, I and your mother and your brothers, and bow to the ground before you?”

     So his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind." (Genesis 37:1-11)

   At 17, Joseph had everything going for him. 

   He already had a steady job with a secure future, one that allowed him plenty of free time and space to roam.  He was an apprentice shepherd, a helper, to his older half brothers who watched over their father’s flocks and guided them to pastures near and far. 

   Joseph was his father’s favorite son, next to the baby, Benjamin. Whatever Joseph wanted, if Jacob could make it happen for him, he would.  And Jacob, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Abraham, was a wealthy farmer with a great deal of land, livestock, and servants.

   Joseph was nice looking, too. Women noticed how handsome he was. And Joseph loved to show off his fabulous, one-of-a-kind coat that his aging father had made especially for him---to show him he loved Joseph best of all.   

    He wore it all the time—as if it were a trophy he had earned, instead of a gracious gift from a loving man who was reminded of Joseph’s beautiful mother, Rachel, every time he looked at him.

    Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin.  She was Jacob’s first and only love, though he had other wives, including Rachel’s not so attractive sister, Leah.  Joseph’s half brothers who tended the flocks were sons of Leah, and Leah and Rachel’s servants. 

     They resented Joseph.  And why shouldn’t they?  Didn’t Joseph tattle on them all the time—bringing bad reports to their father?  Making their father think less of them—and more highly of him?

   And then there was that ridiculous ornate coat that Joseph wore all the time even out in the pastures—just to lord it over them how he was their father’s favorite.

   And those dreams Joseph bragged about all the time. Dreams where they would bow down to him.

   They wanted to shut him up—for good. 

    Black thoughts would lead to black deeds.

   “Dreamer,” they hissed behind his back.   And it sounded like a swear word.

    “Dreamer!”

***

   

     Joseph’s life will abruptly change at 17—when his brothers act on their resentment, throwing him into a pit in the wilderness and leaving him for dead. Merchants come along, pull him out, and then take him to Egypt to sell him into slavery.

    The boy who had everything going for him suddenly finds himself stripped of his identity, family, wealth, and security—all worldly comforts. 

    He doesn’t even have his elegant robe anymore that marked him as special.

   But he is still special. He belongs to the Lord.  And the Lord is with him wherever he goes.

    And the Lord has a plan that Joseph at 17 can’t possibly imagine.

    Joseph has spiritual gifts he doesn’t know about. He has the gift of prophecy that will allow him to interpret dreams.  This gift, which Joseph will recognize is from the Lord, will catapult him to second in command over all Egypt when he is able to interpret pharaoh’s troubling dreams. 

   And Joseph will receive other gifts and help from the Lord throughout his life.  Joseph is a popular leader who will make important decisions that will save thousands of people, including his own family, during a great famine. 

***

        Our graduates have also received gifts and talents from the Lord.          

        God has a plan for each of them that will affect the lives of many people—including their families and friends here in their hometown.

        Some of you, graduates, already have an idea of your identity and purpose and what the Lord will require of you to develop your gifts and talents.

        Some of you aren’t sure, yet, what you will do next.  You may not know what you are good at—and you may not know what gifts and talents the Lord has given you, let alone what you can do to develop them.

        To those who already have definite goals and plans, here is my advice:

        Be open to what the Lord has for you.  Don’t be discouraged if the plans and goals you have now don’t work out the way you expect them to.

       To those of you who do not yet have plans and goals for the future, and to those of you who are fearful about what is to come—take comfort.  God knows your future!  He has planned it. The Bible assures us that the Spirit is perfecting you for good works the Lord has preordained. 

        If you trust Him and allow Him to change you, He will shape you into what He wants you to be. 

***

      Joseph’s life did not turn out as he expected.  But it was because the Lord had something else, something bigger, in mind for Him.   God’s plan was about the salvation of many people—and not just the wellbeing of Joseph and his family.

     Joseph, the man of God, bears little resemblance to Joseph at 17, a petted, spoiled child. He knows his prophetic gifts are from the Lord to be used for others.

     He knows the Lord has made him a dreamer! 

    The best part of Joseph’s story comes at the end, when there is reconciliation. Joseph’s brothers, who thought Joseph was dead, discover that he is not only alive, he is in a position of power and authority over them.  

    They are relieved that he is alive, and are sorry for what they had done.  They seek forgiveness from the brother they now respect and appreciate for who He has become.

    And the dreamer learns to forgive.  God leads him on to do many more great things.

   The Lord never gave up on Joseph. And He will never give up on you!

   Ask Him for a vision for your life, to reveal His will for you through people and circumstances around you. 

   Ask Him to make you a dreamer, too!

   And He will place you where He can best use you and the gifts He has given you.  Just like He did with Joseph.

    Be open.  Be flexible. 

    Don’t be discouraged it it takes a while before you know, really know, what God wants for you. It may take a lifetime.

    And don’t give up on your dreams if you have hardships and suffering.  It doesn’t mean your dreams are wrong!

   The Lord will use hardship and suffering to shape your character, just like He did for Joseph. He does this because He loves you!

    Remember that your identity as God’s precious child will never change, even if the circumstances in your life abruptly change—stripping away your worldly comforts, status, and security.

    You are God’s own.  Today, tomorrow, forever.

    Seek your identity and purpose in Him.

    Hold onto your faith.

    And wherever you go, God will be with you.

    He will lead you on… to do many great things. 

 

Let us pray.

      Thank you, God, for being with us now in this place and for your Word and Spirit that dwells within us.

      Thank you for your plans for us and for the salvation of the world, and for giving us gifts and talents to use for you.

     Show us your will for our lives and give us worthy work. 

    Provide for us, teach us, and lead us, Lord, to develop Your gifts and do many great things in Your name. 

     Guide us to love and serve others. Open our hearts and our eyes to the needs of the poor and help us to give generously.

    Help us to never forget our roots in this community of faith.  Continue to nurture and nourish our faith as you take us to where You want us to go and make us into the people you have planned for us to be. 

     In Christ we pray. Amen.