The Dream Haters

Joseph was not only the favorite Jacob’s twelve sons, he found favor with Pharaoh and with the jail keepers where he was held captive. Many who read Joseph's story will discover that he had a unique gift (an interpreter of dreams), and was hated by his brothers.

As a result of their jealousy and hatred, Joseph's brothers had him thrown in a pit. He was left for dead, sold into slavery, lied on by his boss’ wife, put in prison.

Initially, life was good for Jacob and his sons. But just as Joseph had prophesied, famine struck the land of Canaan. Shortly thereafter, the brothers grew hungry as well as their families and cattle. They heard rumors about grain being in abundance in Egypt. .Also hearing the rumor was Joseph's father Jacob, who tells his sons that they must go down to Egypt to get grain.

Now any normal individual consumed by hunger would have rushed on down to get something to eat, but the dream haters (Joseph's brothers in this case) were not so eager. When Jacob, their father, told them that they should go to Egypt to get grain, they said nothing.

Levi looked at his brother Simeon; Reuben looked at Judah etc. Just the mention of Egypt brought back the terrible memories of something they had done years before; something they did not want to think about. Egypt was where they sold their innocent brother Joseph, maybe even to his death.

All of Jacob's sons left except Benjamin, the youngest. Benjamin was Joseph's full brother and half brother to the other ten.

The trip to Egypt was not a good one for the brothers. They quarreled among themselves about what they had done to Joseph some 13 years earlier. Each one blamed the other. Levi blamed Simeon, who was the oldest of Jacob's sons at the time Joseph was thrown in the pit.

In fact, Simeon harbored a lot of guilt because he was the one who asked Joseph, "What will come of your dreams now, Dreamer?" Reuben harbored a lot of guilt because he was the one that left Joseph in the cistern crying out for help. Even though the brothers knew what they did to Joseph was wrong, they kept the secret buried in their hearts so that their father would not hear about it and die from sorrow.

They knew that Jacob, their father, loved Joseph. Therefore, the secret about their hatred and wrongdoings remained among them.

The trip to Egypt was complicated for the dream haters. After they arrived, they were accused of being spies. During the confrontation with the governor (who is the brother they left in a hole to die), the young men were very afraid. They had never encountered such a powerful man who was angry with them. They thought to themselves, " We have lied so long in the past and gotten away with it, now that we are telling the truth, this governor doesn't believe us.

A great deal had happened to Joseph since being thrown in the pit. He had been released from jail and moved up the ranks to governor as a result of his dream interpreting ability.

While the brothers were in Egypt to get grain for their families, Joseph thought of a plan which would ensure that he meet his brother, Benjamin and his father Jacob, who thought his son was dead. As part of his plan, Joseph confronts his brothers, accuses them of being spies, and throws one of them in jail.

Simeon understood how Joseph felt some years earlier because he now had to face some undeserved jail time.

Joseph was filled with wisdom and favor. The schemes and plans perpetrated by others to do him harm were turned into blessings for Joseph. God blessed him immensely. He was ruler in Egypt and his brothers. They all had to answer to him. Joseph knew his brothers but they did not know him.

The brothers' actions had caught up with them. They had to go and get their younger brother, Benjamin, in exchange for their brother Simeon. The brothers were very troubled. How could they tell their father that the only son left from his beautiful wife had to go to Egypt to be exchanged for his brother?

When Jacob heard about what had been done, he was sorely grieved. But he was not the only one who grieved. Simeon sat in the dungeon. While there he had lots of time to remember regrettably what he had allowed to happen to his brother. Little did he know that he was talking to the brother for whom he grieved.

At the same time Joseph's brothers and father grieved over all that had happened over the years. Joseph went to sleep crying because he had seen his brothers burdened with guilt, crying because years of jealousy and hatred kept him separated from his family and ailing father, who was now dying. Lastly, Joseph was crying because he saw God at work, not just to save Egypt, but also to help his brothers who hated him and plotted his demise simply because he dared to dream.

We are all asked to dream and act to make that dream a reality. While we may not endure all that Joseph did, we will encounter some dream haters. We must not let this hinder us, but work tirelessly to make our dreams come true. Just as He did in Joseph’s situation, God will reward us for our endeavors.

By: Naomi Brown