ESOCS Devotional 10 October 2023 -Be a Helper Not a Destroyer of Dreams
MEMORY VERSE: ““Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” Genesis 37:20
TEXT: GENESIS 37:12 – 24 (KJV)
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.
18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.
19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.
20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.
22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.
23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;
24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
In life, there are three (3) classes or grouping of people which are not easily obvious but the effect of their actions are undeniable. These classes are (a) the helpers (b) the destroyers and (c) the unconcerned. These groups affect us in our life’s journey to destiny fulfilment.
Life is wrapped up in dreams. When those dreams are positive and fulfilled, it gives rise to joy and the birth of a destiny. And this birth of destiny brings blessing to follow men and glory to God.
The brothers of Joseph knew that he has a dream. Their feelings towards him indicate that they are hostile to him because of his dreams. They never thought of the impact of his dream towards them when it is fulfilled. I believe they were more concerned with the advantaged position the fulfilment of Joseph’s dream will put him and then decides to destroy the dreams. Every dream that made it to the earth is for the good of all and it is to be fulfilled by a man.
However, when the dream is fulfilled, it will certainly put the one who dreamed it and brought it to fulfilment in an advantaged position.
So, the destroyers of dreams knowing this would not want the dreamer to fulfil his dreams because of the glory attached to it. For Joseph’s brothers they believed his dreams will put him above them in life and they don’t want that, so they plotted to destroy it. The dreams stirred cruel envy in them.
Talking about dreams, some are given by divine inspiration and some are by personal aspirations. While some are some human imaginations believed to be a solution to a human problem prevalent in human societies when fulfilled.
Dream destroyers understand what they can do for it to be destroyed. For Joseph’s brothers they believe killing him will kill the dream.
Beloved, we are children of God. God is love. Love helps and does not destroy. Lord Jesus Christ said in John 10:10 “the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, I am come that they might have life…” Brethren, we belong to Jesus, therefore, we bring life to anything we are involved with and not death.
Be a helper of dreams. If you have the means support anyone with a good dream.
God is the rewarder of all helpers. Any dream you are aware of and you have the capacity to help or you know anyone who has the capacity to help or you know anyone who has the capacity to help out and that can listen to you, encourage such a one to help. Our lives and communities would be the better for it.
- How will you respond to someone who needs your help to fulfil a dream?
- Father, in your power and mercy keep me protected and preserved from dream destroyers.
FURTHER READING: Genesis 1:20–23; Mark 1:14–20; Romans 1:18–end
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ESOCS Devotional 10 October 2023
