Genesis 42:8-9 – “Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. ⁹ Then Joseph remembered the dreams he had dreamed about them, and he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see if our land is vulnerable!”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, some thought-provoking things filled my consciousness.  In Genesis 42, we have an account of Joseph meeting his brothers for the first time since their treachery.  Here in verses 8-9, we are informed that he recognized them, but they did not recognize him.  Then it says, “Then Joseph remembered the dreams he had dreamed about them.”

I find it interesting that such a compelling dream would have been forgotten.  Maybe it was not forgotten, but as with delayed words from God, put on the back burner.   You can’t make them happen, and over time, they lose their luster and fade from our consciousness.   We no longer pray about them or make preparations to receive them.   They are just another wishful word, not a life-changing force.  The word or dream from God is still that, but how we treat it changes.  It no longer guides our conscious decisions.

Joseph’s remembering set a whole course of events into motion. His remembering guided his actions. He tested them and conditioned them.  In the second encounter, he revealed his identity and set the stage for them to embrace the dream.   Genesis 45:3-7, Joseph made an astounding statement of trust: “God sent me ahead of you to preserve life.”

Wait a minute.  Who sent you to Egypt?  Your brother sold you as a slave!  Joseph’s trust in God, remembrance of the dreams, and hope in the covenant of Abraham enabled him to see life from a divine perspective rather than a “woe is me” attitude. He demonstrated what Paul learned: contentment because of confidence in God.

In Genesis 50, after Jacob died, the brothers concocted a plan of self-preservation. Joseph’s response was a revelation of his revelation of God and covenant. He said, “Don’t worry! I’m not blaming you. I don’t justify your wrong, but God engineered this. You intended to end me. You meant it for evil, but God had a plan you could not stop! We are all part of His promise to Abraham.”

Would to God that we could cease making every event about us and see God’s bigger purpose.  Those dreams, visions, and prophetic promises you have received are to be landmarks and road signs, not fanciful wishes.  Every event of our lives provides an opportunity to become!  Those troubles you are begging God to deliver you from may well be the honing stones to prepare you for the greatness of His purpose.  They may be designed to shape you, so you have the capacity and insight to take the next step.  It is not about us!

God will turn every tragedy into triumph, but first shapes us so the triumph doesn’t puff us up and destroy us.

LORD, help us to remember the dreams and visions you have birthed in our hearts!