From "Self" to "Selfless" (Dreams of Joseph)

Joseph, (11th Son of Jacob) is a very well-known character from the Old Testament.

The Name 'Joseph' means "May Jehovah add/give increase".  Joseph was gifted with Dreams / Interpretation of Dreams.

But God used this Gift in Joseph to make him Grow/Mature in God. As we read about these dreams, we will realize how God molded Joseph through each dream.

First stage: (Only "I or me" and "No God" Stage)

Genesis 37:5-9 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”

8 His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

 -> We observe the words "I" and "Me" but no mention of God in these Dreams. Many times in our Spiritual Life, we go through this stage where our words/dreams are restricted to only I, Me and you. This is "Only Me and No God stage".

Second stage: (Both "God" and "Me" Stage)

Genesis 40:6-8 - 6 When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. 

7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?”

8 “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”

Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

->  In this Dream, Joseph uses the word "God" but also uses "Me". This is "Both God and Me stage". This stage is better than the first one, but still there is no complete surrender to God! In this stage, we allow God to work in our Life but still have our own way/view on it.

Third stage: (Only God and No "I or Me" Stage)

Genesis 41: 15,16 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

16 "I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

-> In this Dream,  Joseph replies to Pharaoh, "I cannot Do it" but "God"!! This is the Stage where God wants us to be at all times. All of Joseph's gifts are completely surrendered to God.

In Galatians 2:20 Paul makes this daring statement,

" I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

-> Let our "I's" and "Me's" be totally crucified with Christ. And all our Desires / Dreams / Visions be completely surrendered to Christ so that He may Break us, Make us and Mould us according to His will. When our Lives reach this stage, God will make us the real Joseph (To Add / Increase).

Which stage are we in our walk with Christ??

Prayer: "He must increase, but I must decrease" John 3:30

God Bless you!