Dream Interpreters of the Bible - Joseph (Part 1) by Barbie Breathitt

By Barbie Breathitt
Joseph is another amazing dreamer and dream interpreter of the Bible. His life was literally mapped out by his own God-given dreams and the dreams he interpreted for others. Joseph's dreams foretold his destiny though a map of parabolic metaphor. In time, the powerful imagery revealed meaning that moved his heart and changed the destiny of the dreamer as well as those around him. In short, God used Joseph's dreams to guide him. He gave him the gift of interpretation to lead and guide others, and favor to eventually guide a kingdom.
Dream Interpreters of the Bible - Joseph (Part 1) by Barbie Breathitt
 
 
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Joseph is another amazing dreamer and dream interpreter of the Bible. His life was literally mapped out by his own God-given dreams and the dreams he interpreted for others. Joseph's dreams foretold his destiny though a map of parabolic metaphor. In time, the powerful imagery revealed meaning that moved his heart and changed the destiny of the dreamer as well as those around him. In short, God used Joseph's dreams to guide him. He gave him the gift of interpretation to lead and guide others, and favor to eventually guide a kingdom. This unique journey of a relationship with God led Joseph down, down, down to the pit, to slavery, to the dungeon, and finally up to stand before the palace's throne to rule by Pharaoh's side.
 
God gave Joseph an understanding of dream symbols. Joseph practiced his gift at the bottom rungs of society before God promoted him to the top where he stood before royal kings. Joseph was seventeen years old when he had a prophetic dream about his life as it related to his family and the tribe of Israel. The number seventeen means victory, spiritual order, and election. God elected to wait until Joseph was seventeen to give him two significant dreams that brought his life into spiritual order (Genesis 37:2–4). If we will believe and fight for the dreams that are given to us in our youth they will come true and carry us through life!
 
The patriarch Jacob gives the account of Joseph's dreams. Joseph was Jacob's favorite son, who was born to him in his old age. To display his special love for Joseph he had a richly ornamented and embroidered color saturated coat designed for him. The multi-colors of his coat may have been inspired by the rich colors of the rainbow, which could indicate the hand of covenant resting upon Joseph. God's covenant word points to the time when God promised his Spirit would be poured out upon all flesh (Acts 2). In Isaiah 11:2 it speaks of the seven spirits of God, which sequentially correspond to the seven colors of the rainbow. These same seven colors are also displayed in the fiery flames of the lampstands in the book of Revelation. We will discuss colors more in depth in the chapter on color to follow.
 
Joseph's stepbrothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than any of them. The jealousy in their hearts caused them to hate him. One of Joseph's responsibilities was to tend the flocks along with his stepbrothers. His brothers had nothing good to say about him. Returning evil for evil, Joseph often brought their father bad reports about them.
 
Given to Dreams
 
Like many in the Middle East, Joseph was given to dreams. Lacking maturity, humility, and wisdom he spouted them off to his brothers who took issue with his hasty, arrogant dreams. He said to them, "Listen to this wonderful dream I had: We were all binding golden sheaves of grain out in the field (circle of influence, life) when suddenly my bundle rose and stood upright elevated above yours, (promotion to a high place of leadership) while your sheaves humbly gathered around mine and bowed (submitting to his authority, servanthood) down to it." His brothers snarled at him, "Do you intend to reign over us? Will the likes of you actually rule us?" They hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.
 
Shortly thereafter, Joseph 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 submitting to me."
 
When he told his father and his eleven brothers, his father reprimanded him and said, "What is this dreaming you do? Will your mother (moon) and I (sun) and your brothers (stars) actually come and bow down to the ground before you?"
 
His brothers' envy and jealous hatred toward him grew, but his father kept brooding and pondering over the matter of Joseph's dreams of destiny. Jacob may have recognized that God's hand was on Joseph in a special way even from his birth.
 
This second encouraging dream depicts Joseph's family members in a positive light. The chosen heavenly symbols of the sun, moon, and stars depict their great abilities to shine above others. God planned for them to become the patriarchs of the nation of Israel. This second dream reveals the vast magnitude of Joseph's rule and influence over the nations of the world, not just his own family.
 
When Jacob was presented with Joseph's blood-soaked garment, had he properly discerned the two dreams, he would have realized that Joseph had met with his stepbrothers' wrath and foul play. Jacob would have realized Joseph's death was only staged. Jacob should have known this because of the two repeating dreams and the law of double meaning that affirms destiny. When a dream from God is repeated it indicates that God is establishing that thing and it will shortly come to pass. Jacob believed the lie, assumed the worst, succumbed to his grief and despair and fell into depression. He refused to be comforted by his remaining children. God intends for us to get hold of our emotions, and stop letting them run wild blowing things out of proportion. God wants us to be led by the Spirit and respond accordingly.
 
These two dreams set Joseph, his brothers and the lineage of Jacob (the nation of Israel), on a course that would lead them into captivity in Egypt and deliverance from the famine. God had programmed Joseph's future path in his dreams that led him to fulfill his destiny as an Egyptian ruler.
 
The greatest power in the universe is love.
 
Dr. Barbie L. Breathitt