The Cloud of Witnesses

Former title Lessons From the People of the Bible

Set 1

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Abraham (5) — David (5) — Esther (4) — Gideon (5) — Isaac (6) — Jacob (7) — Job (6) — John the Baptist (6) — Jonah (4) — Jonathan (6) — Joseph (10) — Joseph of Nazareth (6) — Mary (4) — Mary Magdalene (4) — Mary of Bethany (3) — Moses (5) — Nehemiah (8) — Nicodemus (4) — Noah (6) — Paul the Apostle (5) — Peter (5) — Philip (4) — Ruth (7) — King Saul (6) — Stephen (6) — Thomas (4)

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The lessons of set 1 are also available as individual online lessons below.

Set 2

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PDF These lessons are available as PDFs (with the number of lessons in brackets). These PDFs have not yet been updated to the new name.

Andrew (7) — Caleb (7) — Daniel (7) — Elijah (6) — Elisha (5) — Isaiah (21) — John (22) — Joshua (16) — Leah (2) — Luke (22) — Mary Magdalene (3) — Matthew (9) — Miriam (4) — Nahum (2) — Rachel (6) — Rebekah (5) — Samson (5)

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Joseph

Lesson 9: Joseph – The Dream Comes True

Reading

Genesis 46:1-7, 26-34.

The Dream Comes True

Joseph didn’t orchestrate the fulfilment of his dream – he left it to God. Had Joseph forced it, it would probably have been in some field in Canaan on a sunny afternoon while he was still a teenager – a fleeting boost of ego. No, it wasn’t his dream – it was a dream from God. They are best left to the Originator.

Jacob travelled to Egypt. He knew it was not God’s general intention for Israel to go to Egypt. Egypt speaks of earthly help and earthly riches and Jacob knew God didn’t need any help – He was quite capable of acting supernaturally. However, he had an encounter with God on the way - at Beersheba – after he had spent time worshipping God. God gave him the all clear and he set off on the long journey south.

Joseph, meanwhile, set aside Goshen – the prime agricultural land – for the family’s new homeland.

Imagine the reunion. Jacob, 130 years old, finally meeting up with his favourite son whom he hasn’t seen for about 13 years and whom he thought was dead. Joseph threw his arms around him in the biggest hug they ever had. All the pain, all the loneliness, all the despair and all the longing finally squeezed and flushed away. Both of them restored and rejuvenated.

Did Joseph demand Jacob bow before him? No, before he had a chance to do so, Joseph had run to him and crushed him in his warm embrace; the years of separation melting away between them. Oh, the joy. Oh, the release. Oh, the hope for the future. Oh, the security and friendship rekindled. Now the family was back together again, never to fragment or live in deceit.

Could Joseph have imagined such a scene as that as a young 17 year old? I doubt it. Because God is so much bigger than us. God’s conclusions are always far superior and beyond our puny imaginations.

I don’t know what you are facing today, or in the near future. Maybe the picture is not inviting. Maybe you are even struggling to hold on. God wants to say to you – I know where you are. I haven’t abandoned you, left you or given up on you. I am still on track. I know what I am doing and Your time of trial is coming to an end. Just let Me put the final pieces in place and keep trusting Me to fulfil My plans for you. I will never leave you, forsake you or stop loving you. My way is best.

Joseph would say to us today...

The fulfilment of God’s dream will be beyond your wildest dreams. So don’t rush God; let Him fulfil His work in you in His time, and then enjoy it to the max.

Prayer

God, what an incredible climax to Joseph’s life! Going from thinking he would never see his family again to being able to honour Jacob from the second highest position in the land. God, Your plan was awesome and awesomely concluded. Please help me see that You have an equally awesome plan and conclusion for my life. Help me not to get frustrated or to try and force it but allow You to stamp Your perfection upon it – for Your glory I ask. Amen.

Additional readings

Habakkuk 2: 2-3 & 3:1-19; Ecclesiastes 3:1-14; Revelation 21:1-7.

Questions

How have you felt when you realised a great expectation?

What are the problems we face when we try and get to the result too soon?

What happens when you force a flower to open?