You are never too old to live your dream ∙

You are never too old to live your dream ∙

He was thirty years old when he began serving in the court of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. And when Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence, he inspected the entire land of Egypt. – Genesis 41:46

Genesis 41:8-43

 8 Pharaoh was very disturbed by the dreams. So he called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. When Pharaoh told them his dreams, not one of them could tell him what they meant.

 14 Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once . . .

 15 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.”

 16 “It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.”

 17 So Pharaoh told Joseph his dreams . . .

 25 Joseph responded, “Both of Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God is telling Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do.

 29 The next seven years will be a period of great prosperity throughout the land of Egypt.

 30 But afterward there will be seven years of famine so great that all the prosperity will be forgotten in Egypt. Famine will destroy the land.

 33 “Therefore, Pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt.

 34 Then Pharaoh should appoint supervisors over the land and let them collect one-fifth of all the crops during the seven good years.

 37 Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials.

 38 So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?”

 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are.

 40 You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.”

 41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.”

 42 Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck.

 43 Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt.

When David Ayres had a kidney transplant in 2004, he was sure his days playing competitive hockey were over. But February 22, 2020, became the most wonderful night of his life. Ayres was the emergency backup goalie. Then he got a text from Reid Mitchell, the Maple Leafs’ scouting director. The starting and backup goalies for the Carolina Hurricanes, James Reimer and Petr Mrazek, were injured. And there were just over 28 minutes left to play. Ayres was needed to play goalie in their stead.

Ayres was ready. Ayres had spent eight years as the practice goalie for Toronto and the past three for the Maple Leafs. As the Maple Leaf’s designated emergency goalie, Ayres donned a Hurricanes uniform and went out on the ice.

Ayres gave up two goals but blocked 8 shots. He helped the Hurricanes win 6-3. At the ripe old-young age of 42, he became the oldest goaltender to win his NHL regular-season debut. His game-winning stick was put on display in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Joseph was one of 12 brothers. He was intelligent and attractive. He was the favored child of his father, Joseph. Consequently, his 11 brothers became envious. On top of that, he was given dreams and the ability to interpret them. His dreams were his downfall and caused him nothing but trouble. He dreamed that his brothers would one day bow down and serve him. He made a foolish mistake by telling them. They were already jealous, and now they were furious. He had another dream in which even his own parents bow down before him. He once again unwisely shared the dream and its interpretation with his brothers. (Genesis 37:4-11).

His brothers had had enough, and they made plans to kill him out of pure malice, spite, and envy. Fratricide loomed on the horizon (Genesis 37:18).

But his brother Reuben interceded, and Joseph’s life was spared. He was thrown into a cistern and left there. Judah suggested they sell Joseph as a slave. Out of sight, out of mind, problem solved. At age 17, Joseph was sold into slavery and taken to Egypt. In Egypt, Joseph was bought by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh.

Genesis 39:2 The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.

Potiphar put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. Joseph is falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and landed in prison. Joseph was a prisoner for just a little over 12 years. From the dungeon, what chance could his dreams ever be fulfilled? This type of experience has been dubbed “The Death of a Vision.”

The Father takes many of His children through this experience as a part of their preparation for future service. His goal is to teach us to trust Him and depend upon Him solely for success. He uses setbacks, disappointments, and disillusionment.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Father works in totally unpredictable ways to fulfill His promises that began only with dreams and visions of the future.

Father thank You that it is never too late and that we are never too old to live our dreams. Our lives are in your hands, and we trust You for the future.

INSIGHT

Up to now, his dreams have brought him nothing but rejection and suffering. But the Father never wastes His gifts nor His dreams for the children of the King.

The Pharaoh has a dream that no one could interpret. One of Joseph’s fellow prisoners, the Pharaoh’s cupbearer, had a dream while in the dungeon. Joseph interpreted it and told him he would soon be restored to his place of service in the Pharaoh’s court. The cupbearer shares this with the Pharaoh. Joseph is called up to stand before Pharaoh. Not only did he tell Pharaoh what the dream meant, but he also told Pharaoh how to prepare for the coming famine predicted. Pharaoh was impressed and appointed Joseph as prime minister, second in power only to Pharaoh himself. He was empowered to carry out the plan. Consequently, Egypt was prepared and had storehouses full of grain.

When the famine hits, the entire geographical area is affected. Only Egypt has grain. As a result, Joseph’s 11 brothers and father find themselves in Egypt. And they all bow down before him.

The death of a vision is common for many of the children of the King. “This ‘season’ of waiting provides us with the opportunity to develop Christlike character, to realize our shortcomings and inadequacies, and to trust God to demonstrate His power and bring the vision to fulfillment” (Gothard).

No child of the King is too old to live your dream. It took Joseph around 25 years to see the fulfillment of his dreams. When our dreams die, disappointment and disillusionment follow. We are brought very low because of our disappointment, unmet expectations, and betrayal. The Father is faithful. Ultimately, fulfillment beyond our wildest imagination.

Often, the death of a vision is but a prerequisite, a stepping stone, to the fulfillment of the vision. The hardest part is waiting and maintaining faith and trust. The Father is faithful. The realization of our dreams is often beyond our wildest imagination.

Ephesians 3:20 [God] who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 4-06-2

© Dr. H 2022