Scripture Passage for Today
GENESIS 37:1-38:30, 1 CHRONICLES 2:3-6, 1 CHRONICLES 2:8, GENESIS 39:1-23
4 But his brothers hated Joseph… 5 One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. …9 Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. …10 This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers… (Genesis 37:4-5,9-10 NLT)
Observation
“You don’t have to tell everything you know.” That’s been a leadership principle for me for many years. Beyond just leaders, it’s a valuable standard for everyone.
What we know from the Scriptures about Joseph’s younger years isn’t as complete as we wish it were. Some people, then, believe the worst about Joseph—that he was (at least, when young) the “spoiled baby” of an incredibly dysfunctional family unit. Others believe the best—especially given his later ability to withstand the temptation presented by Potiphar’s wife, live patiently and righteously through an unjust prison sentence, and ultimately forgive his brothers for the wrongs they committed against him.
Honestly, I’m not sure which childhood description I lean towards, but I do believe—whatever other pluses or minuses Joseph exhibited—that, in the case of the dreams he had (certainly the second one, at least), Joseph should have kept his mouth shut. Instead of telling everything he knew, Joseph should have perhaps only ruminated a bit, to himself, over what God might be up to.
Circumspect people don’t always say everything they know—certainly not as soon as they know it. The reason is never deceit or dishonestly. Rather, prudent people take time to consider why they know what they know…what the implications might be…how this knowledge fits into God’s big picture, so that what they know is known in its relation to “the whole” and used for God’s good purpose.
In that sense, knowledge is no different than any other resource, and should be stewarded as wisely. Yes, it is only my opinion, but—especially when Joseph’s telling of his first dream only lead to more hatred on the part of his brothers—he should have had the sense to know there wasn’t anything to be gained by telling of the second.
“…knowledge is no different than any other resource, and should be stewarded wisely.” Your statement is really profound...so many times I am so captivated with a little bit of knowledge or insight, that I forget to ‘wait’ on the Lord before I really know what to do with it! I love Jacob’s response – he gave a mild rebuke, but he “kept the matter in mind (Genesis 37:11). Like Mary, who “treasured all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:51) the father of Joseph knew there was something of God behind these words of his ‘dreamer’ son….
ReplyDeleteAt some point, I simply gotta say--I love reading the comments and insights offered here--thanks to everybody who posts!
ReplyDelete..and we know that Joseph had to be sold..just as Jesus was sold for some coins, to bring about the salvation of His people. God's provision.
ReplyDeleteAu contrair Mon Pastor, It was this very trait that not only saved Joseph from the dungeon but helped establish him as number 2 in all the land. Providing not only for him but also for all his family. Better not look a gift horse in the mouth. God might be using him to save yoour hide.
ReplyDeleteyeah well . . . the last people you expect to hate you when you share a puzzling, powerful, God-given revelation are those you love . . . it's certainly circumspect and prudent to discern the circumstances and the listener but Joseph wasn't a boasting buffoon (can't find that anywhere) he shared his heart and they hated him. That's nice. Have you ever listened that way? I have . . . no wait a minute . . . I have only judged . . . that's not the same.
ReplyDeletejust goes to show that God can use for good the things that we are not so good at, even if we have to take a long detour, like the Israelites around Edom. If there was no hatred that existed they could've been home free and closer to their destination. Sometimes it's our own downfalls that keep us that much closer to the blessing God intends to give us. What a gracious God we serve!!!
ReplyDeletewhat I meant to say above was that sometimes it's our own downfalls that keep us FROM MOVING SOONER INTO the blessing God intends to give us. Either way God is still gracious!!
ReplyDelete