If we want to experience God’s greater work, we have to kill the dream.

Joseph had a dream, a vision from God, about his brothers bowing down to him.  He didn’t know what to make of it, but he was very excited to share the news with his brothers.  They weren’t so excited and took the first chance they had to sell him off to slave traders.

No Average Joe Series

That was over 20 years ago.  And now after 13 years in and out of bondage, and then 7 years as the deuce in Egypt, in walks Joseph’s brothers with hat in hand.  They were starving, so their father sent them to well-stocked Egypt for food.  But they had no idea Joseph was in charge.

And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground…And Joseph remembered the dream which he had about them…—Genesis 42:6b, 9a.

In that moment, the dream became reality.  What could be better than that?!  Surely the big “I told you so” was coming.  Surely, Joseph would not miss the opportunity to vindicate himself and shatter the nay sayings of his brothers.

Although Joseph had every right to do just that, he chose a different course.  Twenty years ago, he thought life was about him fulfilling his dream.  Now he knew the dream was only a small part of God doing a greater work to rescue His people.

So instead of celebrating a dream come true, Joseph killed the dream.  We learn from him three ways we can kill the dream and join God’s greater work:

Step back.

When Joseph saw his brothers, he disguised himself.  Maybe 13 years of slave-trained obscurity taught him that being well known wasn’t always necessary or even helpful in doing the will of God.

Being a leader doesn’t always mean being out in front.  Sometimes we need to step back, deflect the lure of the spotlight, and just wait, watch, and listen.

Test the action.

Joseph asked questions and even made accusations to test the motives of his brothers.  This process slowed down the action.  Assumptions help no one, so he was patient.  Even though the dream was now reality, he knew there was more to come.

Leaders understand there is always more to come.  And they gladly trade instant gratification and self-exaltation for lasting impact by creating processes that allow them to see more than what first appears.

Create tension.

Joseph put his brothers in prison for 3 days.  Then he released all of them except one.  Then he had their money hidden in the grain sacks they carried back to Canaan.

All of that, and his mention of fearing God, created tension, even stress, in the hearts these grown men.  Joseph put them into a very uncomfortable, and what some would consider unnecessary, situation.

But good leaders are comfortable making others feel uncomfortable. They carefully create an environment where beliefs and habits are challenged.  This is not a game.  But leaders create temporary tension and apply gentle pressure to prepare others to join God’s mission with them.

Killing the dream requires more than an attitude change.  It takes actions that realign our purposes with God’s purpose to rescue sinners and to magnify the name of Jesus above every other name, including our own.

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