Two Josephs, Two Dreamers: A Christmas Devotional

TWO JOSEPHS, TWO DREAMERS

The dreams of Joseph, son of Jacob are a frequent topic of sermons.  Two dreams are described in Genesis 37, both of them foretelling his brothers’ subservience to him.  Even his father, who favored him, rebuked him, but verse 11 says “… his father kept the matter in mind.”  Perhaps because of Jacob’s own experiences with a dream of a stairway to heaven, with angels ascending and descending.

Joseph’s reporting of the dreams was not out of arrogance.  The dreams were an accurate prophecy that would have a bearing on the future of God’s chosen people, not Joseph alone.  It is crucial that even when sold into captivity by his jealous brothers (Genesis 37:19 “Here comes that dreamer”), Joseph trusted God and was submissive to His will.  Without that willingness, he could not have been the vessel God created him to be.

In the New Testament, Joseph the husband of Mary was also the recipient of prophetic dreams.  Four to be exact.  That’s right, FOUR.  In Matthew 1:20 an angel appeared to him in a dream to reveal that Mary had conceived through the Holy Spirit and that Jesus would save His people from their sins.  Joseph was obedient to the angel’s words and took Mary home as his wife.  In Matthew 2:13 an angel warned of King Herod’s impending search for the child to kill him.  Joseph followed the command to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt.  A third angelic visitation in 2:19-20 told him when Herod had died and to go to the land of Israel.  And finally, because the son of Herod still ruled, (Matt. 2: 22) “Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee.”

Joseph is often considered a minor character in the story of Jesus’ birth.  But in every instance, God worked through him, and because of his obedience, the Christ child was safe.  God can accomplish his purposes without human assistance, but it pleases him when His work is carried out willingly and obediently by His children.

Two Josephs, two dreamers, had something in common.  They were both submissive to God’s will, and in being true to His purposes they have earned the honor of countless succeeding generations.  Obedience is all God requires of us, as well.  It begins with bowing our knees to the Lord Jesus and allowing the Holy Spirit to rule and reside in our hearts.  Immanuel means “God with us,” and the Christmas season is the perfect time to check our relationship with our Lord and Savior.  Our full submission and obedience yield an everlasting harvest of love, mercy, and grace.