Joseph, God Planned It: Part 3 - Set Backs and Crushed Dreams

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Life's Shattered Dreams and God's Sovereign Plan

When our dreams are shattered, it often leaves us devastated, confused, and questioning whether God has forgotten us or His promises. Through Joseph's story, we see how life can seem incredibly unfair, yet God remains in control even when circumstances appear hopeless.

A Father's Request and a Son's Obedience

Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers who were tending sheep near Shechem. This request came from both concern - given the brothers' violent history in that region - and a desire to monitor their behavior, as Joseph had previously reported their misconduct. Joseph's immediate and willing response mirrored Christ's own obedience to the Father's will. When the brothers weren't found in Shechem, Joseph persisted in searching for them, demonstrating the same steadfast pursuit that Jesus would later show in seeking the lost.

The Dark Path of Hatred

When Joseph finally located his brothers in Dothan, their response revealed the depths of human wickedness. Their hatred had grown through what could be called "group think negative" - a shared attitude that fed off itself until it consumed them all. Upon seeing Joseph approach wearing his coat of many colors - the symbol of his future leadership - their murderous plot emerged.

Reuben's weak attempt to save Joseph revealed his own conflicted nature. Though he planned to rescue Joseph later, he lacked the courage to directly oppose his brothers' schemes. When Reuben was absent, Judah proposed selling Joseph instead of killing him - a plan that would remove their brother while profiting from his demise. For twenty pieces of silver, they sold their own flesh and blood into slavery (Genesis 37:28).

The brothers' callousness reached its peak when they sat down to eat after throwing Joseph into the pit, ignoring his cries for mercy (Genesis 42:21). Their subsequent deception of Jacob - dipping Joseph's coat in goat's blood and presenting it to their father - demonstrated their complete moral bankruptcy.

A Father's Grief and Hidden Hope

Jacob's response to losing Joseph was inconsolable grief: "I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning" (Genesis 37:35). While Jacob lived with grief, his sons lived with guilt - a burden that would haunt them for twenty years until they finally faced the truth of their actions.

Yet behind this tragedy, God's sovereign hand was already at work. What appeared to be the death of Joseph's prophetic dreams was actually setting the stage for their ultimate fulfillment. This offers profound hope for believers facing their own shattered dreams today.

When Dreams Meet Divine Purpose

Not every broken dream requires abandonment - some simply await God's timing. Other dreams may need to be released when reality and wisdom demand it. The key is bringing these shattered pieces to Jesus, who helps us discern which dreams to persist in and which to surrender.

Just as Joseph's brothers' attempt to destroy him ultimately positioned him to become their savior, what appears to be defeat in our lives may be God's pathway to victory. The challenge is trusting His sovereign plan even when circumstances seem hopeless, knowing that He works all things together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

Our response to crushed dreams reveals much about our faith. Rather than despairing when plans crumble, believers must cling to God's promises, understanding that His purposes cannot be derailed - even when the path involves pain, discomfort, or loss. In Christ, both the dreams we keep and those we release find their proper place in His greater plan.