We are all dreamers, pursuing what we think will satisfy our deep inner cravings. We are taught at an early age to “Find your dream!” “Chase your dream!” “Fulfill your dream!” But what happens when those dreams collide with reality? Or when it seems that our dreams die? The question isn’t whether we pursue our dreams, it’s do we pursue our dreams more than we pursue God. ~ Pastor Dave
Open: Have you ever had a weird dream? Have you ever had a “dream” that you chased? Describe your experience with these types of dreams:
Read: Genesis 37, 50;
Discuss:
1 Timothy 2:22; Matthew 6:33 1. What dreams did you have about the future when you were in elementary school? High School? Did any of those dreams come true? Did any of those dreams die? What are you dreaming about currently? Describe how these dreams match what many call the “American Dream”:
2. Describe Joseph’s family journey: Moses, the author of Genesis, gave the story of Joseph the most attention. How does it act as a hinge-point between God’s promise to Abraham and the birth of God’s chosen nation?
3. Explain Joseph’s two dreams in Genesis 37: How do Joseph’s dreams differ from our dreams (divinely inspired dream vs. divinely impressed)? In what ways are they similar? How does our response to our “dreams” mirror Joseph’s response?
4. In what ways do we elevate Biblical characters out of the realm of the ordinary? In what ways do we do this with the story of Joseph? Over and over again it seems that Joseph’s dreams die. Explain a few of the ways we observe this throughout his story:
5. In Genesis 50:19-20, Joseph makes a monumental statement about his own standing before God in spite of his journey. How does the end of the story give us a different perspective of Joseph’s dreams from the beginning of his story? How have we viewed our “dreams” incorrectly? How does God become the centerpiece of Joseph’s dreams? In what ways is Christ our greater dream? Are there any dreams that you are pursuing more than God?
Pray: Pray that God would stand as the centerpiece of all that you dream, desire, and pursue in this life.
Memorize/Meditate: Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Genesis 50:19-20
