Issue #219, November 1, 2017
After 13 years of bitter disappointments everything changes for Joseph when he is called by the king to interpret another dream. In the morning he is a prisoner but by evening he’s the prime minister of the most powerful nation on earth! Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you." So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt" (Genesis 41:39-41). Now Joseph was a “real leader” with a position, a title and power! At his word people moved! He had authority. He walked in the halls of the palace. He soon had a chariot with a driver, and a beautiful wife. This was a dream job! But for Joseph this could easily be a substitute dream. His dream was to lead his family, not Egypt. With a new identity and position Joseph could easily settle for less than God’s ultimate plan for his life. He could begin to enjoy the prestige of his position, the beautiful wife and children that were a part of his life, and settle for less than the original dream. Servant leaders can learn from Joseph how to avoid substitute dreams.
Acknowledge the past.
Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household" (Genesis 41:51). Joseph was trying to forget the pain of his past but God wanted to heal the pain from the past! Substitute dreams can cause leaders to ignore the past. They try to forget the painful times but also forget those who helped them on their journey. Servant leaders don’t seek to escape the past, they look back to remember where they have come from. They find ways to thank and bless those who helped them with education or in their careers.
Appreciate the present.
The second son he named Ephraim and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering" (Genesis 41:52). Joseph was able to be grateful for the gifts God gave him in the palace. He appreciated God’s blessings. Servant leaders are grateful for all of God’s blessings. They understand that without God’s blessing, their leadership will accomplish nothing. Even when they have not yet accomplished the dream, servant leaders are filled with gratitude for the blessings God has given them.
Anticipate the future.
We don’t know if Joseph thought often about his dream or if it faded to the background of his life during these 7 years. It would have been easy for Joseph to conclude that leading Egypt was better than leading his family. But the reality was that God was still working to accomplish the dream. And Joseph kept working faithfully, just as he had in Potiphar’s home and in the prison. Servant leaders work to keep the dream alive! They are faithful in whatever situation God allows them to serve but they always focus on the dream God has given to them, not current realities.
Many leaders settle for a substitute dream instead of God’s dream. Church leaders who began with a sincere dream of helping others now use their position to benefit themselves. Business leaders or professionals who started the journey with a dream of impacting the world settle into a comfortable life focused on self. Servant leaders learn from Joseph not to settle for a substitute dream. They ask God to help them acknowledge the past; they appreciate the blessings of the present, but they always keep their eyes on where God wants to take them in the future.
For further reflection and discussion:
- Read the entire account of this portion of Joseph’s life in Genesis 41. What more do I learn from Joseph about his dream?
- In what ways might I be tempted to settle for a substitute dream? Are there ways that I have allowed the benefits and privileges of my current leadership to make me lose my focus on what God wants me to accomplish? Have I drifted slowly towards focusing on those who help me instead of those whom God called me to help?
- Have I run away from the past or forgotten the past? Who from my past hurt me that I need to forgive? Who from my past helped me that I need to thank?
- Have I been grateful for the blessings God has given to me in my current role? Have the things I currently enjoy caused me to lose sight of God’s dream for my life? What needs to change?
- Am I focused on the present realities or the future? What does God have for me that is not yet a reality in my life? What can I do to keep present blessings from causing me to accept a substitute dream?