The Dreamer - Genesis 39

It has been such a long time. The humid moisture clings to his skin. Dirt leaves its stain embracing each crevice of his hands. He hears the slow beat of the rhythmic drip as it echoes among the cold stone walls. It has been such a long time.

As his feet slide slowly across the dirt floor cluttered with small gray stones, his legs stretch begging for some comfort and relief. This is not the life that he dreamed of as a young boy.

His lips ache and crack as he recalls a cherished childhood memory. His mind wanders. He often hears the story of how his father loved his mother so much that he waited seven years and worked 14 for her. On his 13th birthday, he is now expected to be a man of the world who is responsible for its rituals, laws, and traditions. His father presents him with an intricate, embroidered tunic made up of many different blended shades and tones of expensive fabric. It is so beautiful and like nothing he has ever seen before.

He has eleven brothers but only one brother who is born of the same mother but the baby would not experience knowing her because she died giving birth to him. His brothers jealous of his closeness to their father, would often taunt him at games and while working in the fields. Nick-naming him, “the dreamer”, he would often find himself at the center of jokes. But it is in these very dreams that God speaks to him. Even now, God is still speaking to him in the darkness of this cell. It has been such a long time ago.

The dimness of the cell casts obscure shadows across the arch of an angled sliver of light. This is not the only time he has been left alone to wrestle in the darkness with despair. As the mildew gathers strength in its capacity to taunt and sneer, it reminds him of another day so many years ago. .

He enthusiastically shares another dream that God gave him that morning with his family. It is a peculiar dream. The Sun, Moon and the eleven surrounding stars are bowing down and worshipping him. However this time, not only his brothers scoff and ridicule his vision, but even his carefree father seems to be insulted by what God specifically shows to him. Then, His brothers leave him behind while they secretly hurry to Dothan without him. Due to their obvious resentment, his brothers viciously grab him, steal his magnificent robe, and pick him up over their muscled shoulders to throw him into a deep pit.

The well is awful! The long tails of the rats whip across his feet. Their menacing squeals pierce his ears. The acidic smell of molding rot which is caked on the damp soaked walls obnoxiously fills and crams all of his senses. He can hear the laughter of his malicious brothers while they enjoy lunch together. For one brief moment of hope, Leah’s oldest son, Reuben, whispers “Don’t worry. I’ll come back and get you.” Like the broken promises he will hear again, it is an empty vow. He hears Reuben telling his brothers good-bye to head back to the fields to take care of the flocks while they remain to gloat over their triumph.

A few hours later, his deviant brothers sell him as a slave to a caravan of Midianite traders selling their incense from the minerals found throughout the caves in the Arabian territory. They are descendents of Abraham’s last wife, Keturah, whom he had taken after the death of Sarah. He joins their motley crew with their caravan of elaborate carpets, intricate pillows, and precision instruments headed to Egypt. But that has been such a long time ago.

Leaning back his matted head to rest on the rough and uneven cold stone wall, his heart longs to know how God is currently at work. He knows that God has not left him. He still dreams. God speaks. Even in the caverns of the darkness of his spirit, God is here. God is with him. He remembers the Midianites selling him to a wealthy businessman in Egypt. God smiles on him and takes good care of him. As things would have it, Potiphar moves him into his own home with his family. Potiphar often said that he brought good luck and prosperity to his family to which in response he would humbly reply that all things are a gift from God.

Looking at his reflection as a young man, he is handsome and attractive. The servant girls often giggle with their heads huddled together in flushed nodded agreement and smile shyly trying to catch his eye each time he enters a room. But he is not vain. His attention to his attractiveness compares nothing to the essence of a man that he wants to be for God. As a man of integrity, he has never allowed himself to be fooled or seduced by the behavior of some of the sultry women who compete for his attention. Honest and genuine, he is waiting for the person that God will lead him to.

Mrs. Potiphar remains popular among her set of exclusive friends. In her prime some may have called her a great beauty, but time has moved on and she makes an effort to retain her youthfulness with scents, oils, creams, and purchasing fabrics that will accentuate her figure with the purpose of attracting the attention and devotion of the opposite sex.

Mrs. Potiphar is vain. She is inconsistent with her feelings and interests. What motivates her is usefulness not concern. She is selfish and self-centered. Her tenderness towards others is an egotistical act of empowerment. She is never truly a friend, but more of a parasite sucking the life from its prey.

He spent several years working for her. Obsessive with a need to be admired, she develops a crush on him that draws the unwanted attention of the other staff. They needle him and jest of her fondness for him. She invites him to be in her company quite often when it is not needed or required. Her conjectured words slither attempting to entice.

One day left alone in the house, Mrs. Potiphar calls him to her room for some impulsive request. He dutifully responds. As he enters the room, her arms fall gently on his neck as she whispers and explains what she wants, moving in closer to him to meet him face to face, she tilts her head slowly to the side. He realizes that this is not something he wants to participate in. He repulsively pushes her away while she furiously grabs his coat. Frightened he runs as quickly as he can out of the house.

Her pride screams. Her ego claims he chased her. Her conceit asserts that he used her. He is captured and taken to this cell - this lonely place of desperation. But that was a long time ago.

God has not left him. God is with him. God still speaks. Two years ago, a dream saved the life of his friend who was the cupbearer to the king. But his friend has forgotten him as soon as he returns to his regular schedule of work and life - again empty promises of hope. But God has not left him. He still speaks to him in dreams.

As his withered hands grasp the rust crusted iron bars, his head hangs low to examine the soil beneath his feet. He knows that God provides. God will answer his prayers. Even in the loneliness of the dark, God is here.

All of a sudden, he hears the sounds of rushing feet and swords knocking against the walls of the stairs leading to the dungeon. It is an unfamiliar sound. Guards of the Pharoah do not visit the jail. Something is about to happen. “The Pharoah wants to see you. The cupbearer has promised that you can interpret dreams.”

Rushed into the presence of the Pharoah, the wise king narrows his eyes, leans his head forward to calculate the value of the tattered and worn man humbly bowing before him. The Pharoah cautiously reveals his dream. In impassioned courage, he interprets the dream. God is with him. God still speaks. God is there.

His answer is not filled with much hope. The dream is a warning but also a guide for the future. The Pharoah rewards his honesty and integrity. God brings him honor. He becomes not only in charge with many responsibilities but even rules over his captors. God brings him a wife and family. God is with him. God still speaks. He was in darkness but that was a long time ago. He now lives in the light and revelation of God’s presence and power.