We probably all know the story of Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob. Because of the dreams he had – namely that his brothers, yes, even his parents, would be subservient to him – his brothers threw him into a cistern and after that they sold him to passing merchants (Genesis 37). Actually, it was no wonder that they hated him!
However, the dreams of Joseph did not come from a proud heart, they were indeed sent by God. But Joseph had to endure a lot of hardship before these dreams could come true. This is what God always does when He calls people for a special mission. We should just take care that we not try on our own to realize our calling, for our calling and the way towards its realization are in God’s hand. He does it His way, like He did with Joseph, Moses, Paul, and everyone He called to some specific task.
In the life of Joseph when he was in Egypt, we see God was with him. Through all trials Joseph learned to be humble for God. He did not doubt God’s promises, therefore he obeyed his Lord in all circumstances, even when he did not understand why everything happened.
When Josephs brothers came to Egypt because of the famine in their own land, they bowed down to him – the governor of Egypt - with their faces to the ground. Then Joseph remembered his dreams (Genesis 42:9). Only then he could say: ‘So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God’ (:8). We should never rebel - or blame people or circumstances - when we do not understand God’s way with us, but we should keep trusting Him, that He Himself will make true on His promises.