Don't give up on 'the dream' (part 2)

The Story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50 has something to say to us about not giving up on the Dream. Joseph was given two dreams that took over twenty years to be fulfilled. We need to note what may be called a Partial Dream

Joseph had dreamed that his brothers would bow down before him and that he would be lifted up to reign (Genesis 37:5-11) In the one dream, his brothers "sheaves" bowed down to his 'sheaf"(Gen. 37:7). In the other dream, "The sun, the moon and eleven stars were bowing down" to Joseph (v9), meaning that his father, mother and brothers would bow down before him.

At last the dream was fulfilled and his brothers did bow down before him as ruler of Egypt (Genesis 43:26, 28; Genesis 42:6). But it took  more than twenty years for the dream to be fulfilled (Genesis 37:2; Genesis 41:46, 47). And those twenty years included stuff that was not included in the dream. Like Joseph’s thirteen years of suffering and then a further seven years which came before his brothers bowed down before him (Genesis 37:2; Genesis 41:46, 47)

God may give a partial dream. There may be things that happen that are not included in the dream. But if the dream is from God, don't give up on the dream! Patience and trust are required to not give up on the things God has said to us.