A Certain Box of Matches

"So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed." Genesis 47:31b

Jacob was very weak and was at the end of his life. He called Joseph in and gave him instructions on his wishes after his death. These wishes would be an exclamation point to the end of a story that boasted years of twists and turns…heartache and joy…prophesies and fulfilled promises. At the end of Jacob’s instructions, Scripture draws the picture of Israel (Jacob’s God-given name) bowing himself on the head of the bed towards Joseph. And just like that, Joseph’s second dream when he was a prideful and boastful teenager came to fulfillment. “So he told it to his father…and his father rebuked him… ‘What is this dream…Shall your mother and I…indeed come to bow down…before you?’” Genesis 37:10. But the middle-aged Joseph didn’t receive the fulfillment of that dream with the same heart he had when he was given the dream at seventeen years old. This is a beautiful reminder that dreams have no expiration date and that God will do what He promises to do in your life and mine.

Any promise that God has given us is many times for the long game. There are things in our heart that we so desperately desire, and we feel as if God has ordained the fulfillment. We look for it on the horizon and days turn into years, and hope loses its pulse. Year after year we pull back the curtain scanning the landscape for evidence that the promise is close. Finally, one day we pass by the window without even stopping. ‘What we forget, or simply don’t realize, is that sometimes dreams have to die for God to resurrect them. Even if a flame goes out, it’s no match for a God who can relight it…Dear friend, if the promise God has given you is in accordance with His Word and will, you keep hanging on. He’s not out of matches.’ Finding God Faithful, Kelly Minter, p. 173.

Just like Joseph, many times our heart is not ready to receive our desires. Joseph had to go through life-altering adversity to humble his heart to be willing to respond appropriately when the desire was on his doorstep. He had to be emptied out for God to have the space to fill him up with the blessings He had promised Joseph. Don’t ever stop believing in something that God has told you will be yours one day. Keep your eyes on the horizon because one day the landscape will display the dream coming to completion.

“The LORD will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever.” Psalm 138:8a