Keep that in mind

 Read Genesis 37

 

Joseph had two visions.  One is during harvest and he and his brothers are making sheeves.  They were binding grain into upright stacks.

In this dream, Joseph’s stack stands tall and the stacks of his brothers bow down to it.  Exactly what all is involved here is vague, but the big picture suggests that all of Jacob’s kids will bow down, revere, or serve Joseph.

That didn’t go over well with the brothers.  They didn’t care for Joseph in any case.  He had given their dad a bad report on their activities while out with the flocks.

Besides that, Joseph was Dad’s favorite.  Jacob—Israel—had made Jacob an ornate robe. Apparently, none of the other brothers had one.

Now we see this dream business in which it appears Joseph is somehow the top dog.

If that were not enough, Joseph had another dream in which the sun, moon, and 11 stars bowed down to him.  His brothers didn’t like that one either, but this one he shared with his father.

What?  Your mother and I will bow down before you?  What?

But we are told one more thing about this dream.  But his father—Jacob—kept this matter in mind.

What does that mean?

Consider in Genesis 28, Jacob also had a vision in a dream.  There were angels ascending and descending between heaven and earth. This is how God spoke to him about taking on the mantel for this Father of Many Nations business.

That was real.  Maybe, he shouldn’t doubt his son.  Perhaps the dream was from God.  Perhaps there was something to this. Perhaps there was a perhaps to this whole dream business.

But surely God would work through his firstborn, Reuben—that no good, slept with his father’s wife, firstborn son. Jacob might recall that he was born after Esau and was known as the deceiver for much of his life, but Jacob might have recalled that God chose to work through him.

So, Jacob kept the matter in mind.

What is it to keep a matter in mind?  It is not to accept it, but neither is it to reject it, but to retain it for further consideration.

Hey, Tom, do you need someone to mow your yard this year.?

No thanks.  I have someone, but will keep you in mind.

Here’s another modern-day take on keeping a matter in mind.

Let’s capture some lessons learned from this ministry.  Mind you, this is only our second year of doing this. Keep that in mind.

It’s sort of like keeping something in the back of your mind.  Why?  There just might be something to it.

That bonfire deal sounds like fun but the fire danger for most of the summer might preclude it, but I will keep it in mind for the winter months.  Bonfire, hotdogs, and hot chocolate might be fun with an inch or two of snow on the ground.

Let’s keep that in mind.

In the second service, we will look at the beginning of the story of Joseph and his being sold into slavery.  His father ripped his clothes and was inconsolable, thinking Joseph had been mauled and perhaps eaten by a wild animal.

But, remember, that these dreams of Joseph were still bouncing around somewhere in Jacob’s mind.

Think of Abraham taking Isaac up the mountain to sacrifice him unto God. Abraham believed God that this Father of Many Nations business would come through his son Isaac. 

Somehow this sacrifice would not negate the promise of God.  You know the story.  God stopped the sacrifice when he saw the faith of Abraham.

Somewhere in Abraham’s mind, he knew that God would fulfill his promise through Isaac.

That’s some really cool stuff to think about right there, but how does that apply to us?

When we face difficult times, we should remember the promises of God.  We should keep in mind that:

·       God loves us

·       God will never stop loving us

·       God has good plans for us

·       God trusts us to put our gifts and talents to use

·       God will never leave or forsake us

·       God has prepared a place for us

·       Our present suffering is nothing compared to what God has in store for us

·       Our sorrow may last for the night but joy comes in the morning

·       We are not to be afraid

·       We are not to be anxious

·       We are not to be worried

·       We are to approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence

When times are tough—perhaps even impossible—we should keep these things in mind.

We should move these promises and directives to the forefront of our minds.

Amen.