The dream haters

Today: Genesis 35-37

Dreams are fascinating. Most of the time, I don't remember the dreams I have at night. I definitely have strong daydreams...or maybe it's the work of a creative imagination? :)

I don't ever remember being hated for my dreams, though. But in today's passage, we read about a guy named Joseph whose own family hated him...in part, because of his dreams. Take a look:

Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons

because he was the child of his old age.

And he made him an elaborately embroidered coat.

When his brothers realized

that their father loved him more than them,

they grew to hate him—they wouldn't even speak to him.
Joseph had a dream.

When he told it to his brothers,

they hated him even more.

He said, "Listen to this dream I had.

We were all out in the field gathering bundles of wheat.

All of a sudden my bundle stood straight up

and your bundles circled around it and bowed down to mine."
His brothers said, "So! You're going to rule us?

You're going to boss us around?"

And they hated him more than ever because of his dreams

and the way he talked.

To be fair to the context of the passage, Joseph's brothers likely hated him for other reasons, too--he was Jacob's (their father's) favorite and he received (at least one) special gift because of it. But in addition to those factors, the passage says that they hated him "because of his dreams."

Perhaps Joseph's brothers disliked the fact that he told them about his dreams (a lesson for dreamers perhaps?). I don't know about you, but I wouldn't exactly be thrilled if someone described a dream that put me in a very bad light. It wouldn't make me feel great, but I don't know if I would hate the dreamer--hate is a very strong word.

It's an even stronger word when paired with the actions of Joseph's brothers. The dream haters thought about killing the dreamer, but chose instead to sell him--their own brother!--as a slave.

Wow. Those must have been some dreams...

Tomorrow: Genesis 38-40