JOSEPH AND HIS DREAMS by F. D. Starr

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Feb 22, 1899

JOSEPH AND HIS DREAMS.

By F. D. Starr

At the time that the chief butler and the chief baker told Joseph their dreams he was reduced to the condition of a culprit. Long before that he had had dreams of being elevated to a superior position, exalted among his brethren. But instead of realizing the fulfilment of his dreams, the very opposite experience had been his to encounter.

Under these circumstances we might have expected him to lose all confidence in dreams. Judging by his own experience, dreaming of glory, but brought down to degradation and imprisonment, what would have been more natural than for him to have said to these men who related their dreams to him: 'There is no dependence to put in dreams; I myself have had lovely dreams, and felt very much elated over them, but instead of their being fulfilled according to my confident expectation and interpretation, the most decided reverse has happened to me. I would not pay any attention to those dreams; they are uncertain and deceptive. I dreamed of being exalted in the midst of my brethren, but, alas, I am greatly humbled, and an exile among strangers and enemies!'

Why did he not take this view of the matter, instead of still retaining his confidence in dreams?—Because his trust was in God, the interpreter of dreams. He was looking at the invisible, and he knew his dreams would some time be fulfilled, tho outward and present appearances seemed so forbidding.

F. D. STARR.