Destined for Greatness

William Shakespeare once said, "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." There could be much debate over important figures in history and where their greatness lies. There could also be debate over what constitutes as 'greatness'. 

On some level, each of us holds a desire for greatness in our own life. There is an unfulfilled longing in mankind for purpose and successful outcome. With feelings of inadequacy and failure come deep sorrow and despair. There isn't anyone who wants to believe their life has no depth or higher meaning behind it. God wired His people with hopes and dreams of greatness. Maybe because greatness is what He wants, and plans, for each of us...

Joseph was just seventeen; the youngest son of Isreal; a shepherd boy. Joseph was hated by his brothers because he was favored by their father. One night Joseph had a dream. A vision or foreshadow, really. Genesis 37:6-11 says: 

He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”

His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Why did God give Joseph dreams like these? Maybe it was the start of God's plan. Only news like this would anger his brothers enough to betray Joseph and sell him into slavery, which began his journey from chains to chain of command. Maybe Joseph needed these visions from God to hold onto while he spent years as a slave and prisoner. Perhaps memories of these dreams were all he had to hold onto during his cold, lonely nights of bondage.

If you know the rest of Joseph's story, you know he achieved greatness. Not only was he a noble and forgiving man, but a great governor of Egypt who delivered the people out of famine and preserved his family line. Which was ultimately the family line of Jesus.

Perhaps Joesph was born and destined for greatness. Or he took a hold of unfortunate life events and achieved greatness with the work of his own hands. One could even argue that greatness was thrust upon him.

Each of us is in a place that Joseph once was: Still dreaming of the greatness that lies ahead. Or feeling shackled and hopeless. Maybe looking back at all that was overcome and reaping the benefits of God's will that carried us all along. 

Every person is God's original design, and each of us is destined for greatness. Believe it, hold onto it, and go get it!

Questions to Ponder This Week:

1. What greatness is God calling you to in life?

2. What stage of Joseph's life are you currently in: Dreaming, Shackled, or Reaping?