Prophetic Words

Genesis 42-43; Psalms 5; Luke 17

“Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, ‘You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.’”

Genesis 42:8, 9

Joseph’s dreams of his brothers bowing down to him caused much anger- and even contempt by his family. By sharing these God-given dreams with his them, Joseph prepared them for recognizing the hand of God at work when the time of fulfillment took place. We serve a prophetic God who prepares us for what is to come. This prophetic nature of God should give us faith that God’s Word is true and will be fulfilled. However, when we, like Joseph, receive a prophetic word through a dream, or the application of God’s Word to our lives, it is meant for confirmation, not direction. Joseph didn’t look for ways to make his brothers bow before him. When the prophetic word was fulfilled, he remembered the dream and God used that dream to confirm God’s hand was at work. Prophetic words should be ‘put on the shelf’ until the Spirit reminds us and applies them.

“Lord God, help me to recognize the Word you are speaking and hold it lightly until your perfect time to fulfill it, for your glory.”