Prayer: Gracious Heavenly Father, thank You for teaching me when to speak and when to keep quiet. Help me to be sensitive to Your Holy Spirit. Guide me on who to share and not share information with as You give me revelation and knowledge. Amen

Scripture: Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. Genesis 37:5 NKJV

Joseph was a dreamer. God would speak to Joseph through prophetic dreams. Joseph was already hated by his older brothers because their father favored him. After he shared his dream with his brothers, they hated him much more (Genesis 37: 7-8). The dream depicted Joseph’s brothers bowing to him. The idea of them bowing to their younger brother infuriated them.

Apparently, Joseph did not learn his lesson the first time he overshared. God gave him a second prophetic dream about his family bowing to him. This time he shared it with his brothers and father. Later in the text, Joseph’s brothers plot his demise and sell him (Genesis 37: 21-28). Sometimes, we get so excited when God reveals His plans to us. It is hard to not share. I warn you that not everyone will be genuinely happy for you when God sees fit to promote you.

Do not be surprised if your family members or phony friends are not running to support you. The spirit of jealousy does not care about how you are related to a person. It was Joseph’s own brothers who thought of murdering him. Jealousy is a wicked and dangerous spirit. It is destructive to operate in jealousy. If you know that someone is jealous of you, I advise you to keep your plans, dreams, and goals to yourself, because the spirit of jealousy will begin to plot your demise. When you get recognized at work for doing an outstanding job, get a promotion, or earn another degree it is a time to be happy and celebrate. Just remember to remain humble and not get boastful. Even though the spirit of jealousy attempted to destroy Joseph, he thrived instead. He went through hardship, but when he finally was promoted to be in charge of all the crops and food supply, he did not become boastful. Actually, Joseph helped his brothers who tried to get rid of him many years before the food shortage. Stay humble like Joseph and walk in love the way he did with his brothers. “Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, But who is able to stand before jealousy?” Proverbs 27:4 NKJV

Copyright Niccori Thomas-Brown.

If you’ve enjoyed this devotion, Niccori shares more in her book, Doing All God Has Called You To Do: A Devotion For Novice Teachers.

To connect with Niccori, email niccorithomas@gmail.com.