(Catch up on the series here.)

Sometimes dreams come true in the most unexpected ways.

The famine got worse, and when Jacob’s family ran out of food, he instructed his sons to go back to Egypt to get more. His son, Judah, told him it would be pointless for them to go unless Benjamin was allowed to travel back with them. Joseph had said the brothers wouldn’t even be allowed to see his face if they didn’t return with their younger brother.

Jacob, still acting like a victim, whined and protested, but Judah finally convinced him if they procrastinated any longer, they would all die of starvation. Jacob agreed to let Benjamin go, then told his sons to pack plenty of gifts as well as take double the amount of money they’d taken with them the first time.

When the brothers arrived in Egypt and Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he had them brought into his home to share a meal with him. The brothers, however, were afraid that they’d been summoned in order to be made into slaves. Instead, Simeon was returned to his brothers as they entered the home.

When Joseph arrived, the brothers presented him with their gifts as they bowed before him. Joseph inquired about their father, and the brothers bowed and answered that he was alive and well.

Then, Joseph laid eyes on Benjamin. He was so moved at the sight of his younger brother that he had to run into another room to weep. When he regained his composure, he re-entered the room, and they were served dinner. Joseph gave them portions from his own table, piling Benjamin’s plate high with food. The brothers, seated oldest to youngest, were bewildered at what was taking place.

*****

All of Joseph’s brothers were finally together in the same room with him. He’d spent years trying to forget his family and his dreams. Suddenly, his eleven brothers were bowing to him just as he’d dreamed when he was a 17-year-old boy.

I don’t suppose that boy could’ve ever imagined that one day he would be in a position of power in Egypt and that a famine would cause his brothers to bow before him. It was a long, unlikely, and painful route to the fulfillment of a dream. I wonder if Joseph was so overwhelmed with the sight of Benjamin that he wasn’t even aware of his dream coming to life before his eyes.

Interestingly, the brothers were unwitting participants in the very dream they’d despised when Joseph was a boy. Though the years and the guilt and the famine seemed to have humbled the brothers, I’m not sure they would’ve willingly bowed to Joseph had they known who he was at that time.

*****

I know what it’s like to have unfulfilled dreams. I know what it’s like for the years to pass and the dreams to fade into distant memory. But as we see in Joseph’s story, dreams can come true in the most unexpected and unlikely ways.

I won’t offer up platitudes about God’s timing or plans. Those are painful to dreamers who’ve given up on their dreams. But I will offer this: always pay attention so you don’t miss the subtle ways in which your dreams may be coming true before your eyes.