(Catch up on the series here.)

One family’s dysfunction can influence and affect an entire nation.

The seven years of famine began, and Egypt was the only country prepared with food. People throughout Egypt turned to Pharaoh for help. Pharaoh told them to go to Joseph and do whatever he told them.

…Joseph opened the store-houses and sold emergency supplies to the Egyptians. The famine was very bad. Soon the whole world was coming to buy supplies from Joseph. The famine was bad all over. (41:56-57, MSG)

What if Joseph’s brothers hadn’t hated him enough to sell him? What if Joseph had never ended up in Egypt?

Joseph’s brothers not only did him a favor by rejecting and abandoning him, but the country of Egypt benefitted, as well. If Joseph’s brothers had tolerated him just enough to allow him to remain in the family, his dreams likely would’ve been suffocated.

A dreamer’s dreams will never be condoned in a dysfunctional environment, thus the dreamer has to go. As painful as it may be for dreamers to leave or be tossed out of their dysfunctional families, it’s then that they can reach their potential and have a positive affect and influence on others.

Soon, we’ll see what happened when Joseph’s dysfunctional family re-appeared in his life.