Recall that Joseph came into limelight in Egypt because he interpreted dreams. Recall also that Daniel became an influential person in Babylon and even after the fall of King Nebuchadnezzar because he was able to interpret dreams and solve puzzles. The question that I am pondering over in this discuss, is how can we also like Daniel and Joseph interpret dreams and puzzles?
Unfortunately kings and leaders of our era are no longer dreaming like Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar. In as much as they are not dreaming like these ancient kings, they still dream. Kings and leaders of our age are full of dreams. They are dreaming of how to solve outbreak of diseases like ebola, cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS. They are dreaming of how to reduce the amount of carbon released in the atmosphere. They are dreaming of how to ensure food security and reduce poverty and homelessness. They are dreaming of how to revamp their economies and create more jobs. They are dreaming of how to strategize and remain in power while serving the people honorably. They are dreaming of how to train their work force to become more effective and productive as well as happier. They are dreaming of how to reduce the cost of imputes and increase output. They are dreaming of having managers who can manage their businesses innovatively thereby reducing their daily stress and strain at manning all sectors. Kings are still dreaming and there is a great vacancy for interpreters of dreams in our time. The question here again is how can I be an interpreter of dreams?
You may not interpret dreams the way Joseph and Daniel did because Kings and leaders are no longer having those kinds of dreams of fat and thin cattle and images of gold and clay. Unfortunately there are a lot of us still hopping around so called prophets who only but interpret who is killing us and who is behind our lack of progress or bareness. To be a dream interpreter, envisage a problem. Make yourself available not as an entrant into society with the passion of what you will collect from society but with a passion of what you will offer the society for the good of all. Do not seek to interpret dreams so that the Kings and leaders will set you on their high mansions with pomp and pageantry coupled with the spoils of office. Interpret dreams for the sake of generations unborn and with the resolute hope and yearning to meet the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ.
“Many people believe that touching the lives of others can be done only by some elite group of specially gifted people. But that’s not the case. Any ordinary person can make a positive impact on the lives of others” says John Maxwell in his book “FAILING FORWARD.” (page 101).
If you want to fail, see life as a competition with your rival.
If you want to be a success, see life as a challenge not to become better than others but to help others become better than they are. That was what Joseph and Daniel did. They “lost their lives” to make the kingdom better. Read carefully Daniels reaction to offer of material things as a means to spur him to solve a puzzle: “Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means. (Dan 5:16-17 NIV).
Interpreters of dreams like Joseph and Daniel were appointed so that the Kingdom will not suffer loss, not to enrich themselves. The Bible testifies to this: “It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss.” (Dan 6:1-2 NIV).
These men discovered that in serving the kingdom selflessly by enriching her, they also secured their future and that of their generation unborn. Joseph and Daniel were indispensible in the kingdom simply because they interpreted dreams unselfishly without asking the king to sow into their pockets. Unfortunately in our days, some people who are appointed to help move institutions and organizations forward end up impoverishing her and subsequently enriching themselves. Nevertheless, of what use is wealth and riches if you do not have good access roads, healthcare and security as we are currently witnessing in Nigeria? Nigerian political appointees and top civil servants therefore have become like a pot of healthy and fat maggots wallowing in excreta. This excreta is the bad roads, the poor health care, the grave insecurity, the near comatose educational sector and absence of electric power. This is the situation those who are supposed to interpret dreams have created and they are wallowing in it.
Remember also Philip, the apostle of Jesus Christ who met the treasurer and high official of Ethiopia. (Acts 8:26-40). The government official was puzzled by the scripture he read. Philip ran up to him and made it plain to the Government official. There was a great change afterward in the life of the politician that he repented and demanded an immediate baptism. Philip did this duty without hoping to be paid or rewarded. Just imagine yourself meeting the minister of finance of a country like Nigeria puzzled and anxious to solve a problem, you suddenly appear and with a stroke of the hand you solved her problem, will you not be prying into her pockets or demanding she sows a seed to help you in your ministry? Philip did his duty and God took care of his transportation. Interpreters of dreams are duty bound and not money bound!
Somebody’s life may be saved today because you have decided to interpret dreams. You may be the one to interpret the dream of our sports administrators to bring the World cup to Africa courtesy of Nigeria. You may be that Senior Assistant to the Governor, Senator of Local Government Chairman that will cause them dreaming of providing REAL AND TANGIBLE service to the people they lead. You are the one the world is looking for. I strongly believe I am one and that is why I am writing this so that you all can join me to translate the yearning of our leaders into reality. Like Joseph, let us team up to solve hunger and unemployment. The President, Governors, Legislators are looking up to us. Let us do our part by being the solution they are looking for. Do not say it is not possible to work and achieve success while these ungodly rogues and politicians steal our money. Remember that Joseph and Daniel were able to achieve tremendous success in heathen nations ruled by those who knew not the Savior. I WANT TO BE! DO YOU WANT TOBE?
To interpret dreams study research and ask questions. Take risks, do the unusual, question the status-quo and move into areas others dare to move in. God is looking for interpreters of dreams and if you want to be one raise your hand and say, “I can, I want to be!”
