But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:14
Have you ever shared a story with others, perhaps the tale of a significant experience that was meaningful to you, only to find that once out of your mouth, it sounded like you were just trying to brag or call attention to yourself? It leaves a feeling of embarrassment. It’s a good idea to double-check one’s heart in such a situation. Sometimes maybe there’s a part of us that IS trying to make ourselves sound good.
I have often wondered whether Old Testament Joseph meant to brag in telling his dreams to his family. He was quite young, maybe 15 or 16 at the time. At that age did he have any experience with dream analysis? Maybe he really had no idea how his dreams would come across to his parents and brothers.
Eventually, between telling those dreams and his father’s obvious favoritism of him over his siblings, Joseph brothers almost killed him, but then decided to sell him to slave traders. At seventeen years old, he was ripped away from his parents, his home, and his country because of the deeply sinful jealousy of his older brothers. Even though we know God used it for good, (Genesis 50:20) the wickedness of everything the brothers did in Genesis 37 cannot be overstated.
Was it Joseph’s fault? Of course not! But do you think he ever had any regrets about telling those dreams? I imagine at some point he must have realized that sharing in that way ultimately had not been to his advantage.
Genesis 37:19 confirms that the telling of the dreams played a part in the brothers’ diabolical plans.
“Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!”
The modern reader may accuse me of victim blaming, but if Joseph had been more discreet about revealing his dreams, he might not have made himself such a target. A little more discretion on Joseph’s part would have been wise and might have protected him.
The words discretion and discernment both come from a Latin root meaning to separate. In Hebrews 5:14 we are encouraged to mature in our ability “to discern both good and evil.” This maturing happens “by reason of use,” that is, through experience. Young Joseph’s lack of experience and his inability to separate out what was not wise to tell cost him a great deal of suffering.
If you read 37:1-11, it seems that Joseph probably had some clues that telling those dreams was not the best idea. It’s hard to believe that his brothers could hate him that much and Joseph have no idea. His brothers’ hearts were wicked and they bear the full blame for what they chose to do with their temptation. But when Joseph was sitting in a prison in a foreign country as a falsely accused slave (Genesis 39), I would be surprised if he never once wished he could go back and re-live those last couple of years at home with a little more discretion and discernment.
On my built-in computer dictionary, one of the definitions for discreet is this: “careful and circumspect in one’s speech or actions, especially in order to avoid causing offense or to gain an advantage.”
As Christians there are times we must say and do things that will offend the world. But sometimes in our personal lives we unwisely call attention to ourselves with our words or actions. Sometimes we do it in ignorance; sometimes on purpose. We may need to double-check our hearts as to what our true motives are. In any case, discretion is to our advantage. Let’s pray for the wisdom to be discerning and discreet.
Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart…that I may discern between good and evil. 1 Kings 3:9
Dear God, I humbly ask for Your wisdom and Your help that I might be better able to discern between good and evil. Deliver me from the desire to draw attention to myself, especially in ways that are sinful or dangerous. Protect me from all harm and may I have the discernment to avoid every kind of evil. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Walk Worthy 