“Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”
Genesis 37:19-20 NIV
Joseph’s story is one that never loses its relevance. It begins with the simple but dangerous reality of favour. His father loved him more than his brothers, and that favour became a seed of hatred in their hearts. But it wasn’t until Joseph began to dream—divinely inspired dreams that hinted at greatness—that their hatred evolved into a deadly scheme.
In Genesis 37:18, we read that when Joseph’s father sent him to check on his brothers, “they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.” Their hearts were so hardened that by the time he arrived, they had already conspired to end his life. Verses 19–20 reveal the depth of their bitterness: “Here comes that dreamer,” they said. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns… Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”
It wasn’t just about the coat of many colours anymore. Their true motive was rooted in fear—fear of what Joseph’s life could become. His dreams threatened them, not just emotionally but spiritually. They understood that this boy carried something more than favour; he carried divine purpose. And that made him dangerous.
This same strategy plays out in the life of every believer today. The moment the enemy senses God’s hand upon your life, he does not sit back idly. When he sees the potential of your walk with God, he moves swiftly, whispering in the shadows: “Let’s ruin this one too. Let’s cut him off before anything meaningful comes of his faith.”
The enemy’s primary aim isn’t always physical destruction. More often, he targets our spiritual life. He attacks our intimacy with God, our hunger for His Word, our passion for worship and prayer. Why? Because he knows that if we are disconnected from God, we are disconnected from purpose.
The devil is after the presence of God in your life. He understands that as long as your relationship with the Father is alive and vibrant, you are a threat to his dark agenda. But if he can sever that connection—even subtly—he renders you spiritually powerless and ineffective. The dream may remain, but the power to fulfil it fades when we are no longer walking in step with God.
When a believer strays from God, the purposes of heaven for their life become dormant. Unless they restore that relationship, not much can come from their existence. It’s not that God’s call is void—it’s that the vessel is no longer in the right position to carry it out.
So, the enemy keeps breathing the same lie: “Let’s kill him. Let’s destroy her confidence. We can suffocate his passion. Let’s make them question their salvation.” It’s a subtle war, but it’s real. And many fall, not because the dream isn’t valid, but because they have lost the connection to the Dream-Giver.
This is why we must be vigilant. We must guard our walk with God above all else. Our quiet time, our fellowship with other believers, our commitment to prayer and obedience—these are the lifelines of our destiny.
When we neglect them, we become easy prey. But when we stay rooted in Christ, the enemy’s plans lose their power. Joseph’s brothers threw him into a pit, but God raised him to a palace. That’s the power of divine purpose. It cannot be stopped—only delayed, if we allow it.
May we be wise to the schemes of the enemy and fiercely protect our relationship with the Lord. Because when our hearts remain aligned with Him, no pit is deep enough, and no plot strong enough to stop what God has ordained.