Here is one of the most tricky stages in accomplishing a dream – the temporary place. Most people, who are passionate about their vision, stop at this stage because they wrongly assume it to be the permanent place. So, they settle. They settle at this stage because of the relative comfort, peace and recognition they experience.
Although Joseph was a slave in Potiphar’s house, he had all his heart desired, apart from his original nuclear family. Everyone in the house loved him, even ‘too much’ because Potiphar’s wife began to lust after him. He was respected, admired and probably envied because of his powerful dreams – trust loquacious Joseph to share some of those dreams with the other servants in the house. So, he had everything. But remember that Potiphar’s house is not the throne of Egypt. Potiphar’s house is not where Joseph’s family will bow to him. God does not give big dreams and then turn around to settle for making you a comfortable slave.
It is also a temporary place because it is a place you acquire leadership and managerial skills that will be important for the subsequent stages of life. Joseph only had some training in leading the flock with his brothers, but he hadn’t managed people before. So, Potiphar’s house represented a place where he learnt how to interact with co-workers, assign duties, monitor performances and outcomes and adjust accordingly.
The young king of Israel in 2 Kings 13 was asked to strike the ground with his arrows, and he struck three times and stopped. The prophet Elisha was not happy. The temporary place of training is the point to hit harder and grow. Samson stopped at the temporary place of training and never fully accomplished his dream. He failed the test of self-restraint.
Reflection: At this stage, it would seem that you have arrived. Beware of settling down quickly and pitching your tent where you should not be. Beware of relaxing when you should be getting ready to leave. The realisation of the dream is still ahead. Do not settle and forget God when things seem comfortable and peaceful – Beware of Jeshurun syndrome. Beware of complacency.
