In a dream I had several years ago, I was working for a businessman, and we were going to a meeting. My job was to take along a large tractor tire, so I rolled it down the street and into an impressive-looking office building, amid many stares and snickers.
With my boss behind me, I rolled the tire into a room that held a large conference table, covered with a variety of small electronic devices. A group of men was seated around the table. I rolled the tire toward the leader, while several people expressed displeasure at the interruption of their meeting.
The leader ignored them. He also ignored me and turned his attention to my boss, looking for an explanation of the intrusion. Without hesitation, my boss spoke only a sentence or two to the leader. I don’t remember his exact words, but it had to do with selling tires, although not tractor tires like the one I had brought to the meeting.
It was clear that my boss’ words hit the mark with the leader, who proclaimed, “I’ll take twenty-million of them!” And with those words, he arose from the table and went to another room with my boss. They quickly concluded a negotiation and handed me a two-inch thick stack of documents related to the agreement. As we were leaving, both men had the hint of a smile on their faces, revealing their shared confidence that the agreement would prosper them.
When I woke up, I knew that this was a spiritual dream and asked, “Lord, what was that all about?” He spoke several things to me that offer insight into the kind of supernatural leadership He wants to develop in His people.
First, the leader at the table was one who had the ability to see opportunity, even if it was outside the realm of his normal dealings—which in this case seemed to be small electronic equipment. He welcomed the chance to move into new territory.
Second, the leader had the resources to seize the opportunity that was presented to him. He was able to act because he had been wise in other dealings.
Third, my boss not only knew that this leader had these qualities and capabilities, but he also understood that he had to get the leader’s attention and not be distracted by underlings—thus, the tractor tire which served several purposes. It arrested the leader’s attention in a way that words alone could not have. Since my boss’ intent was not to sell tractor tires, using it was a bit flamboyant, but it was still symbolic of the tires my boss did want to sell. It shifted the leader’s attention away from the electronic devices on the table, released him to think “outside the box” of his normal dealings, and seemed to trigger his ability to see opportunity.
I remember marveling at the wisdom of my boss in the dream. The Lord brought to mind the verse that says “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men” (Proverbs 22:29).
The word translated obscure in this verse is from a Hebrew word meaning “dark,” and its root characterizes the darkness that comes upon someone because of sin. It’s also symbolic of blindness. Such people can’t see opportunity because they have no vision.
Christians, on the other hand, are to be led by the Spirit and should walk in light. We should be able to see opportunity. We should be visionaries. We should receive supernatural God-strategies for our work. Joseph is a type of this. He walked in the covenant promise found in Deuteronomy 28:13, where the Lord promised to make us the head and not the tail if we flow with the instructions—the God-strategies—He gives us. Joseph obeyed God, so he was placed into a position to use those strategies and save a whole nation from famine.
So here’s my prayer for you:
Father, in Jesus’ name, I’m asking that our Christian leaders in every area will be led by Your Spirit, that You will make them skillful in their work, flowing supernaturally with strategic instructions You give them. Lord, I’m asking that You’ll teach them to think “outside the box,” that they will walk in the light and see opportunity. I’m also asking that you strategically network them with people who can see opportunity and who have the resources to embrace opportunity, rather than bringing them before obscure men whose eyes are darkened to opportunity. Lord, thank You for expressing the desire to make Your children the head and not the tail. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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