Series 2 - Lesson 9 - Annotation 17
Which of the sons of Jacob represents the imagination?
17. In the symbology of the Scriptures, Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, represents the imagination. Interpreting the narrative of Jacob and his sons metaphysically, we see an account of the unfoldment of the natural man before the soul is wholly illumined by spiritual understanding. In this account, most of the physical and mental faculties are developed (ten sons) before the imagination (Joseph) is brought into expression.
Joseph had dreams and visions and was able to tell what they stood for, but the other faculties, his brothers, were skeptical, doubtful. So our several faculties sometimes object when our imagination declares the possibility of betterment in our condition. They cast doubt on the feasibility of letting faith go to work with the image of good that can assure our greater happiness, health, and success.
Joseph represents the imagination, because he had sufficient imagination to become an interpreter of dreams. He understood that the picture symbols appearing in dreams represent certain ideas, beliefs, thoughts, or concepts at work in the consciousness of an individual, a nation, or a race. He understood dream symbology as being something personal and pertinent to the dreamer.
"Among the primal faculties of mind Joseph represents imagination. This faculty has the power to throw onto the screen of visibility in substance and life forms every idea that the mind may conceive" (Metaphysical Bible Dictionary, Joseph).
When the imaging faculty is developed under divine law, we will get true mental pictures, whether in dreams or during our waking hours. Through spiritual understanding we will learn how to interpret such mental pictures so that the results will be only good.
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Preceding Entry: What is the cause of "bad dreams"?
Following Entry: How should all dreams be interpreted?
