Introduction:
Recently, I had a dream that someone I knew was being
attacked. It was so vivid and realistic that I was shaken. I called the person to find out how they were
doing and without telling the dream, I found out that a neighbor had attacked
him. I did not mention the dream as I was not sure if I should. Dreams have always
been intriguing and perplexing to our minds. This has resulted in persons
trying to figure out if their dreams are real or if they are just the result of
their imaginations at work. There are persons who have businesses built around
the interpretation of other people’s dreams for a fee. People use dreams to determine
many things such as what lottery numbers they should buy and what actions they
should take in situations they face. There are cultural influences attached to
dreams also and some people take them seriously to the extent that their mood
and activities are affected.
Dreams play a significant role in the Bible, serving as a means
for God to communicate and reveal things to people. Two examples that stand out
are when Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dreams and when Daniel was able to tell
King Nebuchadnezzar the meaning of his dreams. The Bible gives several
instances where dreams had clear-cut and significant meanings. It is necessary
to examine the significance of dreams in the context of Christianity. Some
people believe that dreams are merely subconscious reflections during sleep and
carry no deeper spiritual implications. Others believe differently.
We grapple with the question of whether or not it is
appropriate for Christians to seek interpretation or understanding of their
dreams from other people. Let's take a look at these points of view and questions
to see what insights we can gain from dreams.
The Importance of Dreams in the Bible:
Dreams as portrayed in the Bible are not merely products of
the subconscious mind of the dreamer but were often regarded as a means through
which God communicated with His people. Numbers 12:6,” And he said, Hear now my
words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto
him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.” Both the Old and New Testaments
portray dreams as a way used by God to deliver messages, offer guidance, and give
prophecy. For instance, in the book of Genesis, Joseph's dreams not only foretold
his future leadership but also played a critical role in the fulfillment of
God's plan for the nation of Israel.
Dreams also served as a way to convey God's instructions
and warnings. The prophet Daniel, for example, was gifted with the ability to
interpret dreams, enabling him to unravel the hidden meanings behind
Nebuchadnezzar's perplexing visions. Daniel was very careful to make it known
that the interpretations he gave were not from his own abilities but from
Almighty God. Through Daniel's interpretations, God revealed His rulership over
earthly kingdoms and foretold future events, demonstrating the profound
significance of dreams. To this day many are still trying to interpret some
aspects of these dreams and visions. Daniel’s Seventy Weeks Prophecy is one of
the most written about and discussed prophecies of the Bible.
In the Bible, dreams often serve as a means of
encouragement and reassurance to believers facing adversity. In the New
Testament, Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, was guided by God through
dreams, in which He instructed him to protect the infant Jesus from Herod's raging
anger and search to kill Him. God told Him to take the baby Jesus and his mother
Mary to Egypt and He later told him to return home after Herod had died. Similarly,
the apostle Paul received a vision in a dream, prompting him to journey to
Macedonia and spread the Gospel, highlighting the role of dreams in directing
believers in their walk with Christ. In doing so Paul became known as the
apostle to the Gentiles. Although the eleven disciples chose Matthias to
replace Judas (Acts of the Apostles 1:21-26), the twelfth apostle, Paul was the
one chosen by God.
Matthew 27:19 tells us that when Jesus was facing trial before
he was crucified, Pontius Pilate’s wife had a dream about the trial that her
husband was presiding over. She told her husband about it and in the end,
Pilate symbolically washed his hands of the decision of the Jews to crucify
Jesus. They knew that Jesus was innocent of the charges brought against him.
Some Takeaways for Christians:
The dreams found in the Bible offer valuable lessons and
insights into God's character and His plans for us. Firstly, dreams underscore
the all-powerful and all-knowing nature of God, revealing His ability to
communicate with His people through various means to accomplish His purpose.
They remind us that God is actively involved in our lives, guiding us and
imparting wisdom through supernatural means. In many of the dreams, God gave
specific instructions. There was no need for interpretation. God told Jacob in
a dream, “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a
great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you
back” (Genesis 46:3-4).
At other times interpretation of a dream was needed. In
Judges 7:13-14,” Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a
friend his dream. ‘I had a dream,’ he was saying, ‘A round loaf of barley bread
came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that
the tent overturned and collapsed.’” The man’s friend told him that the dream
meant that God had given Midian and the entire camp into the hand of Gideon.
Secondly, we should be careful who we share our dreams with
and how we share them. Sharing our
dreams can get us into trouble with others even if it is not done in a boastful
way. Joseph's dreams while he was still a young boy got him into trouble with
his brothers. Even his father was not pleased when he told his dream about the
moon and the sun bowing down to him. Israel
interpreted that to mean that His wife and he would bow down to Joseph. The
rest of the story shows how it all worked out according to God’s plan although
Joseph went through several sufferings and tribulations. Not every dream is to
be shared.
Thirdly, dreams serve as a reminder of the spiritual battles
that believers face. In the book of Ephesians, Paul exhorts Christians to put
on the full armor of God to withstand the schemes of the devil. Dreams can
often be a battleground for spiritual warfare, where believers may encounter
demonic influences seeking to deceive or discourage them. Discernment and
prayer are therefore essential for interpreting dreams in alignment with God's
truth and rejecting any false or deceptive messages. It is important to note
that the interpretation of dreams or visions was only done by persons when God
gave them the ability to do so.
Moreover, some people believe that dreams can provide
insights into one's spiritual journey and relationship with God. They feel that
through our dreams hidden fears, desires, or unresolved issues that require
attention and prayer may be revealed. Some also believe that the themes,
numbers, and symbols present in dreams, can give a deeper understanding of a
person’s spiritual state, and can be used to discern God's guidance for their
life.
Seeking Interpretation of Our Dreams
Some Christians argue that seeking the interpretation of
dreams can open the door to superstition, demonic forces, or reliance on human
wisdom. Others believe that God can use individuals gifted with the ability to
interpret dreams to carry out His purposes. We need to ensure that we do not
allow ourselves to be drawn into the devil’s snares while seeking to understand
the meaning of our dreams. It is also possible that some dreams have no real
significance. Ecclesiastes 5:3, “For a dream cometh through the multitude of
business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.” You may have had
some of those and there may be others that left you perplexed as you knew that
they had significance.
As Christians, we need to approach the interpretation of
dreams with discernment and reliance on biblical truth. Seeking advice from our
pastors, spiritual leaders, or mature believers, who are grounded in scripture
can provide valuable insights and guidance in discerning the meaning of dreams.
However, it is crucial to test interpretations against the principles outlined
in God's Word and to pray for wisdom and discernment.
The interpretations given for dreams in the bible were not
always favorable. Of course, no one wants to have an unfavorable dream. Man is
not in control however, God is. Nebuchadnezzar’s
dream about a huge, magnificent tree that was cut down was a warning of his
downfall and was interpreted by Daniel. The fact that the king was troubled by
the dream is an indication that he knew it was not a favorable dream. This was
God’s judgment on him because of his pride. Daniel 4:31-32 shows that he went
mad, roamed about like a wild animal, and ate grass for seven years. When he
acknowledged and turned to God he was restored to his right mind.
Furthermore, we should be cautious about placing too much
emphasis on dreams or using them as the only basis for decision-making. While
dreams can offer valuable insights, they should always be viewed in light of
scripture and subjected to prayerful consideration. Since it is the Lord Who
says that He will talk to us through dreams. He will also ensure that we have
the interpretations of the dreams that He has given us. When you have perplexing
dreams, you should ask the Giver of dreams to give you an understanding of them.
If it is from Him, you will get the understanding. He may reveal it to you
directly or through an interpreter.
Conclusion:
Dreams in the Bible serve as evidence of God's
faithfulness, rulership, and desire to communicate with us. They offer clear
insights into His mysteries, provide guidance and encouragement, and reveal the
spiritual realities at play in our lives. While interpreting dreams may be
complicated, we can approach them with discernment, prayer, and from the
perspective of biblical truth. We should not allow ourselves to be too deeply
entrenched in getting dreams and in seeking interpretations that we find
favorable.
Ultimately, dreams are a means of communication from God to
us therefore He will always give us the understanding of the dream. Otherwise,
the communication would have failed. By learning from the lessons and insights
from dreams in the Bible, we can deepen our faith, strengthen our relationship
with God, and walk confidently in His purposes for our lives.
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