THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT - Are Dreams Messages From God?/Dreams From God

In the Bible, God-inspired dreams were always induced for a specific reason. True, at times the dreamer could not immediately understand the meaning of the dream.  In many cases, however, the "Revealer of secrets" himself provided the explanation so that there would be no doubt as to the meaning of the dream.  (Daniel 2:28, 29; Amos 3:7) Dreams from God did not have the vague illogic that often characterizes normal dreams.  

At times, dreams were used by God to protect key individuals in the outworking of his purpose.  The recipients of such dreams were not necessarily  servants of God.  For example, the astrologers who visited the young child Jesus did not return to see murderous Herod as he had requested. Why? They received a warning in a dream.  (Matthew 2:7-12) This gave Jesus' adoptive father, Joseph, enough time to flee Egypt with his family, in response to  the direction that he too had received in a dream.   This saved the life of young Jesus. -Matthew 2:13, 15. 

Centuries earlier, an Egyptian pharaoh had dreams of seven healthy ears of grain and seven fat-fleshed cows contrasted with seven sickly ears of grain and seven emaciated cows.  Joseph, with divine help, interpreted the dreams correctly: Egypt would enjoy seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine.  Knowing this in advance allowed the Egyptians to prepare and stockpile food.  This proved instrumental in preserving the descendants of Abraham and in bringing them to Egypt. -Genesis, chapter 41; 45:5-8. 

Kind Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon likewise had a dream. It foretold the rise and fall of the future world powers that would have a direct impact on God's people.  (Daniel 2:31-43) Later, he had another dream that predicted his personal fall into madness and subsequent recovery.  This prophetic dream had a larger fulfillment, pinpointing the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom, through which God would accomplish his will. -Daniel 4:10-37. 

Next time: THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT - Are Dreams Messages From God?/What About Today? 

From the Awake! magazine