The God Who Speaks

Throughout the Bible, God often communicated important messages through dreams. These nighttime visions were not random or meaningless, but intentional revelations that shaped the course of history. God has not changed, and he still uses dreams today to instruct, warn, or encourage his people.

Consider the story of Joseph:

“Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, ‘Hear this dream that I have dreamed: behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.’”
(Genesis 37:5-7)

Though misunderstood and resisted, Joseph’s dreams were God’s way of revealing his future purpose. Later, God used Joseph to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, which saved nations from famine (Genesis 41).

Daniel also received and interpreted dreams:

“Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.”
(Daniel 2:19)

In the New Testament, God used dreams to protect and guide. For example, an angel warned Joseph (Mary’s husband) to flee to Egypt to save the child Jesus:

“But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife...’”
(Matthew 1:20)
“Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt...’”
(Matthew 2:13)

God can still use dreams to highlight people who need prayer, reveal areas of our hearts that need his touch, or call us to intercede. While not every dream has spiritual significance, those that are vivid, recurring, or carry a deep sense of importance could be worth prayerful reflection. When you have a dream that feels significant, write it down; pray and ask God if he is saying something specific. If you remain unsure, seek trusted counsel, and always test interpretations against Scripture.

Reflection:
Have you ever had a dream that seemed to carry a message or encouragement? Ask God to speak clearly to you as you sleep.