And it shall be in the last days,’ says God, ‘that I will pour out my spirit upon all mankind; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see [divinely prompted] visions, and your old men shall dream [divinely prompted] dreams; even on my bond-servants, both men and women, I will in those days pour out my spirit and they shall prophesy. Acts 2:17 quoting from Joel 2:28 He said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in […]

Why are some dreams literal, while most are symbolic?  Some people, like creatives, visionaries—really right-brained people—have more literal dreams. But for 95 percent of us, our dreams are usually symbolic, speaking to us in a figurative language we need to learn to understand. Symbolic language does not make the dream any less valid or true.  Example: Joseph’s dreams Though the meaning was veiled in figurative expressions, it was a true message to Joseph from God. First Dream: Genesis 35:5-8 One time Joseph had a dream. When he told his brothers about it, they hated him even more. Joseph said, “Listen to the […]

Relying on God’s Guidance Helps us Prepare for the Future But when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you into all truth. He will not speak his own words. He will speak only what he hears and will tell you what is to come.   John 16:13ICB Throughout his life, God blessed Joseph with the ability to interpret dreams. While in jail, Joseph performed this act for servants in Pharaoh’s home, one of whom was pardoned and returned to serve the Egyptian leader. Later, Pharaoh had a confusing dream, and his servant told him to summon Joseph. Joseph […]

God is a master communicator – the creater of both verbal/literal communication as well as symbols. In Scriptures, we see often how God’s people are instructed to make use of symbols to help them understand or remember what God is teaching them. Some examples of symbols include: The rainbow is the sign of God’s covenant to us that He will never again destroy the earth by a flood (Genesis 9:13), The placement of the twelve stones in the River Jordan to remind the Israelites of the crossing God had provided for them “as a sign” and “memorial” (Joshua 4:3-7), The […]

Dreams are an important part of many Biblical stories and passages because they offer insight and foresight into decisions and actions humanity need to do at each specific time.  God promised to pour out His Spirit in the last days. Dreaming of dreams is one of the benefits promised when the Spirit of God is poured on all men. We look at all the dreamers in the Old Teestament to better and further understand the importance of dreams.  How Many Symbolic Dreamers Are in the Old Testament? Jacob’s Ladder Dream – Genesis 28 After Jacob tricked Esau out of his […]

And it happened at the time when the flock conceived that I looked up and saw in a dream that the rams which mated [with the female goats] were streaked, speckled, and spotted. 11 And the b]”>[b]Angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’ 12 He said, ‘Look up and see, all the rams which are mating [with the flock] are streaked, speckled, and spotted; for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar, and where you made a vow to Me; now stand […]

Long before Israel settled between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River, their ancestor Abraham sojourned throughout the territory with his wife Sarah. Abraham was wealthy and often made other nations feel threatened. Whenever Abraham moved to or was passing by a new city, the leadership of that city took note. The culture of the time was that if a powerful king liked a woman, even if she was married, he could kill the husband and take the wife for himself. It is on this premises that when Abraham made his way to Gerar, he’s concerned that his wife is so […]

From previous sessions, we established that dreams serve primarily as a means of communication between humans and God. These dreams can take many forms—visual images, auditory commands, frightening nightmares—but the common feature is a revelatory message from the divine to the dreamer. For God speaks once, and even twice, yet no one notices it [including you, Job].In a dream, a vision of the night [one may hear God’s voice], When deep sleep falls on men, while slumbering upon the bed. Then He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction. That He may turn man aside from his conduct, and keep him from pride; […]

 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask [Me] what I shall give you.” Solomon’s Prayer 6 Then Solomon said, “You have shown Your servant David my father great lovingkindness, because he walked before You in faithfulness and righteousness and with uprightness of heart toward You; and You have kept for him this great lovingkindness, in that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today. 7 So now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of David my father; and as for me, I am but a […]

First Dream: Take Mary as Your Wife Joseph would have divorced Mary when he found out she was pregnant, but God sent an angel to him in a dream, convincing him that the pregnancy was of God. Joseph went ahead with the marriage. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:20 A pregnant woman who is not married would have […]

Jesus’ Trial before Pilate 11Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked him. Jesus replied, “You have said it.” 12But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. 13“Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” Pilate demanded. 14But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise. 15Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted. 16This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man […]