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Who Can Hear From God in a Dream?
By examining the dreams recorded for our edification and admonition in Scripture, we understand that God speaks through dreams to all manner of both men and women—kings, prophets, swindlers, cattle ranchers, bakers, butlers, soldiers, a man betrothed to be married, or the wife of a government official. Here are the dreamers found in the Bible
God visited Abram in a vision that segued into a dream during which the LORD established the Abrahamic Covenant. This teaches us that God can make transactions with his children through our dreams. God therefore sometimes accomplishes very significant events within dreams. (Genesis 15)
Abimelech, a ruler, was prevented from sinning against Abram’s wife because of a warning in a dream. (Genesis 20:3)
The patriarch Jacob dreamed of a supernatural ladder attended by angels and stretching into Heaven. He saw the Lord, who communicated comfort and direction and made a covenant with Jacob (Genesis 28: 12)
Jacob received in a dream the strategy to increase his livestock wealth. (Genesis 46: 2) Jacob received direction from God not to fear to travel to Egypt, for there in Egypt God would make of him a great nation. (Genesis 46: 2)
A strong-willed man, Laban received a directional warning from God not to hinder or speak negatively to his son-in-law, the Biblical patriarch Jacob. (Genesis 31: 24)
Joseph dreamed prophetically of his future greatness and leadership when he envisioned his brethren as sheaves make obedience to his sheaf. (Genesis 37: 5)
Joseph dreamed prophetically a second time of his family represented by the sun, moon and stars bowing down to him. (Genesis 37: 9) Joseph’s subsequent experience of rejection and hardship teaches us that it is not always wise to share our dreams prematurely with others. Egypt’s chief butler dreamed prophetically a positive dream concerning his restoration and destiny. (Genesis 40: 9)
The chief baker of Egypt was also given a prophetic warning dream. (Genesis 40: 16)
Egypt’s Pharaoh was granted a dream, warning of an impending famine. (Genesis 41: 1-4)
Second dream of Pharaoh to emphasize that famine was surely coming. (Genesis 41: 5-8)
Gideon providentially overheard the dream of a Midianite soldier, assuring Gideon of victory in battle. (Judges 7: 13)
God appeared to King Solomon in a dream to test his desires; Solomon communicated back to God asking for wisdom, and his desire was rewarded plus more. This Scripture teaches us that it is possible for God to grant gifts in our dreams. (1 Kings 3: 3-15)
Eliphaz, one of “Job’s comforters,” described a visitation from a spirit in a night vision and a voice that he heard from God. (Job 4: 12-21)
Job experienced nightmares and stated that dreams symbolize the short-lived pleasures of the wicked. (Job 7: 14; 20:8)
Nebuchadnezzar dreamed prophetically of world kingdoms (Daniel 2) and concerning himself. (Daniel 4)
Daniel dreamed prophetically of destinies of kingdoms, received much information concerning Messiah, and possessed the power to interpret dreams. (Daniel 1: 17; 2: 1-3; 7, 8, 10: 5-9)
The prophet Joel affirmed that dreams and visions would be one of the Last Days provisions of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2: 28)
In the New Testament, St. Joseph was instructed in a divine dream not to fear to marry the Virgin Mary because her child was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1: 20) Joseph, as head of the household, was warned in a dream to escape with Mary and the Baby Jesus to Egypt. (Matthew 2: 13)
Joseph was granted the “all clear” in a dream to return home (Matthew 2: 19).
Joseph received news of wicked King Herod’s death in this timely dream.
The Wise Men who traveled to worship Jesus were warned in a dream to return in another direction to evade the wicked designs of murderous King Herod. (Matthew 2: 12)
Pilate’s wife warned her husband, the Roman governor, not to harm Jesus because of what she had suffered in a dream. (Matthew 27: 19)
The Apostle Paul received specific guidance through a dream by a man beckoning him to bring the Gospel to Macedonia. (Acts 16: 9) Thus Christianity, which began as an Eastern movement, spread westward to Europe because of a dream.
Paul was assured in a dream that it was God’s plan and purpose for his life that he should take the Gospel to Rome. (Acts 23: 11)
Paul was given assurance of safety for himself and for all sailors during shipwreck. (Acts 28: 23-24)
Both Joseph, who became prime minister of Egypt, and Daniel who ruled in Babylon, possessed a supernatural gift to interpret the disturbing dreams of Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar. It is important to note that they credited the Spirit of God with their ability to interpret the dreams that nobody else could interpret. We must also ask God to grant us by his Spirit this ability when needed. Jesus said, we have not simply because we ask not.
It must be reiterated that we do not need today to depend upon dreams, visions and voices, because as the Apostle Peter declared in the New Testament, we have a “more sure word of prophecy” and “exceedingly great and precious promises” in the Bible to guide us. But not everybody in this world has access to the Bible. The manner in which an important message was conveyed to Eliphaz in Job Chapter 4 has many salient points of a visitation by God or a ministering spirit in a night vision:
“Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper of it. In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, Fear came upon me and trembling, which made all my bones shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up! [The spirit] stood still, but I could not discern the appearance of it. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, and then I heard a voice, saying, Can mortal man be just before God, or be more right than He is? Can a man be pure before his Maker, or be more cleansed than He is? Even in His [heavenly] servants He puts no trust or confidence, and His angels He charges with folly and error-- How much more those who dwell in houses (bodies) of clay, whose foundations are in the dust, who are crushed like the moth. Between morning and evening they are destroyed; without anyone noticing it they perish forever. Is not their tent cord plucked up within them [so that the tent falls]? Do they not die, and that without [acquiring] wisdom?” (Job 4:12-21 Amplified Bible)
The Secret Friendship of the Lord
First of all, let us observe that the message above was communicated secretly. Someone has said, “In sleep and in the night, my heavenly Lord may drop His hints into my soul, showing me how I should live and act in broad day.” However, in many countries, there is great persecution if a believer puts his faith in Jesus. God has given many revelations in secret, where no eye sees, and the Holy Spirit of God has hidden ways of bringing counsel, and comfort to his chosen ones, unobserved by the world. These private revelations are just as significant as public ministry. In fact, Psalm 25: 24 declares that the “secret friendship of the Lord is with them that fear Him.” One commentator has aptly said, “As the evil spirit often steals good words out of the heart (Matthew 13:19), so the good Spirit sometimes seals good words into the heart”--words of which no friend, family or foe are aware. Daniel 2: 19, “Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night visions. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.” God revealed great future events to the prophet Daniel, which were secrets that were sealed until the End Times when they will be revealed to the world.
Moreover, notice in Job Chapter 4 concerning revelations to Eliphaz, that God spoke during “deep slumber,” when man is not jabbering and is still to hear from the Almighty. Observe also that the night vision resulted in fear and trembling, not craven fear, but rather a holy, reverential fear, a sure sign that a dream or vision is directed from God. Thirdly, note what I call an “audible silence” before the ministering spirit communicated. An almost tangible silence before He speaks is often a characteristic of a supernatural encounter with God.
In the New Testament, Jude 8 deplores “filthy dreamers [who] defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.” One commentary notes, “All sinners are spiritually asleep; their carnal activity is as it were a dream (1 Thessalonians 5:6-7). Their speaking evil of dignities is because they are dreaming, and know not what they are speaking evil of (Jude 10). 'As a man dreaming thinks he is seeing and hearing many things, so the natural man's lusts are agitated by joy, distress, fear, and other passions. But he knows not self-command. Hence, though he bring into play all the powers of reason, he cannot conceive the true liberty which the sons of light, who are awake and in the daylight, enjoy' (Bengel).” [Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary]
Let’s turn now to visions, which usually occur while a person is awake or in what the New Testament calls a “trance.” According to the Dake Annotated Reference Bible, several Hebrew words are translated as “vision:”
Chazon, a mental sight, dream, revelation, oracle. This could come in the form of a divine utterance of words, such as a dream, a writing, or a mental picture while one is awake.
Chezev, night vision. This word is used of visions while asleep, known as dreams or night visions.
Marah, a vision as seeing something in a mirror, appearance.
Mareh, sight; appearance
Men and women from all walks of life in the Old Testament experienced visions (supernatural vignettes and mental images). And in the New Testament, the Lord Jesus and the disciples experienced visions. All were recorded for our admonition and instruction:
The patriarch Abraham was promised an heir and descendants as numerous as the stars and a land in an expansive vision of destiny. (Genesis 15)
The visionary Balaam was warned not to curse Israel as the Lord spoke to him in the realm of “seeing.” (Numbers 24: 4)
The call of the boy visionary Samuel is described as a vision. (1 Samuel 3: 1, 15)
Received by vision, Nathan the Prophet announced God’s perpetual plans to bless David’s house. (2 Samuel 7: 17; 1 Chronicles 17: 15)
Isaiah, son of Amoz, beheld visions concerning Judah and Jerusalem during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah; and concerning the holiness of the Lord (Isaiah 1: 1; 6: 1; 2 Chronicles 32: 32)
The Prophet Ezekiel was granted extraordinary visions of God, his throne, the living creatures, of Jerusalem and the Temple. (Ezekiel 1:1 and Chapter 40)
Iddo, an Old Testament “seer,” experienced visions concerning Jeroboam, son of Nebat (2 Chronicles 9: 29)
The Prophet Daniel was granted extraordinary visions to interpret the king’s dreams and visions concerning future empires, the Messiah, angels, spiritual warfare and the End Times. (Daniel 2: 19; 8: 1-27; 9: 21-24
King Nebuchadnezzar experienced dreams and visions concerning a mysterious image emblematic of world empires. (Daniel 2: 28)
The vision of the Prophet Obadiah concerning Edom. (Obadiah 1)
The vision of the Prophet Nahum concerning Nineveh. (Nahum 1: 1)
Habakkuk, a visionary prophet, received instructions to write his vision and make it plain upon tablets. (Habakkuk 2: 2-3)
Jesus Christ received words of knowledge concerning His disciples and others by visions. All of His ministry instructions from the Father were perceived by vision. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” (John 5:19, 8:38)
Peter the Apostle beheld Jesus, Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration and was commissioned in a visionary trance to preach to the Gentiles (Matthew 17: 9; Acts 10: 19; 11: 5)
James the Apostle beheld the transfigured Messiah conversing with Moses and Elijah. (Matthew 17: 9)
John the Apostle witnessed the Transfiguration and the extraordinary visions of the Book of Revelation. (Matthew 17: 9; Revelation 1: 1-2; 9: 17)
Zacharias, the priest and father of John the Baptist, saw a vision of the angel Gabriel, who announced the birth of John the Baptist. (Luke 1: 22)
Ananias, a disciple of Jesus in Damascus, was commissioned in a vision to minister to the Church’s persecutor, Saul of Tarsus. (Acts 9: 10-12)
Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, was chosen in a vision because of his prayers and alms to organize the first house meeting for the Gospel to be preached to the Gentiles. (Acts 10: 3, 17)
The Apostle Paul encountered the Risen Jesus on the Damascus Road and was granted many revelations by visions. (Acts 16: 9-10, 18: 9, 2 Corinthians 12: 1-9)
Let’s examine the first vision recorded in the Bible in Genesis 15: 1- 16, for contained therein are salient points concerning visions:
After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" And Abramsaid, "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir." Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. He also said to him, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it." But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?" So the LORD said to him, "Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon." Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. Then the LORD said to him, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure."
Notice, first of all, that God assures Abram not to be afraid; inordinate fear is a factor that must be reckoned with in the visionary realm. Then the LORD commences to commune with Abram. But Abram also communes with God—it is a “two way street” of revelation between God and his servant in the vision. Part of visionary experiences therefore is the exchange of communications between God and believers. The Lord offers words of encouragement and also shows Abram his destiny and calling and reveals many details to come. Righteousness is imputed to Abram in the vision because he exercised faith in the visionary realm and “believed God.” This teaches us that we can make definite faith exchanges during times of visionary revelation, as well as times when we are fully awake.
Note also that the vision took place over many hours. When the sun was setting, the vision mode changed into a deep sleep mode—the experience moved from the visionary realm in verse 1 into a REM dream mode in verse 12. Therefore the combined experiences of Abram’s visions and dreams in Genesis Chapter 15 probably lasted 24 hours! God revealed his purposes not only for Abram’s entire life but also for his descendants, so it was no wonder that the vision lasted for many hours continuously. From this we learn that visions are not always a short flash of illumination. The author can attest that once I experienced a vision on a trans-Atlantic flight that lasted nearly seven hours (concerning plans for a conference in Jerusalem).
In the New Testament, we are informed in John 16: 13 that the Spirit of God will reveal “things to come.” God will first speak through the voice of the Spirit, but because we are often dull of hearing, he may resort to speaking to us in startling dream pictures. Graciously, the Holy Spirit may show us a solution to a difficult situation in a dream, revealing important steps to take. At times we see ourselves speaking in a dream, a revelation of what we must do or not do. The Holy Spirit inspires us to give an answer fitting in with God’s plan. Sometimes, God may grant us an awesome vision of his glory, as was the humbling experience of the prophet Isaiah (Chapter 6: 1), or we may be astonished and anguished by what we see for days on end, as was the experiences of Ezekiel and Daniel. They were incapacitated because of the magnitude of the visions they beheld.
It is exciting to contemplate that although men and women from all walks of life received dreams and visions in the Bible, we are promised in the Last Days that both men and women, old men and young men will especially experience dreams and visions. The next chapter will examine some of the pitfalls.
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