Interested in learning more about the Bible?
We send our amazing followers of Jesus Christ, just like you, daily text messages from the Holy Bible.
Will you join them?
What Does The Bible Say About Dreams?
The Bible speaks of dreams in both positive and negative terms. Dreams are not necessarily a direct form of communication from God, yet they can reveal insights into a person’s heart, its desires and its motivations. In the Bible, God uses dreams to reveal His will, foretell events, and speak to His people. It is important to note that not all dreams are from God. Dreams may be a result of natural causes such as a person’s diet, stress level, or the environment in which they live.
The Bible records the first dream in Genesis 28:10-12. In this passage, Jacob had a vision in which a ladder reached up to heaven and the angels of God were ascending and descending upon it. The Lord spoke to Jacob saying, “Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth, and through you and your descendants, all nations on earth will be blessed.” This dream was significant because it signaled the beginning of the nation of Israel, through the descendants of Jacob.
Another significant dream in the Bible is found in the Book of Daniel. In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream which he could not remember. He called upon all the wise men in his court to interpret the dream, but none could. Daniel was sent for and he prayed for God to reveal the dream and its interpretation. Daniel was able to interpret the dream to the King saying, “Your Majesty, you had a dream, and the God of heaven has revealed to you what it means.” Daniel then went on to explain the dream, which foretold of four great empires (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome) that would arise and come to power in the earth. He was also able to explain how God will one day set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed.
Dreams are often used in the Bible as a means of conveying God’s message. Joseph was able to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh in Genesis 41. God revealed through the dreams that a great famine was coming, and that Joseph should be promoted to a position of authority in order to prepare for it. Joseph was able to do so, which saved the nation of Egypt from starvation.
The Bible also gives us warnings about dreams. Deuteronomy 13:2-3 says, “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, ‘let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them’—you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you to find out if you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” This teaches us that not all dreams are from God, and we must be careful to distinguish between true and false dreams.
Another warning about dreams is found in Jeremiah 29:8. Here God tells Jeremiah not to listen to the false prophets who speak dreams in his name. God says that these prophets “belong to the dreams which they tell,” and that they “speak a vision of their own heart” instead of from God.
In conclusion, dreams are often mentioned in the Bible and can be a source of insight. They may be used by God to communicate messages, foretell events, or give warnings. It is important to understand that not all dreams are from God and we must be discerning in interpreting them. The Bible has a strong message of caution when it comes to false dreams and prophets. Dreams can be used to bring guidance to our lives, but we must use wisdom in deciphering between dream and prophecy.
Are you inspired by Bible verses? We’ll send you text messages, every day, from the Bible: Sign up for a daily test message, from the Holy Bible
Interested in Bible verses? Learn about similar topics here, like:
What does the bible say about faith, What does the bible say about family, What does the bible say about halloween, What does the bible say about jealousy, What does the bible say about piercings
