We can find many stories of people in the Bible who had dreams or visions from God. One of the most popular stories of dreams in the Bible is the story of Joseph, who was thrown into prison after being falsely accused. The Bible tells us in Genesis 40:5: “While they were in prison, Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker each had a dream one night, and each dream had its own meaning.” The cupbearer and baker claimed they both had dreams, but no one could tell them what they mean, so Joseph said, “Interpreting dreams is God’s business, go ahead and tell me your dreams.” (Genesis 40:8).
First of all, when it comes to interpreting dreams, it is vital that we understand that it is God who interprets dreams, and not man. No character in the Bible was able to interpret a dream without God’s help. Genesis 41:8 tells us that the Pharaoh also had a dream, but no one could interpret it, so the cupbearer recommended Joseph. The cupbearer said that there is a young man who can interpret dreams. Joseph was then summoned by the Pharaoh and Joseph said, “Both of Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God is telling Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do,” (Genesis 41:25). Joseph successfully and accurately interpreted the Pharaoh’s dream, but only because God helped him.
A Warning About Dreams
You can find many people today who claim that they can interpret dreams for you. These people will even convince you that they can tell you about your future. Christians need to be very careful with these people, especially if they are unbelievers or those who have no idea about the person or works of Christ. When you encounter these kinds of people, it is important that you share with them the Gospel of Jesus. Interpreting dreams outside of God’s wisdom and knowledge is a dangerous thing, as it can harm one’s life. As Christians, it is important that we always pray for wisdom when we encounter dreams that we think have meaning.
Always remember this, the Bible is the objective truth, while dreams can be speculative and subjective. Instead of focusing on interpreting our dreams, Christians should focus on studying and understanding the Scriptures. After all, the Holy Scriptures reveal the will of God. It is better to draw inspiration and meaning from the Bible and not from our dreams. It is in the Bible where God revealed His plans, power, majesty, and love. If you have a dream or vision, it is very important that you interpret with the Bible. You need to compare what the Bible says and what the will of God is to your dreams. See if your dreams match God’s words and will. If they don’t, then they are probably from the Enemy.
Scriptures and Dreams
Christians should know that the revelation in God’s Word is enough to meet our needs. The Bible should be enough to give us hope and reassurance for the future. It is possible that our dreams sprung from our feelings or emotions, which can be very deceiving. It is also possible that our dreams are simply creations of our imagination. The Bible is for all of us and each of us; it is sufficient to guide us in our daily lives. In Latin, there is what we call Sola Scriptura, meaning “by Scripture alone”. It means that the Word of God is complete, authoritative for faith, and a complete guide for the practice of Christian living. Take note that your dreams cannot usurp the authority of the Bible.
What to Do with Dreams
This is not to say that our dreams today don’t have meaning, but rather that the meaning lies between you and God. The Bible is clear that God communicated to people through dreams, like Joseph (Genesis 37:5-10), Solomon (1 Kings 3:5-15), Daniel (Daniel 2:1), Joseph (Matthew 2:12-22), Peter (Acts 2:17) and others. Never forget that God can always speak through dreams if He chooses to. The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths (Psalm 135:6).
If you have a dream and you think that God is saying something to you, the wisest thing you can do is pray and examine the Bible. Be sure to verify that the dream is in agreement with the Bible. If it matches, then you need to make sure that you pray to Him and ask for wisdom. Wisdom is critical when it comes to understanding or interpreting a dream. Remember that if you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking (James 1:5).
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