Solomon wrote that “A dream comes through the multitude of business…” (Ecclesiastes 5:3). I take that to mean that when you are involved in a lot of different things, you keep thinking about them and working out solutions even in your sleep. I’m no expert on dreams, of course, but I do have personal experience to reflect on.

Mostly I don’t consider dreams to be significant. I may be WAY wrong about that, but that’s my perspective. It’s curious that I have that opinion though, because I deeply respect the Bible and the examples set by biblical characters, and dreams are very common in the Bible. In Holy Writ, there are many significant dreams that are actually given by God and are messages from God.

Jacob had revelatory dreams.

Joseph had revelatory dreams and interpreted the meaning of dreams for others.

Dreams were used by God in Abraham’s life, Gideon’s life, Daniel’s life, Solomon’s life, and in Joseph’s life (husband of Mary).

Jeremiah and Joel both spoke of the significance of dreams in the lives of prophets. Peter even pointed out in Act 2:17 that one of the evidences of the pouring out of the Spirit of God on men in the last days would be “the dreams of old men.”

So, visions, dreams, trances, hearing “voices” (like Samuel did), meeting angels, personal and miraculous encounters with God (like Moses’ or Paul’s) are all common in Scripture, yet I don’t expect these kinds of things in my own life. And if you claim that you received a dream from God, I know myself. I’m going to be suspicious. The fact is, I’m not sure I really want these kinds of things to happen to me or to people around me. 

But why?  What is the real meaning of dreams and the place of dreams in the lives of believers?

Listen as Dave and Patrick attempt to address the issue of dreams and how God uses them.