God can communicate in warning dreams to protect us. The evil King Herod wanted the Wisemen to find out where Jesus was and report to him. They may not have realized the danger Herod posed to Jesus, but God did and gave them a dream. Matthew 2:12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. [1]
While God communicates mainly through His word, He can also communicate through dreams, visions, the work of the Holy Spirit, and other ways. We can’t limit God down to speaking in a certain way. The Lord knows the best way to communicate the work He has for us.
God Gave Joseph Dreams
God had communicated to Joseph in dreams several times, which seemed to be how He communicated significant things. When Joseph was considering divorcing Mary, an angel came to him in a dream and told him not to fear taking Mary as his wife. The angel told Joseph that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit and would give birth to a son, and you were to name Him Jesus. In addition, the angel told him that the child within Mary would save His people from their sins.
After the visit from the wise men, Joseph had another significant dream from the Lord. Matthew 2:13 After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him. [2]
Walking with God in Dreams
Does God visit us in dreams like He did with Joseph? Do we allow the Lord to reign over us no matter the time of day? Have you ever had a God dream? God tells us in the book of Acts 2:17 that dreams from God are not a thing of the past. Job 33:15 He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds. [3]
I believe God desires to speak through dreams to give encouragement and insight. Perhaps you’ve never received a dream from God, or at least didn’t realize a dream was from the Lord. Here is a process that has been helpful for me:
- Pray to the Lord and ask Him to give you a God dream.
- As you pray to the Lord about receiving a dream, expect Him to provide you with one.
- As you awaken, write down the dream the Lord has given you and pray for insight into what He is telling you.
Remember, any dream must match up with God’s Word. If a dream contradicts God’s written Word or encourages you to take action outside the character and nature of Jesus, it is not from God. To learn how God can give warning dreams, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/seeking-jesus
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.