The dangers of ignoring a warning can have dreadful consequences. Warnings from God can come at unexpected times as the Lord tries to direct our path. Warnings can involve safety, discernment, and other prompting as we journey through life because the Lord wants the best for us. I believe the Lord gives more warning and guidance than we know.
As we desire to hear His voice, the promptings of the Lord will provide us with a new sense of urgency. In God’s mercy, He warned Pilate through his wife the day Jesus was crucified. Matthew 27:19 Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.” [1]
Warning Through a Dream
Through this dream, God revealed to Pilate’s wife that Jesus was righteous and innocent. In concern for her husband, she did not want to bring innocent blood upon him or their family. This dream was so moving that she immediately warned her husband right in the middle of a trial. She does not give a lot of detail about the dream other than that it was a terrible nightmare about Jesus, and He was not guilty of any crime.
Can you imagine you are Pilate in the middle of a difficult trial and dealing with the Jewish leadership, and now your wife passes you a warning message? Pilate knew Jesus was innocent from his insight, and now his wife confirmed it with this convincing note. Now, at this critical time, the religious leaders continue to push Pilate to make a decision.
Matthew 27:20 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death.[2] Reflecting on what is happening, you can see the spiritual battle between good and evil. Never underestimate a warning from God because we can’t see how things will unfold if we ignore it.
God Gives Us Free Will
Pilate’s wife did not have to send a note to her husband about her dream, but she did. In several places in the Bible, God warned people through dreams, such as Joseph, who was warned in a dream to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt for their safety. Pilate could have taken the warning as another sign to release Jesus, but he did not. Although Pilate does not release Jesus, He washes his hands of the situation, knowing He is innocent.
Unlike Pilate, Jesus does not wash His hands of His Father’s will but goes to the cross to die for our sins. The evening before His arrest, Jesus told Peter He could summon thousands of angels for protection, but how would that fulfill the Scriptures? Shortly after Pilate received his wife’s note, Jesus died to free the captives, which includes us.
To learn about the dangers of ignoring a warning, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/a-self-serving-trial
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Mt 27:19). Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Mt 27:20). Tyndale House Publishers.