We see how God gives revelation through dreams. Genesis 20: 3 But that night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are a dead man, for that woman you have taken is already married!”
4 But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 5 Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘Yes, he is my brother.’ I acted in complete innocence! My hands are clean.”
6 In the dream God responded, “Yes, I know you are innocent. That’s why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her. 7 Now return the woman to her husband, and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet. Then you will live. But if you don’t return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die.” [1]
God Reveals Truth
Job 33: 14 For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. 15 He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds. 16 He whispers in their ears and terrifies them with warnings. 17 He makes them turn from doing wrong; he keeps them from pride. [2]
Abraham had told a half-truth when he claimed Sarah was his sister. She was his half-sister, but more importantly, she was his wife and the mother of their promised son. Abimelech had no clue about this, but God revealed it in a dream. God also understood that Abimelech was innocent in the situation.
Sometimes, God speaks through dreams because that is the only time we are still. God speaks through dreams throughout Scripture. Joseph and Daniel in the Old Testament received revelation about what was to come. Joseph, in the New Testament, received guidance in dreams so he could protect the baby Jesus.
God Reveals the Importance of Marriage
Unfortunately, in our culture, marriage is not considered to be that important. Many couples simply live together, and adultery is common. That is not God’s view, as we see in our story. God threatened to kill Abimelech because he had taken another man’s wife. Since Abimelech didn’t know this, God revealed the truth in a dream. Yet, if Abimelech didn’t return Sarah, he and his people would die. That is very serious business!
God designed marriage and knows what is best for us. Thus, He wants us to protect marriage because He loves us. God knows how damaging adultery and divorce are, not only to the couple but to family and friends around them. There are too many Scriptures about marriage to consider them here, but the writer of Hebrews summarizes it well. Hebrews 13: 4 Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. [3]
In our story, God gives revelation through dreams to reveal the truth of the situation and the importance of marriage. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/when-fear-leads-to-deceit
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.