4/13/16

From Gary... Dreams


Why do we dream? What is the meaning of what we dream? Will your dreams come true? Many books have been written on the subject of dreams and I am not really qualified to analyze dreams, but since the Bible mentions them, the topic is worth consideration. Some dreams can come from God, others are a mere expression of our own desires. I am quite sure about this much- dreams are sometimes hard to understand- and that can cause problems!!

Genesis, Chapter 37 (WEB)

  17  The man said, “They have left here, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” 


Joseph went after his brothers, and found them in Dothan.  18 They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them, they conspired against him to kill him.  19 They said one to another, “Behold, this dreamer comes.  20 Come now therefore, and let’s kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, ‘An evil animal has devoured him.’ We will see what will become of his dreams.” 



  21  Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, “Let’s not take his life.”  22 Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.  23 When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colors that was on him;  24 and they took him, and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty. There was no water in it. 



  25  They sat down to eat bread, and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing spices and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.  26 Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?  27 Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our hand be on him; for he is our brother, our flesh.” His brothers listened to him.  28 Midianites who were merchants passed by, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. They brought Joseph into Egypt.



Joseph's brothers hated him for his dreams and that hate found expression in their selling him into slavery. Fortunately for Joseph, God was with him, guiding him and eventually blessed the Israelite's through the hardships he endured. Joseph's dreams came true and his life was a blessing, but dreams can be dangerous and one can wind up in the pits- literally.

PS- You and I aren't Joseph- don't take your dreams too seriously, you could be imagining things. Remember the following passage from the New Testament and take comfort in it...

2 Peter, Chapter 1 (WEB)
 1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:  2 Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,  3 seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue;  4 by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.  5 Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge;  6 and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control patience; and in patience godliness;  7 and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love.  8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.  10 Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.  11 For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

God has given us everything we need for life and godliness; just work on developing your spiritual character and take dreams with a grain of salt.

PS- And besides all this, sometimes its very hard to understand what is going on at all in your dream- the picture is a very good example of this!!!