Do you have Dreams?

Matthew 2:19-23

Do you have dreams?  Not desires, not plans, no we are talking about dreams, and they are best referred to as a sequence of mental images during sleep.  Now let me make it clear, I am not making reference to your thoughts, your aspirations, or even your fantasies, but to dreams that come to you while sleeping.  In that this writer is only a student of the Scripture and not a Seminarian, it requires that I ask the Holy Spirit to open my eyes to truths that are not clear to me.  Is a dream and a vision the same thing?  I went to Genesis 15:1, “After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”  Abram and God had intercourse, do you understand that in the vision Abram seemed to be fully alert and they had an exchange of thoughts, does that happen in dreams?   We also have the account of Joseph’s dream where the angels of the Lord came to him in a dream, and told him to marry Mary, because the baby she carried was not from man but placed in her from the Holy Spirit.  It was not an exchange, it was seen in a dream and Joseph did as the angel instructed, and the account is in Matthew 1:20-21.

I do understand that two verses do not make a doctrine, but it is clear that God spoke to Joseph in dreams using angels as His messengers and He also spoke to the wise men in the same way, Matthew 2:12.  The wise men have left for home and on their departure and angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, and this is recorded in Matthew 2:13b, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 

Now we have the death of Herod, and once more the angel of the Lord comes to Joseph in a dream with this message; “saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.” (Matthew 2:20-21 ESV)

It is of some interest that God spoke to Moses in the form of a burning bush that was not consumed and used almost the same words as we find in Matthew 2:20.  “And the LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” (Exodus 4:19 ESV)

It should be apparent that when God speaks, no matter in what manner, He is looking for one thing, obedience!  It also should be clear that the writers of Scripture have made it clear by the many times it was stated; “The angel of the Lord” was addressing Joseph, should that be a warning that maybe other angels will come to us in dreams or even visions pretending to be spokesmen of our Lord?  Scripture has given us insight into such;  “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15 ESV)

It is very clear that the Scriptures are the recorded word of God, and we should ponder upon the words of Hebrews 1:1-4, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

(Hebrews 1:1-4 ESV)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice