Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 37:1-11.
“1 Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had sojourned, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the records of the generations of Jacob.
Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic. 4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms.
5 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have had; 7 for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 Then his brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
9 Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, “Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 He related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.” Genesis 37:1-11.
——————-
God does come to people, speak to them, and give messages that need to be interpreted in dreams. One can search the Scriptures using the word “dream” and there are 93 verses that have the word “dream” in it in the New American Standard Version. http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=dream+&version1=NASB&searchtype=all
But, we need to be careful and discerning between good and bad uses of dreams.
On the one hand, we should not get lazy about our study of Scriptures and use “dream-like” mysticism as a crutch or replacement for diligent study of Scriptures. Just because we have dreams does not mean that they are from God.
Some also wrongly use “dream-like” spirituality as a crutch or replacement for diligent study of Scriptures. Just because we have dreams does not necessarily mean that we are “filled with the Spirit” or are spiritual in a true and Godly sense.
On the other hand, we can meditate on Scriptures in our bed and fall asleep and dream about them.
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:2.
We can also pray and fall asleep and dream about our prayer.
“When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,” Psalm 63:6.
And, there are other good uses of dreams.
” ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams;” Acts 2:17.
But again, in conclusion, be careful. “For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.” Ecclesiastes 5:7.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 