PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND

January 8, 2025

DREAMS AND VISIONS

We all have them.  Some of them we remember, most we forget.  What do they mean?  What is their purpose?  For four weeks in March I will be leading a group which will be examining the dreams and visions in the scriptures to see how they might relate to our own experience.

Dreams and visions play an important part in the Bible.  They are a vital part of the Christmas story and the Book of Daniel.  Saul’s vision on the Damascus road changed the course of history.  We all remember with fascination the visions of Ezekiel as God was showing him the future of his people.

Dreams and visions are not limited to the Jewish and Christian faith as vehicles of God’s revelation.  As Muhammad sat at a cave near Mecca during the month of Ramadan, he had his initial visions which later became part of the Koran.  While sitting in a sweat lodge when he was a young man Black Elk had a vision which foretold the future of his people.

Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung both used dreams to help them understand the subconscious and the workings of the human psyche.  For them the interpretation of dreams was an important tool to help persons suffering from mental distress.

In exploring the subconscious Carl Jung detected areas of “destructive tendencies” which could generate dreams which were harmful and could lead to illness and psychosis.  For him the trick was to discern dreams from the healthy part of the subconscious rather than those from the areas where “destructive tendencies” were located.  Very often the “dark side” could look very tempting.

The scriptures also recognize that dreams and visions may not all be from God.  Some of them may be self-generated for the purpose of one’s own self-interests.  Others may have more sinister origins.  The Prophet Jeremiah totally rejects dreams and visions as a revelatory medium.  “You, therefore, must not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreams, your soothsayers, or your sorcerers, who are saying to you, ‘You shall not serve the King of Babylon.’” (Jeremiah 27:9)

In understanding dreams as being a medium through which God speaks the problem is being able to discern the wheat from the chaff.  Two persons in the Hebrew Bible who seemed to have this ability to unpack the meaning of dreams were Joseph and Daniel.

Joseph established his authority among the Egyptian court by correctly interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker.  Therefore, when the Pharaoh needed someone to make sense of his dream, he turned to Joseph.

Because of his reputation as having insight into all visions and dreams (Dan. 1:17), King Nebuchadnezzar called on Daniel when he has some very troubling dreams.

All of us continue to dream.  Many of them are just our subconscious processing the day’s activities.  Others have deeper meaning.  For the latter sometimes it is helpful to seek out someone who has a good track recording of being knowledgeable in such matters.  At other times with a little knowledge and reflection, we can figure them out for ourselves.

The dreams and visions Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the Wise Men had helped Jesus’ parents to understand the meaning of their son’s birth and gave them assurance that God was with them and everything would work itself out.  God continues to give understanding and assurance through the dreams and visions that his people have today.

(This article was originally published January 8, 2012.  Comments may be sent to davidh15503@embarqmail.com.)