Does God Speak to Us in Dreams?

Instead of Yes or No, It Depends.

“God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways.” Hebrews 1:1

Dreams are communication, and the question is “what kind of communication?”

I have friends on both sides of answering the question:

Does God speak to us through dreams?

Dogmatism isn’t helpful.

Never underestimate the claim of theological superiority by one who claims Divine authority.

Many thoughtful Christian conversations have ended when dogmatic assertions are made by proud people who think they know everything.

Humility is the key to leadership in Christ’s Kingdom, and it’s best we approach the subject of dreams with some humility.

I will give you a biblical, historical, and theological basis for answering the question of whether God speaks to us through dreams. With the LORD’S help, I will avoid dogmatism.

Anyone attempting to place the Creator in a theological box of human construct will experience as fruitless a mission as dipping the ocean dry with a thimble.

God does as He pleases.

However, answering whether God speaks to you through a dream is important. Delightful, positive dreams can inspire you. Recurring, frightening dreams can haunt you. Those who often don’t remember their dreams desire an answer to this key question of whether God is speaking to them because their singular dream leaves a lasting impressions.

So, let’s get started.

Dreams In the Bible

Joseph dreamed that eleven wheat sheaves bowed down to one sheaf, and he told his family this meant that he would lead his eleven brothers (see Genesis 37:5-11).

God sometimes used dreams to talk to people. For example:

• Jacob (Genesis 28:12-15) - dreams of a ladder reaching to heaven, symbolizing God's promise to bless Jacob’s descendants, the tribes of Israel.

• Joseph (Genesis 37:5-11) had dreams about becoming a leader in his family (see the photo above).

• Pharaoh (Genesis 41) -had dreams of seven fat and thin cows that Jacob interpreted as a prophecy of seven years of abundance followed by famine.

• Daniel (Daniel 2) understood the dream King Nebuchadnezzar with God’s help.

• Joseph (Matthew 1:20-21) had a dream where an angel told him about Jesus.

• Mary (Luke 1:46-45) had a dream where God told her not to be afraid of her future.

• Joseph and Mary (Matthew 2:13) - had an angel appear to them in dreams, instructing them to flee to Egypt to protect baby Jesus.

• Paul (Acts 16:9) - had dreams of a man in Macedonia asking for help, leading to his missionary journey.

There are other dreams recorded in sacred Scripture, particularly in the lives of the prophets Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah, so it should be clear that God spoke to our ancestors in various ways, including dreams.

In addition to the dreams recorded in Bible, there are dreams that secular leaders of nations and kingdoms throughout history that have changed the course of history. I could give countless examples, but I’ll give you five well-known illustrations.

Five Dreams that Changed History

1. Alexander the Great Spares Jerusalem (332 B.C.)

According to Flavius Josephus, Alexander the Great dreamed of a man dressed in priestly garments encouraging him to conquer Persia. Upon reaching Jerusalem, Alexander encountered the Jewish High Priest Jaddua, who matched the figure in his dream. Believing this was a divine sign, Alexander spared Jerusalem and worshiped at the Jewish Temple, promising the Jews the same freedoms they had enjoyed under the Persian Empire.