Joseph’s dreams

Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. – Genesis 45:1-7

The story of Joseph is in Genesis chapter 37- 50. In Genesis 37 Joseph had a couple of dreams and his brothers were jealous thinking that the dreams meant that they would serve Joseph (who was the youngest). Their jealousy lead them to throw Joseph in a pit and lie about his death and then sell Joseph as a slave. Joseph also ended up in prison for something he didn’t do but eventually Joseph ended up right where God wanted him to be. Second in command over Egypt. In Genesis 45 Joseph was in position not only to save his family during a famine but all of Egypt.

So the learning point here is that when you have a dream from God hold on to it. Even though it may look like bad things are happening, God will work it out and cause you to be where you need to be.

David Anointed to be king but had to wait

So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah. – 1 Samuel 16:11-13

When David was a teenager, he was anointed as the next king of Israel. It was then that he faced Goliath, was banished by Saul, hid in the desert, lived on the run, and fought many battles. It was nearly 15 years between the time that he was anointed king and actually became king.

So even if we are next in line for our promotion or next level, we may have to wait until the time is right.

Jacob

Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. – Genesis 28:10-15

Gods covenant promise to Abraham and Isaac was offered to Jacob as well. But Jacob had to establish his own personal relationship with God. Likewise we must establish our own personal relationship with God as well. During this dream God opened up Jacob’s spiritual eyes to see the heavenly activity around him. And through this dream, God changed Jacobs viewpoint. This was the first time that Jacob heard the promise from God for his self. When we sleep at night we can pray and ask God to open our spiritual eyes to see the heavenly activity around us and to confirm his promises to us.

Daniel understanding dreams

Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these: “As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind. – Daniel 2:27-30

Daniel made sure to give God glory for the revelation of the dream. He was also humble when he said that it was not revealed to him because more wiser than anyone else. God knew that the king would glorify God if Daniel revealed the dream to him. If you have a dream ask God for the revelation on what it means. Not so that you can boast that you can understand dreams but so that God will receive the Glory and his purposes accomplish.

Also read Daniel 2:46-48

Wisemen received directions from God in a dream

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. – Matthew 2:9-12

If you need direction you can learn from what the Wisemen did here.

1. They brought what was precious to them from in their gold, frankincense and myrrh. Likewise, your worship has to be precious to you. It has to come from your heart.
2. They were overjoyed when the star stopped. This means that you have to be emotionally connected to God when you worship.
3. They sacrificed their time to seek for Jesus. By the time they reached Jesus he was a toddler. And they started to travel when the star appeared at his birth. So that means they have been travelling for at least 2 years.

The end result was that God gave them direction to take a different route home through a dream so that they wouldn’t cross paths with Harod was going to harm them. God can give you dreams of where he wants you do go. We can apply these steps like the wise men and worship God.

Habakkuk – Write the vision down.

“I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. – Habakkuk 2:1-3

This was an answer to Habakkuk’s prayer. When he says that he will stand on guard he is referring to a watchman on the wall. It references the attitude of expectation to hear from God. The first thing that God says is to write down the vision. This is also key when we have dreams from God. We should get out of bed and write it down. This way we won’t forget it and can pray it in and reference it at a later date. Habakkuk was to write it down because it was prophetic and most likely your dream does also.

Gideon

Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew. – Judges 6:36-40

Gideon received a call from God that he was a mighty warrior and he was to deliver Israel from their enemies. Gideon was not sure of this call so he asked God to confirm if he will deliver Israel. God proved to him twice that He was with him and that he would be victorious. Likewise God has called us to do big things as well. Most of the time its bigger then we think and we allow fear to cause us to hesitate. We can go to God by faith and do what Gideon did here to confirm his call and ask God to confirm his will to us. God knows your heart and will answer accordingly.

Samuel’s call

A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” – 1 Samuel 3:8-10

This should be our response when God speaks to us at night. The sleep might be really nice and warm but when God calls you you have to respond even though it may be difficult to get out of bed. I’m guilty of this too. Our response should always be “Speak Lord. Your servant is listening”. Once you wake up and position yourself to listen to what God will say, he will speak to you.