Hear God Speak as You Sleep
In the book of Joel, God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions” (Joel 2:28).
The apostle Peter proclaims the fulfillment of this on Pentecost (Acts 2:14-17).
This means that through the Holy Spirit, God will speak to us in our sleep, through our dreams.
A dream manifests in different forms. It can include images, ideas, emotions, or sensations. A dream can unfold like a story. Everyone dreams, but not everyone realizes it.
Sometimes a dream is just a dream. Other times a dream is God speaking to us. It’s up to us to discern the difference.
Dreams occur in the Bible. Consider both Josephs (the husband of Mary and the son of Jacob), Daniel, the Magi, Jacob, and Solomon. God also spoke in dreams to some unexpected people, such as Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, and Pilate’s wife.
Let’s look at these people and their dreams.
Joseph (Husband of Mary)
The book of Matthew looks at Jesus’s birth from Joseph’s perspective. Joseph is engaged to Mary, who was impregnated by Holy Spirit power.
When Joseph hears that his bride is pregnant, he plans to break up with her because he knows he’s not the father of her child. But God speaks to him in a dream, explaining the situation and telling him to marry her. Joseph obeys (Matthew 1:18–25).
But there’s more. Next, God tells Joseph to flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:13), later to return home (Matthew 2:19-20), and later still to settle in Galilee (Matthew 2:22). Each instruction came through a dream. Each time, Joseph obeyed. He went four for four.
Joseph (Son of Jacob)
Another man named Joseph is in the Old Testament. He’s one of Jacob’s twelve sons. God also speaks to him in dreams. In the two we know about, God shows Joseph his future, of his family bowing down to him (Genesis 37:5–11).
Joseph doesn’t keep this revelation to himself and shares it with his family. His dad corrects him and his brothers become jealous.
Later the brothers sell Joseph as a slave, and he ends up in Egypt, where he eventually sees his two dreams fulfilled. But he goes through many discouraging trials and suffers injustice along the way.
Daniel
Daniel—who will later be thrown into a den of lions for his faith—also has a dream. Unlike the dreams of the two Josephs, Daniel’s dream is prophetic, looking to the future (Daniel 7).
Unlike most prophecies, however, Daniel also shares what the dream means. This helps us understand it—at least a little bit. (Daniel also has two visions.)
The Magi
After Jesus is born, some Magi visit him. Though they’re supposed to report his location back to King Herod, God warns them in a dream not to. So they go home a different way (Matthew 2:1-12).
Jacob
Jacob, the father of Joseph, also has a dream; actually he has two. In his first dream, God speaks to Jacob, revealing his future and promising blessings (Genesis 28:12–16). Everything happens as promised.
In Jacob’s other dream, God says that he sees Jacob’s situation and that it’s time for him to return home (Genesis 31:10–15). Jacob obeys.
Solomon
Many centuries after Jacob, we read about King Solomon, the son of King David. God appears to Solomon in a dream (1 Kings 3:5–15). The communication is simple, “Ask for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.”
Solomon gives a humble answer. “I don’t have the experience to lead your people well, so give me a discerning heart and the ability to know right from wrong.”
God promises to do just that. In addition, because Solomon didn’t make a selfish request, God also pledges to give him wealth and honor.
Pharaoh
While Joseph languishes in prison, Pharaoh has two troubling dreams. They perplex him, but no one can tell him what they mean (Genesis 41). Then his cupbearer tells him about Joseph.
Joseph gives Pharaoh his dreams’ interpretations and makes a recommendation.
Pharaoh likes Joseph’s advice and tells him to implement it, elevating him to the second highest position in the land.
Nebuchadnezzar
Many centuries later, King Nebuchadnezzar has two dreams. Daniel interprets them both.
For his first dream, Nebuchadnezzar summons his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to explain it to him. But he refuses to tell them his dream.
To prove that their interpretation is valid, they must also tell him what his dream was. They can’t (Daniel 2).
But God reveals the dream and its meaning to Daniel, which he shares with the king. It’s about what will take place in the future. The king blesses Daniel and promotes him.
Later, Nebuchadnezzar has another troubling dream. Daniel interprets it too. This dream is also future focused, but it’s for the near future, not the distant future like his first dream.
This second dream is a warning to the king to repent of his sins and wickedness or face punishment for seven years.
A year later, God strips Nebuchadnezzar of his authority because of his pride. The king loses his right mind, and for seven years lives with animals as a madman. Then God returns his sanity and restores him to power.
The king praises God.
Pilate’s Wife
When Jesus is brought before Pilate to be tried, the governor’s wife sends him an urgent message. She warns him to “have nothing to do with this innocent man.” For she suffered greatly in a dream because of him (Matthew 27:11-26).
But the demands of the people, as riled up by the religious leaders, persuade Pilate to ignore his wife’s advice and listen to them instead. Pilate orders Jesus’s execution.
More Biblical Dreams
But the Bible tells us of more dreams too. Consider Abimelek (Genesis 20:3–7), Laban (Genesis 31:24), Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker (Genesis 40), and a Midianite soldier, who Gideon overhears (Judges 7:13–15).
Each time, God reveals important information, such as an instruction to obey, a glimpse into the future, or an assurance.
Our Dreams
When the Holy Spirit is involved, he can supercharge our dreams with divine communication, revealing godly truth to us. It’s up to us to glean the Lord’s message from our nighttime experiences.
We need to be poised to listen, to understand, and to obey.
But how do we do that?
First, ask God to speak to you in your dreams and that you’ll be able to remember them when you awake.
If you feel like the dream may be from God—and maybe if you’re not sure—enter it in a journal. That way you’ll have a clear record of it as your memory fades.
Sometimes, the message is clear. Other times, it might feel a bit murky. If so, ask the Holy Spirit to explain it. Document his answer too.
Then respond as appropriate. This may be to obey God’s command or share insight with someone. Or it might be a private assurance or encouragement just for you. Relish it.
End by thanking him for this revelation—and be open to hear more each night when you dream.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.
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