Matthew 2:13-23
Recently, I had two very disturbing dreams. Both were so vivid that I was able to recall and record the details of them on waking. Since I usually don’t remember my dreams in such detail, I made it a point to write them down with the understanding that there is some significance to them. One of the dreams I believe I was able to get the general principle behind it, but the other’s meaning is still a mystery to me. Unfortunately, I do not consider myself to be versed in the art of dream interpretation and so I will have to ask of God and wait for the interpretation of that one. To assist me along the path, I recently bought a book from the Logos Hope on dream interpretation to get a little help in this area.
In the passage for today, it is noticeable that God speaks to Joseph, not in one dream but in three dreams. Additionally, Joseph is at this point precisely because he had followed the instructions given in an earlier dream (1:20-21) and the Magi are warned in a dream not to return to report the location of the Christ child to Herod (2:12). So it must be noted that dreams are an integral part of the birth narrative of Jesus. It is also pertinent to know that dreams and their interpretation litter the pages of Scripture. What then can we learn from and about dreams in this passage?
There are some assumptions that one must accept in order to understand the significance and meaning of dreams. We have been told in an earlier episode that Joseph is a righteous man (1:19); in the context of Jewish society, it would mean one who not only believes in God, and fears (reverences) God, but one who does his best to be obedient to the Law and to the Lord. It is also apparent that Joseph believes that God utilises the medium of dreams to speak to and relay messages to people. Joseph obviously believes that the one who speaks by an angel in the dreams is God and therefore He has an obligation to follow the directions which have been given. If we are going to benefit from dreams which we may have then we must also have the understanding that God still uses this medium to speak to us in today.
It is noticeable that on every occasion God reveals the intent of others relative to the well-being of the Christ child—information to which Joseph was not privy at that point and may never have been aware except for the dream. In addition to displaying the truth of the omniscience (all-knowing nature) of God in revealing the thoughts and intents of the heart of man (Gen.6:5; 1 Chr.28:9; 1 Cor.4:5), the dreams show God’s concern for the safety of Jesus and his parents. It also shows that God will do whatever is necessary to ensure that His plan comes to fruition. Protecting Jesus as a vulnerable child was therefore essential and it is instructive that dreams are the means of communication.
Another point of observation relative to dreams is that God gives both directions and warning of danger through dreams. These are two of the major requests that believers have of God and two of the requests that we are to make of God—”And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Mt.6:13)—yet we are sceptical in accepting that dreams are a valid means by which God speaks to us. It is time that believers come to such an acceptance so that they are able to receive this direct communication from God. One of the obvious advantages here is that there is no intermediary through whom the message may be distorted or lost, and we cannot say that we did not get the message except by not understanding what God is saying. Even this is no excuse for we see in Scripture that God is able to give us or assist us in the interpretation of dreams as both Joseph (Gen.40:8) and Daniel (Dan.1:17) understood.
A final observation is that each time God spoke to Joseph in a dream giving him instructions, he obeyed. That should be the reaction when we receive such direct communication from God as the dreams which Joseph had apparently needed no outside assistance or interpreter as in other cases. Such direct communication demands obedience. So, if God should so choose to speak to us in a dream with similar direct communication, we ought to operate in “Joseph mode”—instant obedience.
While we have the Word of God as the primary means by which God speaks to us today, dreams are a direct communication from God to us. Therefore, dreams should not alarm believers since throughout the Bible God spoke to people in dreams but there was also the understanding and belief that God is the interpreter of dreams and would reveal the message to those who asked or were willing to receive (and) obey what He had to say..
GOD USES DREAMS AS A MEANS OF DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH US ABOUT THE GUIDANCE WHICH WE NEED AND FOR THE PROTECTION OF OUR LIVES.