What does the Bible say about dreams?

In the Bible, such as in Psalm 90, dreams can be emblematic of the transience of life. But more commonly, they are a natural medium through which God or God's angel communicates with human beings. In 1 Samuel 28:15, Saul complains that God has turned away isn't providing answers, either by prophets or by dreams — as if these are the standard mediums God would naturally use. In Matthew's gospel, Joseph is given Jesus' name, warned of danger from King Herod, and reassured of safety once Herod is dead — all in dreams!  

In Joel 2, a gorgeous prophecy talks about old men dreaming dreams and young men seeing visions. This is presented as the inevitable result of God's Spirit being poured out on all flesh, and the verse is famously quoted and fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-21). 

Dreams are highly significant in the stories told in Genesis about Joseph. His brothers hate him and sell him to strangers because he tells them of dreams in which they bow down to him. In Egypt, Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh's chief cupbearer and baker. When Pharaoh hears about this, he sends for Joseph so that he might interpret Pharaoh's dream. Joseph explicitly identifies God as the giver of interpretations, but Pharaoh credits Joseph, and Joseph ends up rising to power in the land. 

In a similar story, Daniel prevails in Babylon because he can tell King Nebuchadnezzar what he dreamed and can also interpret his dream. Daniel testifies that he can do this only because the God of Israel has revealed these things to him. Daniel turns out to be a credible witness to the power of God just because he can bring forward God's power to reveal and interpret dreams. 

• Genesis 40:5-8, Joseph interprets the dreams of the chief baker's and chief cupbearer's dreams in Egypt
• Genesis 41:8-12, the chief baker and chief cupbearer tell Pharoh about Joseph having interpreted their dreams
• Genesis 41:25-27, Joseph interprets Pharoh's dreams
• Numbers 12:6, the Lord makes himself known to prophets in visions and in dreams
• Psalm 90:4-5, a thousand years in your sight are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning and then fades
• Psalm 126:1, when the Lord returned the captives to Zion, we were like those who dream, full of joy
• Daniel 1:17, Daniel had insight into dreams and visions
• Joel 2:28, your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream, your young men will see visions
• Zechariah 10:2, the dreamers tell of false dreams
• Matthew 1:20-23, an angel appears to Joseph in a dream to tell of Mary's pregnancy
• Matthew 2:13, an angel appears to Joseph in a dream to warn him to flee to Egypt
• Matthew 2:19-20, an angel appears to Joseph when Herod diestelling him it is safe to go back to Israel

Sermon ideas about dreams

What can we say in sermons about dreams? Dreams are common to all humanity and, for all we know, may occur in other creatures as well. Dreams are mysterious. They arrive and depart unbidden, combining an array of images and sensations that, if remembered, may baffle us. Dreams may jumble together people who have never met in real life and feature them in actions and circumstances that bear little relation to lived reality. Dreams often have a fantastical feel in these ways. They may scare us to such a degree that when we wake, we feel relief. Alternatively, dreams may excite enormous joy.  

It's worth noting in sermons that the conversion stories missionaries tell these days often involve dreams. A missionary might witness to a person about the power and love of Jesus Christ, but for a time nothing happens. But then the person might have a dream, perhaps featuring Jesus Christ himself, and the conversion happens with an awesome inevitability. God has reached into this person's life via a medium the person simply can't ignore. 

Researchers have identified certain common themes in people's dreams: flying, falling, being chased, being naked or otherwise shamed in public, and facing an exam in a course we have neglected. But common themes do not make dreams less elusive. Do they mean anything? If so, what? If not, what's their purpose? Is it to consolidate memories? To reveal repressed desires (Sigmund Freud's theory)? Regulate or sharpen emotions? Resolve psychic tensions? There appear to be more theories than certainties. 

Finally, are we morally responsible for our dreams? In his great Confessions (10.29-30), Augustine reflects on the fact that after his conversion to Christ and the abandonment of his lustful habits, he is still troubled by lustful dreams. They are the residue of his sin. He feels guilty for having the dreams and wants to know if he is actually guilty for having them. He appears to conclude that, because dreams appear unbidden, he is not — but cautions that to whatever degree he approves of his lustful actions in a dream, then he is guilty. Of course, this is a tricky business. Is subconscious approval actual approval? 

Excerpts about dreams 

Following are sample excerpts from Zeteosearch.org sermon resources about dreams: 

"Even Joseph may have initially assumed his brothers and slavery had killed his dreams. Yet since he's still alive, the dream can still live too. Dreams delayed are not necessarily dead dreams. They may just be deferred dreams." Sermon Preparation or Illustration by Doug Bratt from Center for Excellence in Preaching  

"This gospel record provided by Luke comes as a reminder that big dreams, those dreams that enter into the impossible dreams category, require at least three internal shifts." Sermon Starter by Richard A. Willis, Sr. from African American Lectionary   

"In prayer we dream, and our dreams are shaped by the lives of saints who linger in our longing, by the Winds of Heaven that stir our souls." Prayers of the People by Rachel G. Hackenberg