Interpreting Dreams

By John Lee

Do you dream every time you sleep? There is a Chinese saying, 日有所思，夜有所梦，which means that your dreams at night reflect your thoughts during the day. This implies that the basis of our dreams is our own thoughts. According to scientists, everyone dreams numerous times each night.

In most people’s experience, dreams have quite a variety of types over which we have no control: plain and unexciting, terrifying nightmares, fantastic, lucid or vivid dreams, etc.  You may even have experienced dreams within a dream. No matter what type, whether you deem it ordinary or extraordinary, simple or complicated, the dream always seems real until you wake up to the realisation that it is but a dream. Do you then let it pass or do you dwell on it to strive for an interpretation?

Many beliefs about dreams lend themselves to fervent efforts to seek interpretations. “Explanations” are devised for the panoramas, things, animals, symbols, numbers, colours, incidents and every “interesting element” in the dream episodes. It can be dangerous when what is a normal dream without any significance to it other than being the natural functioning of our physiology becomes a source of harmful tension because of some gratuitous divinity.

Million-dollar question: Should Christians learn to interpret dreams, since the Bible is replete with examples of dreams being an important means that God used to communicate with man?

In Gen 37-50, Joseph was a great interpreter of dreams who was greatly blessed. In the NT, God also gave instructions to man through dreams. (Mt 1:20; 2:12, 13, 19, 22; 27:19)

While we can cite many more cases in the Bible to show the abilities of man to interpret dreams, it must be noted that the dreamer himself is not necessarily the person who understands his dream; and the person who does the interpretation is also not just any average person but someone whom God chooses to reveal His mysteries.

For example, when Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was troubled by his dream, he was not able to interpret the dream himself. When the king inquired of Daniel, the latter 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.” (Dan 2:26-28)

So, while we may not deny that man may be spiritually enabled to interpret dreams, we should not suggest that any Christian should relish chasing after curiosity to acquire that ability. It is not a matter of learning for anyone, but of God’s appointment. (Dan 2:47) God chooses whom He favours for the appropriate role. (1 Cor 2:8-10)

Deu 13:1-5 warns us against the “dreamer of dreams” – the term used in KJV describing someone who falsely claims to have received a word or vision from God. We are in the last days, and Christians are frequently warned about false prophets, including fake interpreters of dreams and purveyors of their diabolical schemes.

Presently, it is possible that God, by His sovereign will, still guides some people by their dreams under special circumstances. Nevertheless, the Bible does tell us that a time comes when prophecies will cease. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. (1 Cor 13:8-10) Yet, even when grass withers and the flowers fall, the Word of the Lord endures forever. (1 Pet 1:24b-25)

So, is focusing on dreams and prophecies more important or focusing on the Word of God?

Martin Luther said, “One must rest wholly on the Word alone and shut out everything from eyes and senses, because when the Word is lost, God is lost.”

Answer to million-dollar question: With God’s Word and the Holy Spirit guiding us into all truth, it is not quite needed for most Christians to have the ability to interpret dreams; and, for the few members of His church to have the gift of prophecy or for interpreting dreams, the gift is a blessing by His grace and only for a time before it ceases. It is not an acquisition by an earnest desire to learn. Misguided “interpreters” or “interpretations” can be dangerous.

Your view: If you have a different view, please feel free to share.