Topical Bible: Dreams: Often by Imaginary

◄ Dreams: Often by Imaginary ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, dreams are frequently depicted as a means through which God communicates with individuals. They serve as a conduit for divine revelation, guidance, and prophecy. However, not all dreams are divinely inspired; some are products of the imagination or the subconscious mind, reflecting personal thoughts, fears, and desires.

Biblical Instances of Dreams:

1. Joseph, Son of Jacob: Joseph is one of the most prominent dreamers in the Bible. His dreams, which he shared with his brothers, foretold his future rise to power and the eventual bowing of his family before him (Genesis 37:5-10). These dreams were divinely inspired and played a crucial role in the unfolding of God's plan for the Israelites.

2. Pharaoh's Dreams: In Genesis 41, Pharaoh's dreams of seven fat cows and seven lean cows, as well as seven healthy ears of grain and seven thin ears, were interpreted by Joseph. These dreams were prophetic, revealing seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. Joseph's interpretation, given by God, led to the salvation of Egypt and surrounding nations.

3. Nebuchadnezzar's Dreams: The Book of Daniel records King Nebuchadnezzar's dreams, which Daniel interprets. In Daniel 2, the king dreams of a statue made of various materials, symbolizing successive kingdoms. In Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a great tree, representing his own kingdom and eventual humbling by God. These dreams were significant in demonstrating God's sovereignty over earthly kingdoms.

4. Joseph, Husband of Mary: In the New Testament, Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, receives guidance through dreams. An angel appears to him in a dream, instructing him to take Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:20-21). Later, he is warned in a dream to flee to Egypt to protect the infant Jesus from Herod's wrath (Matthew 2:13).

Dreams as Imaginary:

While the Bible records many instances of divinely inspired dreams, it also acknowledges that not all dreams carry divine significance. Ecclesiastes 5:7 states, "For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear." This verse suggests that an abundance of dreams can lead to vanity and distraction from the fear of God, indicating that some dreams are merely products of human imagination.

Jeremiah 23:25-28 warns against false prophets who claim to have dreams from God: "I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in My name: 'I had a dream! I had a dream!' How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds?" This passage highlights the danger of attributing divine authority to dreams that are merely the result of personal delusions or imaginations.

Discernment in Dreams:

The Bible encourages discernment when interpreting dreams. In 1 John 4:1 , believers are advised, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." This principle can be applied to dreams, urging believers to seek God's wisdom and guidance in distinguishing between dreams that are divinely inspired and those that are not.

In summary, while dreams in the Bible often serve as a medium for divine communication, they can also be products of the imagination. Believers are called to exercise discernment, seeking God's guidance to understand the true nature and purpose of their dreams.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Job 20:8
He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yes, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 29:8
It shall even be as when an hungry man dreams, and, behold, he eats; but he wakes, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreams, and, behold, he drinks; but he wakes, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul has appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Disembodied Soul May Think of Itself under a Bodily Form.
... by these imaginary sights that the soul is proved to be non-corporeal; unless you
choose to call even the objects which we see so often in our dreams, besides ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 25 xvii the disembodied soul.htm

Treats of the Same Subject and of the Way God is Sometimes Pleased ...
... Imaginary answers given to prayer.18 ... spoken to or see things they imagine come from
God, but which leave no more effect than dreams. ... 252] This often occurs, but ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/chapter iii treats of the.htm

Gherardi Sat for Two or Three Minutes in Absolute Silence. ...
... type of genius that turns its dreams into facts ... Mary, and who, overcome by the strong
imaginary consciousness of ... how often error is mistaken for truth and truth ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/xxi gherardi sat for two.htm

The Prayer of Jabez
... Full often wealth cozens the owner ... God preserve us from imaginary blessings!" I have
met with persons who ... him to God?" If thou dost not, thy dreams, and visions ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the prayer of jabez.htm

The Nature of Enthusiasm
... Spirit of God, there is also an imaginary one: and ... Not by waiting for supernatural
dreams; not by expecting ... the dreadful effects it has so often produced, and ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 37 the nature of.htm

"For they that are after the Flesh do Mind the Things of the Flesh ...
... a friend within every Christian, that betrays him often. ... to the possession of some
imaginary excellency in a ... about vanity, about fancies, dreams, nothings; but ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xvii for they that.htm

Healing for the Wounded
... Do not conceive that I am painting an imaginary case, for ... and destruction; or if
he dreams, he dreams of demons ... broke you heart; but it is not often that we ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/healing for the wounded.htm

The Passage Where He Attacks the Omoousion, and the Contention in ...
... 174] , to use his own phrase, so often over his ... himself to be grappling with an
imaginary combatant, and ... hears of a community of substance, dreams either that ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 34 the passage where.htm

The Authority and Utility of the Scriptures
... is but insufficient in itself, and is often more blinded ... ask, How they did know that
their dreams or visions ... Others have a poor imaginary wisdom that they call ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture iii the authority and.htm

The Note of Pity.
... fancy picture, and the peril indicated is not imaginary but real. ... Yes, the note of
pity is often hard to strike ... not upon our peace as we dream our happy dreams? ...
/.../jackson/the message and the man/chapter ii the note of.htm