Saturday, April 2, 2016

B is for Biblical Dreams

The Bible records dozens of dreams and they all have specific meanings that often need interpretation from a very wise person or directly from God. 

They came while people were sleeping (dreams) or wide awake (visions). Some dreams were personal or affected one’s offspring while other dreams were directed at kings from mighty nations. Some dreams saved the individual’s life while others saved entire regions. 

One such is recorded in Genesis. Joseph was not only a dreamer, he later became an interpreter of other people’s dreams. Later in life Joseph interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh and instructed him there would be seven years of extreme abundance followed by seven years of extreme drought. 

Egypt saved enough grain during the seven years of plenty to not only endure the drought but help those from surrounding areas buy food from them and survive. 

Honorable Mention Blue, Brown, Burgundy, Black, Black and White (more on colors later in the A to Z Challenge). 

Monday’s Post C is for Compensatory Dreams and Colors.

Question Do you think dreams can come from a higher source and that they have specific meaning regarding your life or someone else’s life?

52 comments:

  1. that was informative and thanks for visiting my blog

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  2. I can't say where everyone gets their dreams, but I believe that my dreams come from me.

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    1. cynthia, here's a chilling yet incredible thought. According to some we will soon be able to record our dreams and "play them back" so to speak when we are awake.

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  3. That's a well known episode of the Bible. And a good one too ;-)

    @JazzFeathers
    The Old Shelter - Jazz Age Jazz

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  4. Hmm....interesting. Love the images that you are putting up with the posts. Cheers for the weekend :)
    @KalaRavi16 from
    Relax-N-Rave

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    1. Kala, images are half the fun of writing posts for the Challenge. And thanks for stopping by and saying hello.

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  5. The Bible is filled with dreams. Do I believe dreams come from a higher source?... I imagine they can but most of my dreams are self inflicted when something is bothering me. Really enjoying your posts, Stephen.

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    1. Thanks Nicola. That's the highest compliment a blogger can receive.

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  6. Those fleeting feelings that are left after some dreams I believe may come from a higher source otherwise it is often times subconscious trying to work out problems.

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  7. Can't say where everyone else gets their dreams from, but mine are definitely not from any higher source.

    Those kinds of dreams can be too heavy for comfort, knowing countries and peoples depend on their correct interpretations.

    Nilanjana
    Madly-in-Verse

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  8. I do believe that sometimes dreams come from a higher source in an effort to guide us in decisions or helping us to solve problems. I'm always grateful for helpful dreams!

    Michele at Angels Bark

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  9. The story of Joseph is one of my favorites. Sometimes dreams do come from a higher source, but most of mine (and i remember very few of mine) are just weird, my own mind trying to work things out.

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  10. Of course. God can speak to us any way he wants.

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    1. Alex, how right you are! This places the authority on God and not on us as well it should be.

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  11. Absolutely. My wife just had a dream about her grandma who just passed away a week ago. It was very personal and assured her that her spirit was alright.
    Open Minded Mormon A-Z

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  12. Another successful post! Blessings and enjoy your weekend (smile)

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  13. I don't know where dreams come from, but for the most part, I enjoy them, and always have. Like last night, I got to "visit" with my mother, who has been dead for more than twenty years. Dreams may be nonsensical and confusing, may be semi-prophetic, may solve problems that trouble us in our awake hours, or may be, like last night, a much-appreciated visit with loved ones. To me, they represent creativity at its best.

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    1. Susan, you covered a large range of where dreams may come from. Thanks for your input.

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  14. Sometimes dreams do affect people's lives, either as ideas, or beliefs that guide their actions...

    @TarkabarkaHolgy from
    The Multicolored Diary
    MopDog

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  15. I think before we had the Holy Spirit, maybe God used dreams to communicate. Dreaming is not always nice in my sleep.

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    1. Oh, I think since the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit has much more room to work than in the Old Testament.

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  16. I used to believe dreams were a way for one's spirit to travel spirit realms etc. Sometimes I think they are a way for the brain to come to a conclusion.

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  17. To answer the question - No. I don't believe dreams come from a higher source. But I'm often wrong about things. Good luck in the challenge!

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    1. Thanks Stuart for stopping by and saying hello.

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  18. Some dreams I have are completely out to lunch, but no sure they come from any higher source.

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  19. Intriguing and thought provoking post! I myself believe that dreams have a way of working out our issues and connecting with a dearly departed. Continue best wishes for the A-Z Challenge and beyond!

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  20. Great theme for the AtoZ. From a higher source? Maybe. Thanks for popping by.

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  21. Joseph used that time of abundance to not only help the areas around them, but created a scenario where those places would then be indebted to his Pharaoh. He benefited greatly from the experience and created a lot of wealth for the people he served.

    I do believe dreams can come from a higher source. It's not common. It's usually just our own brains, but God could work that way.

    Transformed Nonconformist

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  22. I think dreams come from within. If there is such a thing as 'visions', they may come from somewhere else.

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  23. It's strange how we often dream about people close to us who have passed on. It's almost as if they're sent to comfort us. Visiting from A-Z challenge :)

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    1. Pinky, thanks for stopping by. Perhaps this is part of the Great Cloud of Witness talked about in Hebrews 12:1 in the New testament.

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  24. I think many are gifted with prophesies from God through dreams.

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  25. If my dreams come from a higher source, I need a new higher source. They are driving me nuts!

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  26. Whew! Thank goodness your post took this route. I was a little worried when you said 'biblical dreams' I'd much rather read about this type of biblical than 'I knew her in the biblical sense type of dream'

    I believe that dreams can come from a higher source, and sometimes it can just be your mind stumbling around in the dark. Looking forward to your Color Dreams. That sounds rather interesting.

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  27. This is murky territory. I have woken up and acted on something that I had reasoned during the night. In college when I did not understand material, I would read it before I went to sleep. I would go over the material as I slept. When I woke up, I could solve the problems. So I think a deeper part of your brain could be working.

    Do I think a higher power gives inspiration. Yes. This has happened many times in my life. However, I don't hear Jesus talking to me or an angel. That is where this is murky territory. Hallucinations can seem quite real. When people say Jesus spoke to them, it could be sincere, it could be a manifestation of them wanting you to know how real their experience was, a lie or a hallucination.

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    1. Ann, this was quite a response. Thanks for adding meat and potatoes to this post.

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  28. I can't speak for another, but I do believe that my dreams have been warnings, do signify the stress in my life, and feed my imagination. Interpretation comes from knowing the whole, not just part of the picture. At least for me. Thank you!

    Happy Second Day of the A to Z!
    Ninga Minion @YolandaRenee from
    Defending The Pen
    Parallels
    Murderous Imaginings

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  29. Hi there!

    I’m stopping by from the #AtoZChallenge. Nice post!

    I have two blogs in this challenge…my author blog at THE STORY CATCHER (www.donnalmartin.com) and my KICKS Kids Club blog (www.kickskidsclub.blogspot.com.

    If you get a chance, check them out and good luck with the challenge!

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  30. I have also experienced that my dreams do communicate something.. Often they give me clues when I am in a crossroad in life.

    http://meotherwise.com/2016/04/02/beaches-and-taste-buds-atozchallenge/

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  31. Dreams can come from a higher power. It is up to us to interpret and decide when our dreams are more than just our sleepy imagination.

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  32. Yes, absolutely to your question. I once dreamed about a woman (was given her name)I later met; she gave me some great advice as a young mom. A grandmother came to me in a dream, who comforted me, said she was right behind me. And there have been more...

    Pioneer Women in Aviation A-Z

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  33. Bucking the trend here, but no, I don't believe dreams come from anywhere except our own brains trying to make sense of what we've experienced.
    Interesting how many cultures think that dreams and visions DO come from an external source though.
    Good luck with the rest of the challenge!
    Amanda (from www.amandafleet.co.uk)

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  34. Dreams certainly have a pattern . You can learn to reflect on a lot of regressed emotions if you remember them
    Funnily though i hardly remember my dreams.

    http://jayantiblogshere.blogspot.in/

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  35. I love Joseph and especially the recorded dreams he interpreted. I do believe dreams have meaning and that sometimes God allows us to dream about something that has significance for ourselves or someone else. My dreams are usually crazy, but I have had a few that were meaningful for one reason or another.

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  36. I'm really not sure about dreams from a higher source; it's one of the hmmm questions. I always liked the story of Joseph though and it made a good musical :)
    Tasha
    Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)

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  37. A friend of mine says that he has had visions from God. I'm a bit of a skeptic though. It's easier for me to believe the records of Biblical dreams than to be 100% sure that his are really visions! Well... maybe if they do come true...

    Anna
    ATSP @ Deeply Shallow
    @natzers

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  38. Since several events are recorded in the Bible about God talking to people through dreams, I believe dreams can be used by God as a way to communicate to us. I think we have to be really careful in our interpretations of dreams and not assume every single dream we have could be a message from God.

    betty

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  39. In answer to your question about dreams coming from a higher source, yes, I believe that sometimes God will choose to warn us or reveal something in a dream or maybe comfort us in a vision. I've had both in my lifetime. God warned me in advance about the greatest threat ever coming against my marriage, He showed me exactly how it would come and made it clear that Satan was behind it. That was 17 years ago.
    Revisit the Tender Years with me during the #AtoZChallenge at Life & Faith in Caneyhead!

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  40. I thought you might tackle bathrooms:) I think dreams do try to tell us something. I have had more than one dream where my dad has visited me and talked with me. I also had a dream of my friends' child who died of SIDS. he was playing with a blue rubber ball and the father of one and the mother of the other parent were there. The father wanted to thank their children for giving them their son and that their son was wonderful.

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