What Dreams May Come - part 2

More often than we realize, God continues to reveal His plans through dreams. We may see this operation demonstrated in the events that transpired between Abraham and Abimelech, concerning Abraham's wife Sarah.

And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife. But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. (Genesis 20:1-7)


We see here that in God's great mercy, not only did He reveal to Abimelech that Sarah was another man's wife... but He also warns Abimelech of the consequences should he decide to withhold Sarah from her husband. Now I would submit that Abimelech was not completely ignorant of the knowledge of God. I believe he had some sense as to who it was that warned him. Thus Abimelech does not proceed to chide or wrestle with the Lord, but makes confession and pleads his case. And the Lord answered him...

And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. (Genesis 20:6,7)


God Himself revealed to Abimelech that He knew his actions were born out of the integrity of his heart and the innocence of his hands. Nevertheless, it was the Lord that restrained him from advancing any further with Sarah, and sinning against the Lord. So the Lord reveals His will that Abraham's wife be restored... and furthermore that Abraham is a prophet that will pray for Abimelech that he may live. But again, God also warns of the consequences if he should withhold Sarah. So in the morning Abimelech calls Abraham. He restores Sarah... and just as God revealed by dream, Abraham prayed for him that he may live. Abimelech didn't even have to ask.


So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children. For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife. (Genesis 20:17,18)


Interestingly enough, the last verses concerning this account reveal important details about the events that transpired. Judgment had fallen upon the house of Abimelech on the account of Sarah. This judgment manifested in the form of a supernatural infertility affecting any woman connected to his house. Judgment was lifted after Abraham prayed. The Scriptures proclaim that God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children. But you see, the judgment of infertility fell directly upon the women of the house, not the men.


For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife. (Genesis 20:18)


I believe there to be significance to the fact that Abimelech was already married; his wife only being mentioned for the first time in verse eighteen. It would seem that infertility can be a judgment. However I believe there to be even greater significance in the fact that Abimelech was healed. Remember, the judgment that befell his house on the account of Sarah fell directly upon the women and not the men. Therefore it would appear that Abimelech's condition had nothing to do with Abraham and Sarah. Previously in his dream, the Lord said nothing about Abimelech getting healed. Thus it is implied that if Abraham did not pray for him, not only would he have surely died... but he would have died in whatever sickness he had. Friends, I suspect that not only was Abimelech afflicted with a sickness that was terminal in the long run, but he was also unaware of that sickness. The end result of this account reveals that it was God's plan to heal Abimelech by the prayers of a prophet from the beginning! By way of dream God revealed His plans FOR Abimelech... TO Abimelech... THROUGH Abimelech.

We see the same method of operation in the dream of Solomon. This man truly loved the Lord. He also feared God and held Him in the highest esteem. This became evident in that he walked in the statutes of David his father. He sacrificed in the great high place, for there was a not a temple built as of yet... and Solomon offered a thousand fold offering. He worshipped the Lord, and the Lord communed with him by dream that very night in Gibeon.

And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar. In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants. (1 Kings 3:3-15)


Now we must understand... Solomon is dreaming. He is not actively speaking at all. He is asleep.

The Lord communed with Solomon Spirit to spirit. In the realm of the soul by way of dream, the Lord gives Solomon an understanding of what transpired. I would submit that Solomon not only knew the voice of the Lord, but he witnessed himself asking what he did in the dream... and he saw the response from God. Now what is the first thing Solomon does when he wakes up?


And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants. (1 Kings 3:15)

He goes to stand before the Ark of the Covenant and offerings are made. Now this was not as simple as showing up at church on Sunday, and little money into an offering plate. There was a lengthy process to this which also included prayer and worship. Supplication being a part of prayer... I believe that at some point during this process, Solomon actively prayed what he witnessed himself asking in his dream. This would be the physical response, to what he understood in his heart that the Lord had revealed to him in a dream by the Spirit.

God revealed His plans FOR Solomon... TO Solomon... THROUGH Solomon... and Solomon chose to cooperate with the Lord. He had a choice. People of God, this is why prayer is so vitally important as it pertains to dreams. If you believe that the Lord has spoken to you by dream, such a thing should be prayed about... even fasted over for understanding as soon as you are able. Because most of the time, if the Lord choses to reveal something to you by dream, He does not speak it with an audible voice... but He renders the message through the language of symbols, images, and situations. Most of which can be deciphered through the Scriptures. And while I believe some symbols to have universal meaning depending on the context of the dream... there are many images and symbols that will be tailored just for you. That being stated, we should take note that dreams originating from the Lord are sent to guide us in our walk, as well as to change situations and circumstances. But we should be ever mindful that sin can kill a dream. Once the Lord reveals His plans to the heart and those plans are understood, they can be opposed. This is why the consequences for rejection, rebellion, unbelief, and a critical spirit concerning the revelation are always included or implied if not plainly stated. He wants our agreement and obedience to what He reveals for our lives, but He will not force us to walk with Him.