Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The first mention of the
Lord speaking to someone in a dream is when he warned Abimelech not
to touch Sarah, Abraham's wife. He also spoke to Jacob in dreams
as well as Laban the Syrian. Yet the one who seems to have
been associated with dreams the most is Joseph, the son of Jacob,
who is called the dreamer by his brethren with a note of disgust.
Not only was Joseph given dreams, but he was most prominently an
interpreter of the dreams of others as the Lord gave him understanding.
Both his dreams and his interpretations are surely from the Lord, since
they all, without fail, came to pass in keeping with the Lord's
revealed purpose. Daniel is also prominently mentioned
in the Scriptures in connection with dreams, some of his own,
but mostly his interpretations of those of the kings of Babylon.
In all of these dreams, the Lord declared the glory of His kingdom,
in stark contrast to the demise of those earthly kingdoms and
the destruction of their pride and status. For all dreams which
have their origins in his kingdom will indeed magnify the one who
rules in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the
earth, and will give men no place to glory. The prophet Joel declared
a prophecy which has had its fulfillment on the day of Pentecost,
as the Lord raised up a testimony to the reign of Jesus Christ
as the Redeemer King of the house of Israel. and it shall come
to pass afterward that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men
shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions." Peter
testified that this had come to pass on that very day as the
disciples spoke with other tongues and men heard in their own language. The Lord appeared four times
in a dream to Joseph, being the husband of the Virgin Mary, the
mother of the Lord Jesus. But while he thought on these
things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in
a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take
unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her
is of the Holy Ghost. He was not disobedient unto that
heavenly vision, even as the Lord showed him who this one
was by name, and what he would accomplish. And she shall bring
forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall
save his people from their sins. What a wondrous revelation! The
first time his name is spoken was in a dream. That is that
name which is above every name, that name before which every
knee shall bow, that name which speaks peace to a multitude which
no man can number. Neither is there salvation in
any other, for there is none other name under heaven given
among men whereby we must be saved. I will make thy name to
be remembered in all generations. Therefore shall the people praise
thee forever and ever. He spoke to Joseph in a dream
a second time, saying, Arise and take the young child and
his mother and flee into Egypt. This was done to illustrate the
hatred and enmity of the world for this one who came to deliver
his people and to reign forever in his kingdom of righteousness.
Thus is fulfilled that prophecy. When Israel was a child, then
I loved him and called my son out of Egypt." The gates of hell
cannot prevail against him, much less the sons of men. He spoke
to Joseph in a dream a third time, telling him to return to
the land of Israel. Though he sojourned in Egypt,
it was unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel that he was
sent. Thus it was necessary for him to return to the land of
his nativity. I am the good shepherd. The good
shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. Nevertheless, the
foundation of God standeth sure. Having this seal, the Lord knoweth
them that are his. And yet a fourth time we see
him speaking to Joseph in a dream. Being warned of God in a dream,
he turned aside into the parks of Galilee. While some might
see little significance in this occurrence, we see the necessity
of it in the next verse. And he came and dwelt in a city
called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
by the prophets, he shall be called a Nazarene. He came from
this lowly town to demonstrate his humility among men, and that
he might hide himself from the wise and prudent who scoffed
at his abode. We see this as the Pharisees
upbraided Nicodemus. They answered and said unto him,
Art thou also of Galilee? Search and look, for out of Galilee
ariseth no prophet. It is indeed glorious when the
Lord is pleased to speak to His children in dreams. Yet because
the heart is deceitful, we must be wary of dreamers. For in the
multitude of dreams and many words, there are also divers
or different vanities. But fear thou God. Put no confidence
in dreams, nor lean to thine own understanding. Give Christ
all glory, and worship Him. For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net