[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during February 2026]
your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Joel 2 v28
What images do these words evoke?
Perhaps the old armchair drawn up close to the fire place, the flames and embers recreating memories of opportunities missed, of embarrassments endured, of decisions regretted. Or perhaps the rocker on the porch, the golden rays of the sun setting beyond distant hills, the satisfaction of a life both well-spent and spent well.
What are the visions of the young men, and women? There are ambitions to be achieved, battles to be fought, challenges to be conquered, hopes to be satisfied, wrongs to be righted – for them the focus is on the future and its inherent uncertainty.
Our dreams can be an expression of our own aspirations or they can be the outcome of subconscious mental activity over which we have little control. In both cases, dreams can be beneficial or they can turn into nightmares.
Reports of dreams and visions occur frequently in the Old Testament. We read that many of the prophets experienced God’s word by way of dreams or visions.
And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.
Numbers 12 v6 [ESVUK]
Abram, Jacob, Samuel, Nathan, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and many others received dreams and visions from God but perhaps one of the best-known is the vision given to Daniel. In his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream he foresaw how the empires of the world would arise and fall.[1]
In the New Testament too there are some accounts of people being guided by visions and dreams; examples include Zechariah, Ananias, Cornelius, Peter, Paul and finally John’s vision of history future. However, the writer of the book of Hebrews reminds us that we have a more direct means of listening to God.
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son.
Hebrews 1 v1-2 [KJ21]
Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, is now the focus of communication between us and God. His words are the yardstick against which all our dreams, visions and prophecies need to be measured. We can call on the Holy Spirit to help us.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
John 14 v26 [ESVUK]
What would Jesus say about our dreams? We now have many more resources including the written Bible, the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the accumulated experience of the wider Christian community.
How do our dreams measure up against them?
References:
[1] Daniel 2:19
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Last week’s reflection: Being Prepared
Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © Steve Humphreys