Dreams from God are only for very special events. For example, the dreams in Genesis were only given to the patriarchs, or fathers, of Israel. God had a special relationship with these men because He had promised Abraham that through him and his seed (children) all the families of the earth would be blessed. See Genesis 12:2 & 3. Consequently, God was carefully guiding and directing the development of the nation of Israel.  

Others in the Old Testament, including judges and prophets of Israel, the pharaoh of Egypt, kings of nations, received dreams because their actions directly affected Israel. God was always overruling the affairs of Israel, as He said in Amos 3:2 (NIV), “You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth…”

In the New Testament, God directed Jesus’ birth, childhood, and death through dreams sent to significant people in the experiences. Again, Jesus’ life and death were pivotal events for Israel and for all mankind. 

So, you can see that God communicates through dreams rarely, and only if it is directing a specific event for His special children. 

God created people with the ability to dream. If you look at the brain waves of a person who says he is dreaming, you can identify the exact type of brain waves. Through this technology, we have learned that people dream every night, several times a night.  We don’t remember most of our dreams. Why? We still don’t know the reasons. But apparently, dreaming helps the brain to consolidate ideas and memories. Dreaming is essential to brain and to emotional health. These dreams are not communications from God or from any other being.

We are exposed to so much these days from so many questionable sources – TV, movies, books, internet even billboards can sneak up on us and plant seeds of positive, negative or even evil things in our psyche.  What will influence us and show up jumbled together in a dream (or nightmare) is impossible to predict and could mean anything from you are feeling stressed over a recent experience, have a sad memory from someone close to you dying or just your brain’s chemical reaction to the food you ate before bed. 

People may remember their dreams when they are especially stressed and burdened. As King Solomon wrote, “A dream comes when there are many cares…” Ecclesiastes 5:3 (NIV).

Finally, the Bible is a gift from God to help direct our lives. For direction and help, we read and study God’s word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” While God communicated through human dreams in the Bible, no scripture specifically promises such communication to us now.