In my book, Dream Messages: 33 Ways to Discover Divine Treasure in Dreams, I include several imaginative encounters between God and biblical dreamers, written by my husband, Gerald. I hope this one about Abraham will inspire you to think about your dreams in a new way.
Dear Abraham.
Mention the moon and stars when you tell people about our little conversation here tonight, will you? So they know I brought you the Word during the night.
See, most people still confuse dreams and visions, like they’re separate things—you dream at night, you see visions during the day. But it’s not that simple.
Dreams, visions, angels, and other supernatural phenomena are all of a piece, sort of blended into something difficult to explain in natural theology. You know them by experience, but explaining them to a friend over coffee? Complicated, very complicated.
So it doesn’t really matter whether you call this a vision or a dream—same thing in my mind.
Anyway, Abe, I woke you up (boy, talk about “the old man was snoring” …) because of the importance of what I’m going to tell you. Whether you call this encounter a vision or a dream, what’s important is that you had an encounter, an experience with the living God—and it’s going to change your life forever.
Lying on your back as a kid, trying to count the stars was, of course, futile. But it makes the point here: your offspring will also be countless.
Got your attention with that one, didn’t I? Offspring is what I mean. I know it has been a long time since you and Sarah … well, it’s been a long time, I know, but you and your wife are going to conceive a child.
I appreciate you chuckling—Sarah actually laughed out loud when I told her—but I mean it. I’ve got big plans for you. First a son, then grandsons, then … lots of progeny, down through the ages—eventually even a complete nation built from a multitude of your descendants.
And through them I’ll bless the rest of the world.
… the word of the Lord came to Abraham in a vision … “one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir” … And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be” (Genesis 15:1–5).
Your Friend,
Lord God