Genesis 41:15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. 16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
This passage of scripture plainly shows us that the correct interpretation of dreams and visions belong only to God, and therefore we should be very careful not to usurp His prerogatives, by presuming to interpret, or by putting our own spin on a dream that may have come to us with startling clarity. In this instance God had shown pharaoh what would shortly come to pass in the land of Egypt, and since the dream was doubled to him twice, he inferred that it might be a harbinger of coming danger or calamity, and in order to receive the correct interpretation, even pharaoh sought out those magicians and astrologers who, as he thought, were supposed to have a direct connection with the gods.
But he was very bitterly disappointed to find out that their inferior arts were nothing but a fraud, however, there was a servant of The Living God who had been blessed with the capacity of being a channel through which God's own interpretation of dreams could be made known.
It's very important for us to observe that although Joseph had been blessed with this rare ability, he acknowledged the fact that it was never to be used independently of God, for then he too would be in danger of putting his own private interpretation on that which he knew not. Furthermore, the Bible does not teach us to order our lives according to dreams, for they can be very misleading at times, and just because some of them may come to pass, does not mean that they were from God.
This point is very important for us to observe, for satan can also give dreams that can come to pass, and if a literal fulfillment is the only criteria used in their certification, then we will be prepared to receive delusions and doctrines of devils that come to us while dreaming. A very stern warning pertaining to this issue is given in the scriptures, so that we may be aware of the possible dangers linked to living by dreams. Let's read:
Jeremiah 23:25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. 26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; 27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.
Deuteronomy 13:5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.
When in doubt as to the source and interpretation of any vivid dream we may have had, it is always better to err on the side of caution, than to rush out and make decisions, or engage in certain activities, without first ascertaining that the revelation was from God. At such times like these, it is always best to take the matter to the Lord in prayer, waiting for His instructions to be given in His own time and way, and in the meanwhile we should put the dream on the back burner, while we closely observe if it comes to pass or not.
And even if it does come to pass, any instructions we may have received in our dreams, must first be authorized and cleared by the scriptures, and if there are any discrepancies, and inconsistencies, or violations of God's law to be found, the matter should then be canned and put in the garbage, for the word of God is to reign supreme at all times and in all places, regardless of how many startling dreams and visions we may have received.
God has not told us to live by dreams, but by every word that proceeds from His mouth, and therefore we are to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, by bringing all dreams, visions and unnatural occurrences into subjection to the authority of the scriptures, for in so doing we will never go wrong, and we will be able, like Christ, to withstand the advances of the evil one against our souls. We therefore end with a passage of scripture that bears out this very point, and it is the will of God that His word reign supreme in our hearts. Let's read:
Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!