Dream

God has frequently made use of dreams in communicating his will to men. The most remarkable instances of this are recorded in the history of Jacob (Gen 28:12; Gen 31:10), Laban (Gen 31:24), Joseph (Gen 37:9ff), Gideon (Judges Chapter 7), and Solomon (1 Kg 3:5). Other significant dreams are also recorded, such as those of Abimelech (Gen 20:3ff), Pharaoh's chief butler and baker (Gen 40:5), Pharaoh (Gen 41:1ff), the Midianites (Jdg 7:13), Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 2:1; Dan 4:10ff), the wise men from the east (Mt 2:12), and Pilate's wife (Mt 27:19).

To Joseph "the Lord appeared in a dream," and gave him instructions regarding the infant Jesus (Mt 1:20; Mt 2:12ff). In a vision of the night a "man of Macedonia" stood before Paul and said, "Come over into Macedonia and help us" (Acts 16:9; see also Acts 18:9; Acts 27:23).