Interpretation Belongs to God

“Then they said to him, ‘We have had a dream and there is no one to interpret it.’ Then Joseph said to them,’ Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell it to me, please.'”  Genesis 40:8 NKJV

     Before you can interpret your dreams properly or intercede effectively from the posture of revelation, you must understand the language of that revelation. You must ask the question, “What language do you speak?” Have learned your spiritual alphabet? Your spiritual alphabet will be unique to you. God will speak revelation to you according to the language you speak.

Doctors, nurses, and other medical and health professionals have a language all their own, a technical vocabulary that untrained laypeople cannot understand. Music has a written language that is incomprehensible to anyone who has never been taught to read the symbols. Pastors have their own language, too. This can cause problems when their language does not match that of their congregations!

We each have a personal walk and, in a sense, a personal talk. Our spiritual alphabet, though similar is unique to each individual. Regardless of how our individual spiritual alphabets differ, our basic approach to interpretation should be the same. Proper interpretation can occur on many different levels.

Three Simple Steps for Interpreting

1. Go to the Word of God!

Study the interpretation of words and symbols by researching their meanings as recorded in Scriptures. This is an excellent and the easiest way to begin.

2. Develop the Skill of Journaling!

Journaling will help you capture your distinct pictures, and it will give you understanding over time, plus you will learn wisdom for your journey.

3. Welcome the Anointing, Gifting and Presence of the Holy Spirit!

The Holy Spirit will guide you into the truth, keeping things within biblical boundaries. Your learning curve will be pure and adventurous, yet unreligious.

Revelation is Full of Symbolism

         Dreams are often the language of emotions and therefore contain much symbolism. We must learn to take our interpretations first from Scripture and then from our own lives. The symbolism He uses in Genesis will be similar to that found in Revelation. In fact, one of the fundamental principles of biblical interpretation is the “law of first use.” This is true in interpreting symbols in the Word of God and then will also run consistent in our own personal dream language as well.

For example, let’s say that you have a dream in which an apple appears and you discern through the Holy Spirit that it symbolizes Israel because Zechariah 2:8 refers to Israel as the “apple of God’s eye.” Once the apple has entered your spiritual alphabet as a symbol for Israel, you can be confident that whenever that image appears in a future dream, the dream has something to do with the nation of Israel. God is consistent with His revelatory symbolism.

There are so many more lessons to learn in our search among God’s revelatory ways. But perhaps these beginning steps will whet your appetite to study to show yourself approved, a workman unto God. I have been taking lessons from the Holy Spirit in these areas for years and I can tell you this, “The God who gave the Dream also has the Interpretation that matches perfectly!”

Cultivate Wisdom and the Fear of the Lord!

     Let us consider the words given to us from Ecclesiastes 5:7, “For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.” Now this is not saying to toss away one of the primary ways that God speaks to His people. But let’s seek the God of Dreams and not just the Dream of the Lord! Right?

Father God, we know that dreams and their interpretations belong to You! With honor coupled with a deep spiritual hunger, we ask You to give us Your wisdom applications to go with the increase of the Spirit of Revelation in Jesus’ great and mighty name. Amen and Amen!