Introduction
• God spoke through the prophets hundreds of years ago to promise the coming of the Messiah. He sent the angel Gabriel to tell Zacharias and Mary directly about their roles in Jesus’ birth. The most relatable, and enigmatic, way God spoke was through dreams—the same process we experience today. But does God still speak to us in dreams?
• I’m Brent and this is episode 67 of The Bible Unplugged. We continue our Advent series with a look at the methods God used to convey His will in preparation for Jesus’ birth.
• Please take a minute to look at the show notes for this episode at PowerLoveandMiracles.com.
Background
• So far in this series we’ve looked at how God used history and 400 years of silence, and how He used creation to point the way to Jesus.
• But God spoke directly to people as well.
• Mary and Zacharias received God’s message through a personal visit from the angel Gabriel. Zacharias doubted the truth of Gabriel’s statement and wasn’t able to talk until his son John was born. Mary accepted the message as well as her place as the earthly mother of Jesus.
• The most common method God used to communicate this message, though, was through dreams in the night. We can identify with that because we have dreams too; but do we understand and accept the messages of dreams as being truthful and valid?
The Gospel in Dreams
• In Matthew’s account of the Christmas story we have five dreams.
• The first was in the book of Matthew 1:20. Joseph had discovered that Mary was pregnant, and the only logical conclusion was betrayal. But before he acted, God intervened: “An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.’”
• That one dream changed everything. Joseph went from confusion to courage, from walking away to walking by faith.
• Then, in Matthew 2, God used dreams to guide others. After the Magi visited Jesus, God warned them in a dream not to return to Herod, who intended to kill the child. They obeyed and went home another way, risking death for not reporting back to Herod.
• Shortly after that, Joseph dreamed again: “Arise, take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt.” That warning saved the Jesus’ life.
• Matthew received two dreams telling him it was safe to return to Israel after Herod’s death and to go to Galilee instead of Judea
• Dreams were the divine GPS that guided Joseph and the Magi through danger, confusion, and transition.
Dreams: A Common Way of Communicating
• Dreams have always been one of the ways God communicates with His people. In Joel 2:28, the prophet said, “I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.”
• In Scripture, dreams are not random—they’re sacred interruptions. They bypass our defenses and speak to the deep parts of the soul we can’t reach when we’re awake.
• In Joseph’s case, God spoke to him in a dream because he was a righteous man torn between compassion and confusion. His heart was open, but his mind was overwhelmed. God waited until Joseph’s body rested, and then He spoke to his spirit.
• Sometimes God speaks directly in our waking experience; but sometimes, He waits for us to stop striving before He starts speaking.
Takeaways from the Dreams
• God speaks in a way that is most meaningful to us. Zacharias and Mary heard the message directly, but Matthew didn’t. The difference is not just in the message, but in the ability of the recipient to understand the message.
• God speaks in loud and miraculous ways, but also in quiet and solitude. The same God who thundered at Sinai also whispered in Joseph’s sleep. We don’t have to chase miracles to hear Him; we just have to be still.
• Dreams reveal God’s personal care. Each dream came at a moment of crisis—a crossroad where obedience determined destiny. God’s timing is always precise.
• Obedience follows revelation. Every time Joseph woke up from a dream, he acted immediately. Faith isn’t just believing the dream; it’s following through when we wake up.
• The supernatural often feels ordinary. Joseph’s dreams weren’t spectacular—no lightning or fanfare—but they carried the weight of divine purpose. God still moves in quiet, human moments.
The Challenge for Today
• I have some challenges for you this week:
• Rest with intention. Before you fall asleep each night, take a moment to pray, “Lord, speak to me in the stillness.” Then trust that God can meet you even in your subconscious.
• How can you tell when a dream has divine significance? Write down what lingers. If a dream, phrase, or image stays with you after you wake, don’t dismiss it too quickly. Write in your journal. Pray about it. God may be trying to stir your awareness.
• Respond like Joseph. Is there something you already know God is prompting you to do? Act on it this week. Faith that sleeps through conviction misses miracles.
• Be open to God’s message in whatever form it might take. God speaks through Scripture, through the seemingly inadvertent words other say, and through circumstances in our lives. Be ready and expectant. Know that the God who spoke to Joseph still speaks to you today.
The conclusion
• Yes, we have reached the end of the episode, but I’ve got a lot more coming.
• I hope this has been helpful. If so, take a minute to give this podcast a high rating and share it with someone you know.
• In the next episode, we continue this Advent series with a look at how God used politics, of all things, to orchestrate the coming of the Messiah. I have a devotional series for the Christmas season and a book series, “Saints, Sinners, and Scandals: The Real Story of Jesus’ Birth.” Both are available at PowerLoveandMiracles.com.
• My prayer for you is that you would be sensitive to God’s still small voice even if that voice speaks to you in your dreams.
• Have a blessed week.
The disclaimers
• Just to let you know:
• All opinions are my own. If you agree, keep listening. If you don’t… keep listening. I know I have some good stuff here for you.
• All Bible quotations come from the World English Bible which is a public domain work.
• Our show theme song is “Awesome Call” by Kevin MacLeod and is available under a Creative Commons license.
• The content of this podcast is copyrighted 2025 by J. Brent Eaton
• This has been a Power Love and Miracles production.
