Angels and Dreams
This morning I enjoyed a breakfast meeting with Jim Szakmeister the men’s ministry director at Timberline. Jim has been a friend from years past and it has been good to reconnect since our move to Fort Collins. The rest of my day was busy and productive getting some office work done in preparation for our holiday trip to Atlanta. We actually fly out early on Christmas morning. This will be a first for us to travel on Christmas day.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “But after Joseph thought about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to accept Mary to be your wife. The baby inside her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son. You will name him Jesus. Give him that name because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21 ERV
They wonder and mystery of the birth of Jesus is reflected in the supernatural visitations and directions throughout the story. It begins with Zechariah in the Temple offering incense when an angel appears to him and tells him that his old and barren wife Elizabeth will have a baby. But not just any child. This child will have a special purpose and role in preparing the way for the coming Messiah. Zechariah is not only informed of the child’s destiny, but is told how he should be raised and what his name will be.
We see next that Mary receives a visit from the angel Gabriel who announces to her that she will become the mother of the Messiah. Again the message is not only about what is to take place and how special child this will be, but also what his name will be.
Joseph is directed several times by angels and dreams. The first time is to instruct him to go ahead and to “take Mary as his wife” and the dream reaffirms this child will be the Savior of the world and is to be named, “Jesus.” Later Joseph is instructed in dreams about what to do and where to go so they and they child would be safe and that scripture would be fulfilled.
The final reference about instructions through dreams is the wise men. These men were “astrologers” and not your typical men of faith in Jehovah God. Yet we see the Lord intervenes for the safety of the wise men and the holy family.
It is to the shepherds that we see angels appear and then fill the sky with a message of good news and proclamations of praise to God.
Angels are God’s messengers and often it is through dreams that the Lord is able to communicate and bring things to our attention. We see that in these days and times the Lord speaks primarily through His Word and through the life of Jesus. (Hebrews 1:2) Yet God is still God and is able to work by His Spirit in ways that stretch our faith and understanding.
I have heard accounts of many Muslims coming to faith in Christ, because of dreams and revelations. The Lord is still able to warn and instruct in any way He so chooses. “He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds.” (Job 33:5 NIV) I recall one time when I composed and memorized an invocation for an event, in my sleep. At night the Lord may prompt someone to pray or to provide warning or words of comfort.
Psalm 4:4 admonishes, “Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.”
Mystery and wonder in the story of Jesus birth is reflected in the work of angels and dreams. God is stilling at work today. Can we be open to the “mysterious” and the “wonder” that comes when God acts in ways that we don’t anticipate.