How can we recognize if a dream is from God?

How can we recognize if a dream is from God, or what may be called a Prophetic Dream?

Joseph was given two prophetic dreams (Gen. 37:5-11). The cup bearer and the baker were given prophetic dreams (Gen. 40:5-19). Pharaoh was given two prophetic dreams (Gen. 41:1-7). As the story unfolds, we realize that these were dreams from God. They were prophetic dreams.

How can we know if a dream is from God or just something else? Our western culture teaches us little or nothing about dream interpretation.

Here are four clues from Genesis 37-50 to help us discern if a dream is prophetic and from God.

Look out for:

a. Repetition 

Joseph had the same dream twice (Gen. 37:5-10). Pharaoh also got a prophetic dream, which was repeated twice (Gen. 41:1-7). Genesis 41:32 (ESV) says, "And the doubling of Pharaoh's dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about."

b. Restlesness 

Joseph (we might assume) was disturbed enough by these dreams to share them with his brothers and family. Possibly something he didn't do with every dream (Genesis 37). Pharaoh's cup bearer and baker got dreams which left them "troubled" (Gen. 40:6-8). After the dreams, we are told that Pharaoh's "spirit was troubled" (Gen. 41:8), troubled enough to share the dreams (Gen. 41:8)

c. Recognition

When shared, others recognized the significance (& divine origin) of the dreams. Joseph's brother's and father got the message that Joseph's dreams are about his going to "reign" (Gen. 37:8, 10). Joseph recognized the meaning of the dreams of the cup bearer and the baker (Get. 40:12-13; 18-19). And Joseph recognized the interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams (Gen. 41:25-32). Especially seek out people gifted by God in dream recognition and interpretation, people gifted like Joseph (Gen. 40:8, 12-13, 18-19; 41:12-13, 15-16, 25f).

d. Rescue

If it's truly from God the dream will, in some way, relate to the Great Rescue Plan and Story of God, which is about the salvation of the world though the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. All these dreams in Genesis 37-50 are in some way related to the Great Rescue Plan and Story of God which gets summed up at the end of the story in Genesis 50:20. After the death of Jacob, when Joseph's brothers fear his revenge, Joseph says to his wayward brothers:

"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive (or NIV - the saving of many lives), as they are today." (Genesis 50:20 ESV)

Joseph is a type of Jesus who would suffer to save many (Mark 10:45).

Every dream from God will relate (in some way) to the saving work of Jesus on the Cross. Dreams that do not relate to the Cross of Jesus are to be rejected.

God does not share stuff that has nothing to do with Jesus!