I don’t know about you, but I don’t have very many dreams that I have felt compelled to get out of bed and go document. This, however, happened to me recently and I feel that I am to share this dream with you.
When I asked for inputs as to the interpretation of this dream, the initial inputs did not seem very insightful. Over time, however, this dream has taken on “generational” and “global” significance.
I will give examples at the end of this article of what this dream has been used for in God’s Kingdom.
Dave’s Dream Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009
I was in what appeared to be a conference/retreat of a number (20-30) of young men who were seeking the Lord on a number of issues in their lives and ministries. Although I was the oldest there, the average age seemed to be 35 – 45 years of age, I was not uncomfortable being there. The conference was being held near the headwaters of a large river that I knew ran all the way from the mountains where we were to the ocean somewhere near Southern California. (The Colorado River?)
At one point I was sitting at a table with 6-8 young men, all dressed very well as if they were professionals in their ministry/business. One of the young men had asked for the word of the Lord on an item and we had gathered to “download” what the lord had told each of us.
I started to tell them about the very unusual method the lord had used to give me some input on the issue the night before. The method was:
For some reason I was aware that Jim Goll was at another place way down river from us and I knew that he was fishing at the very time that I decided to go fishing in the same river, way upstream. The Lord told me that I would receive a word for this young man’s situation through Jim Goll as I was fishing. I did get a word for this young man’s situation, while I was fishing.
As I was beginning to tell what the word from the Lord was, I was interrupted by the young man. He was questioning the “method”. He was joined by others at the table, challenging me, regarding the “method” and how did I know it was a word from the Lord.
I was “quenched” immediately and the Spirit within would not allow me to release the word I had received for this young man. The group took this as another sign that I had not heard from God, as I wouldn’t release the word. The only thing I was able to say was, “I can’t throw pearls before swine”.
I remember thinking, during the dream, they don’t believe that I have the experience, education, discernment or something, and the “method” the Lord used in this example, is just confirming that they don’t need to listen to me.
This morning, as I was taking a shower, I was reminded of the number of unusual ways the Bible records that He spoke to men. Many times the unusual ways were because He needed to get their attention after a season of them rejecting or ignoring Him. Balaam & the donkey, Jonah & the whale, Moses & the burning bush, Saul/Paul and the great light on the way to Damascus. The Prophet’s God used were not exactly the professional image, or had the pedigree that would make is easy to accept they were sent from God.
In the past few weeks it has become apparent that one aspect of this dream is a “generational” application. Also, in dreams and visions, the river generally represents either the provision of God or the Holy Spirit. In this case I believe it meant both.
One of the more apparent theme’s in the Old Testament is the lack of respect the younger generation had for the older generation. You can see that with Jacob’s sons, David’s sons, Eli’s sons, etc. Much of that was due to the lack of “equipping” received from the older generation. Most, however, was due to the belief of the younger generation that “they knew better”. We saw this in our lifetime beginning in the 1960’s.
I believe that one interpretation of this dream is that we, the older generation, can not force truth and wisdom down our adult children’s throats and expect them to respect and or respond positively. We must obey the voice of the Holy Spirit that, unless they are ready, we must keep quiet.
On the other hand, the younger generation must begin to look to the Lord and “lean not on their own understanding”, but honor their elders and seek their wisdom, experience and advice.
Leviticus 19:31-32 (New American Standard Bible) ‘Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. ‘You shall rise up before the grayheaded and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the LORD.
Proverbs 20:29 (Amplified Bible) The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is their gray head [suggesting wisdom and experience].
I’m sure there are other interpretations of this dream. Please feel free to comment, below, if you believe you have any additional insight from the Holy Spirit.
I will also share a response that came from Candy Outlaw: (Feel free to comment on this as well)
This is very interesting as this morning as I was reading God’s word I was lead to this passage, “Ezekiel 47:8-12.” I thought the river was AAG and the fish were the converts. And there were swamps and marshes where men would not listen and they were given over to salt (unbelief). The notes in my Bible say the water becomes a river of healing and the source of abundant life for everything and everyone. It says the living water that God will provide has immeasurable power to renew, restore and resurrect life. It says the sea which is dead (the dead sea) will live again. Also, verses 13 (about the priest’s area) and 14 (Equality of inheritance) are very interesting. Candy
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