During the elective I helped run on the Spirit and prophecy, Tracey and I began by asking what questions people came with. The first question both times was;What is the relationship between dreams and prophecy?
Like everything, I will get to the answer the long way (and perhaps not even venture close to an answer at all).
However, of note to begin with is that the very first mention of prophecy in the Bible comes through a dream. Yet perhaps not in the way you'd expect. This reference to prophecy comes by God in a dream to Abimelech in Genesis 20.
Abraham and Sarah have pulled the old "She's my sister (but really my wife)" trick. And Abimelech after taking Sarah hears this in a dream;
Now then, return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. (Genesis 20:7)
It's fascinating that God speaks with Abimelech in a dream, but Abimelech isn't the prophet, Abraham is. The next instruction that Abraham will pray for him presupposes the prophet in an intermediary role between God and man. The prophet is one with a special relationship with God.
[Dave, your answer is coming!]
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