We are visual beings and though many may not pay attention to their dreams, the way in which God speaks symbolically in dreams is similar to how we communicate throughout the day. We use symbols every day to convey a message.  

For instance, we communicate through symbols using emojis. Without a word written, a laughing or object emoji conveys our emotions. I’ve added the personalized Bitmoji app to my phone. She looks like me and I can dress her according to my personality for the day.

If my internet browser is slow, the first thing I look for is the Bluetooth icon. I don’t have to type Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter into my browser every time I want to access it. If I’m reading an article and want to forward it on, with a click on the familiar symbol, I can share the article. 

Symbols are a common language for how we communicate throughout our day. Was there ever a time in history where we understood this so vividly? It seems no matter where I’m sitting I’m looking and choosing a symbol, i.e., Smart TV, car GPS, phone, computer, street signs. 

God said he would convey dreams with meaning in the last days. Acts 2:17-21 God-dreams are riddled with symbols. The difference with symbols in dreams is that they are Spirit-filled messages with great depth and purpose. Dreams from God aren’t superficial, generic, or a one and done feel-good message. 

There are symbols and images in our dreams that we can take at face value. For example the number one. One typically represents creation, one God, new beginnings. For those unusual symbols that make no sense at all, I’ve discovered they need deciphering. Ultimately, all interpretations “belong to the Lord.” Genesis 40:8

There will be times our dreams are understood instantaneously, and if you’re like me, that’s not always the case. You must seek God through his word and spend time in prayer. In time he will reveals what each “icon” represents and their purpose. 

God may choose to validate your path with one simple number. They reinforce his perfect Word because they cannot be altered. I can’t begin to express the gems that have been hidden in numbers from a God-dream.

Numbers have validated God’s direction in my life and the lives of my children many times. I don’t ignore numbers, amounts, or dates in my dreams. Don’t ignore numbers in your dreams. I highly doubt they lack significance. 

In 2020 alone, dreams from 2014, 2015, and 2016 began to unfold. Several of those dreams included the number 19. I never could have imagined they would have come to pass in the year 2019 and during the pandemic caused by COVID-19. 

God used the number 19 several times to reinforce the fullness and completion of his message and plans for my life at this period of time in history. The Lord sealed his plans in my life back then and at the appropriate time, brought his message to me. 

I found peace through a simple number as I saw his plans play out in my life. The verse “We can make our plans,  but the Lord determines our steps” became a reality by one simple number from a dream in the night. Psalm 32:8 

One goal of your dreams is that they should draw you to the feet of Jesus and into your Bible. Your relationship with the Lord should grow stronger because you seek to know and hear his voice with more clarity. After all, God is reaching out to you for a deeper relationship. Draw near to him in return. With each dream, wake up and speak to the Lord. Ask:

“What does this dream mean?” “Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery…” Daniel 2:17-18 What Daniel Teaches Us About Dreams

When you begin to seek the Lord to understand the meaning and purpose of your dreams, look at scripture. Below are some basic meaning of numbers 1-20 in the Bible:

ONE: God. Supreme, highest ranking (i.e., could be an Ace in a deck of cards). Beginning; first; unity; first love. Genesis 1:1; Ephesians 4:4-6 “one body, one Spirit). “I and the Father are one.” John 10:30.

TWO: Witness; union; marriage (real or symbolic); division. “Take one or two with you.” The second day of creation (evening and morning). Genesis 1:6-8; Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew 18:16; Ephesians 5:24-25. 

THREE: Trinity; resurrection; completeness; perfection; fullness. Sin. Matthew 28:19; John 1:14; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; 2 Corinthians 13:14

FOUR: World (four corners of the earth).  Four winds; four seasons (east, west, north, south). The world is established; source( Psalm 93:1). I.e., I’ve found a circle in my dream that represents the world. It marks time, and seasons (i.e., day, night, sun, moon, stars). Genesis 1:14-19; I Samuel 2:8; Job 26:7; Ezekiel 7:2; Revelation 7:1; Revelation 20:8

FIVE: Five-fold ministry. Curtains. Wise and foolish (ten bridesmaids. ) Exodus 26:3; Matthew 25:1-13; Ephesians 4:11

SIX: Humanity; creation of man; sin; all that follows (commencement, i.e., labor, pain, sorrow). Slavery ended after serving six years; to be released on the seventh. Mark of the Beast (666). Slaves end. Genesis 2:4-25; Exodus 21:2; Revelation 13:16-18; Revelation 14:9-11; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:4

SEVEN: Completion; fullness; finished; rest (end of seven days of creation). Holy; Sabbath. Seven churches in Revelation. Genesis 2:1-3; Revelation 1:4-18.

EIGHT: Circumcision of the flesh, the heart; the seal of righteousness. New beginning. Romans 2:25-29; Romans 4:11; Galatians 6:15

NINE: Fruits of the Spirit. Cornelius received God’s Spirit in the ninth hour. The trinity, perfection, wholeness; completion is emphasized (3 x 3). Acts 10; Galatians 5:22-23 See 3.

TEN: Ten Commandments/law. Tithe/money/finances; ten plagues upon Egypt. Christ the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:2; John 1:29; I Corinthians 5:7).  Exodus 7, 8, 9, 10, 11; Exodus 20; Leviticus 27:30. 

ELEVEN: Disorder and chaos (Tower of Babel); breaking the law (after the 10 Commandments). The Tower of Babel begins in Genesis 11. Exodus 20.

TWELVE: Perfect government, organization, New Jerusalem gate will include 12 gems. i.e., tribes of Judah, apostles. The priests’ breastpiece had 12 stones. Exodus 28; Joshua 3:12; Matthew 10:2-4; Luke 6:13; Ephesians 2:20; Revelation 21:12

THIRTEEN: Rebellion, sin. I.e., Ishmael was circumcised at 13. Foretold he would be a wild man, untamed, a wild donkey.” Genesis 1612; Genesis 17:25. 

FOURTEEN: Double portion of perfection (7 + 7; 2 x 7). I.e., 2 (unity, witness), combined with 7 (perfection) = perfect union. Passover. Deuteronomy 16:1-8; Luke 22:15; John 13:1-3. See 2 and 7. 

FIFTEEN: Grace. 2 Kings 20:6; Isaiah 38:5

SIXTEEN: Double portion of 4 x 4; 8 + 8. See 4 and 8.

SEVENTEEN: Complete perfection, fullness, order (7 +10). False messenger, anti-christ, i.e., the beast had 7 heads and 10 horns. Revelation 13. See 7 and 10.

EIGHTEEN: Double portion of 2 x 9; 9 + 9. See 2 and 9. 

NINETEEN: God’s perfection, complete order. See 10 and 9. See examples of how God used 19 in my dreams. 

TWENTY: Emphasis on the law, and order. Exodus 20; Hebrews 10:26-29

Additional questions and reflection upon waking up:

Thank and praise God for speaking to you in the night. Daniel 2:23

Ask the Lord, “What do you want me to do with this dream?”

Search scripture for the symbols in your dream, i.e., numbers, colors, objects, etc.

Be patient. Let the Lord reveal the meaning and purpose. He will guide your footsteps, as his word promises numerous times.

The beautiful thing about dreams is when left to God to interpret, he leaves little room for doubt. There is the human side that can cause us to err, but when we receive a word from God, he will make all things clear. 

Related dreams: Number 432 Miracle; Recurring Dreams; Recurring Dreams - Continued; What Daniel Teaches Us About Dreams

Photo by Sebastian Herrmann on Unsplash