Greetings from the Editor
Dear Friends,
In the midst of many challenges that threaten to overwhelm us, the publishing team of The Living Pulpit is filled with thanksgiving as we bring online this issue on dreams and visions. We are reminded yet again that “there is still vision for the appointed time . . . If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come” (Hab 2:3). We give praise and thanks to God, who has sustained us in this ministry of supporting the communicators of the good news of the reign of God.
The dreams and visions of our forebears of faith show us how profoundly they impacted later generations. We are truly blessed to have the Scriptures filled with the stories of those who refused to settle for the then-available customs and dared to hope beyond the circumstances that could have easily stifled their imagination. One of our authors illustrates this with her discussion on the daughters on Zelophehad. In many cultures, ancient and modern, daughters are often excluded from the family inheritance. The daughters of Zelophehad challenged the customs of their time. They had the courage to imagine and present an alternative faithful to the spirit of the tradition. Like Yentl who studied Torah with courage and tenacity in Isaac Singer’s short story and play (premiered in New York City in 1975), these young women advocated for themselves, breaking patriarchal boundaries, with articulate exegesis.
A number of our authors remind us of the power of dreams and visions to pull us through difficult times. For a biblical example, we have the story of Joseph who had the capacity to dream and also the gift of the interpretation of dreams. Even when the immediate turn of affairs seemed to frustrate what he saw in his dreams, Joseph maintained compassion instead of succumbing to bitterness. The way he welcomed his brothers in Genesis 45 illuminates the power of dreams to ensure that dreamer’s actions reflect God’s grace.
The present circumstances of our day can easily strike us with fear, but the authors in this issue tell us that we can overcome fear with dreams and visions. Dreams and visions lead us beyond the present tribulations. They raise us from the horror of the crucifixion to encounter the brightness of the resurrection, enabling us to see the redeeming side of the cross. The two events, the cross and the resurrection, will never be kept apart again.
Finally, we are stunned by the cover art that depicts the famous dream of Jacob, who had no idea of what his future had in store (Genesis 28). In his flight from home, he ran out of the sunlight and had to lodge in the wilderness. He used a stone as his pillow. Although the famous 19th -century hymn writer, Sarah Flower Adams cites it as one item that provided rest for Jacob, I remember the time when I was on an open-air retreat and had to use a stone as a pillow, only to realize that it can cause a serious headache in the morning. When Jacob woke up, however, he was only mindful of what he had seen. “Surely the LORD is in this place—I did not know it!” (v. 16). As Jacob’s dream guided his path throughout his life, we also want to be led by God, who gives us dreams in the dark and bright visions of hope.
Jin H. Han, Ph.D.
Editor-in-Chief
