Vision (#67)

Birth of a vision: Moses hears God’s call to help his people.
Death of a vision: Moses acts, but defeat consumes promise, and he flees.
Rebirth of a vision: God resurrects the dead dream and sends Moses back to Egypt.
Testing of a vision: Moses acts again, but defeat consumes expectation, and his people reject him.

Perhaps Abraham spun myths. Maybe Jacob told tales. But Moses heard God, didn’t he? Who can mock his doubt as he watched deliverance sink backward? One author claims that true God-seekers live in confusion. Why can’t God speak simple instructions that achieve stated goals? He promises us the impossible and out of reach. But despite faith, nothing happens. Our failure either shouts that we missed God’s will or its whisper encourages us to wait for the invisible. What makes it so hard to tell the difference?

Two handicaps obstruct our sight: First, we believe we control reality. Second, we think linearly. Everything occurs in order; every cause generates an effect. Lay a foundation, place the walls, and only then add the roof because we know roofs don’t hang in mid-air. Sounds reasonable, except for one happy detail. God works differently. Knowing all ends before every beginning, He needs neither walls to support roofs nor causes to bring about effects.

On the other hand, if we fallen creatures can discern His thoughts, fathom His ways, and understand Him, what sort of God are we following, anyway? If we know what He knows, then He knows no better than we do. Scary thought. Fortunately, the dream-Giver fulfills our vision by offering Himself as our hope.