Without a Vision, the People Perish
Key Scripture
“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time…”— Habakkuk 2:2–3
After the shofar sounds on Yom Tru’ah (Feast of Trumpets)—calling us to awaken and hear the voice of God—and after we humble ourselves with fasting and prayer on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), we soon enter Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)—the season of our joy!
As we enter this new season, perhaps it is also time to clarify our vision for the season ahead.
God told the prophet Habakkuk to write the vision and make it plain. The Message puts it this way: “Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run.”
Have we ever stopped long enough to actually write down the vision God has placed in our hearts?
Helen Keller once said, “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.”
Sight is the physical ability to see what is in front of us. Vision sees beyond what is—to what can be.
We all need God-given hopes, dreams and direction for our lives. Otherwise, we can begin to drift aimlessly. As the old saying goes, “If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there.”
Scripture says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV)
Don't Lose the Vision in the Wilderness
This is what happened to the children of Israel.
God had brought them out of Egypt and promised to lead them into a beautiful land flowing with milk and honey. But there was one problem:
The road to the Promised Land went through the wilderness.
And somewhere in that wilderness, they began to lose sight of the promise.
Instead of seeing their destination, they saw sand, sand, and more sand. They saw no water. They saw hardship. They complained and wanted to go back to Egypt.
They cried out to Moses, "And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink.” (Numbers 20:5)
In other words, “This doesn't look anything like the Promised Land!”
Have you ever felt that way?
We can become so discouraged by the dry and weary wilderness we are trudging through day after day, that we lose sight of where God is taking us. We become so focused on what our eyes see that we lose sight of what God has promised.
This Is Not Your Final Destination
Imagine flying from Calgary, Alberta, to Tel Aviv with a layover in Toronto.
What if you looked around the Toronto airport and said, “Wait a minute! Where are the palm trees? Where are the orange groves? I don't hear anyone speaking Hebrew! Someone lied to me. What am I still doing in Canada? I must be in the wrong place. I'm supposed to be in Israel! That would of course be ridiculous, right?!
The Toronto airport is not the destination. It is simply a layover - a part of the journey.
And perhaps the place where you find yourself today is not your final destination either.
Maybe you don't yet see the healing, restoration, provision, freedom or justice you have been praying for. Maybe you can't see beyond the walls of your pit of depression or self pity. Maybe, like Joseph, you feel forgotten in a dark dungeon of despair.
Perhaps what you see with your natural eyes looks nothing like the vision God placed within your heart.
But don't lose heart.
Don't give up in the wilderness.
Habakkuk continues:
“If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.” (Habakkuk 2:3 MSG)
Write the Vision
As we enter this new season, what is the vision God has placed in your heart?
What are you believing Him for? Where do you sense He is leading you?
Perhaps it is time to sit quietly before the Lord, pray, and write the vision down. Make it plain.
Write down the promises God has given you. Write down the hopes and dreams He has placed within your heart. Get a clear picture of the destination so that when the wilderness becomes difficult, you can look at it again and remember:
This is where I am going. This wilderness is not my destination.
Keep your eyes on the prize. Keep standing on the promises of God.
The vision may seem delayed—but God is faithful.
Prayer
Abba Father, thank You that You have a purpose and plan for my life. When the wilderness becomes difficult and what I see with my natural eyes does not seem to line up with Your promises, help me not to lose heart. Give me clear vision for the season ahead. Help me to write it down, make it plain, and keep my eyes fixed on You. Strengthen me to keep walking until I reach the place You have prepared for me. In the name of Yeshua HaMashiach, amen.
Reflection
What vision has God placed in your heart for this next season?
Take some time today to pray about it—and then write it down and make it plain.
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