He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child. (Acts 7: 5)

Stephen, in his sermon in the Book of Acts, states that Abraham was given no inheritance in the land of Canaan, not so much as a foot of land; but, rather, God promised that he and his descendants would later possess the land. One of the reasons stated in Genesis was that the Anchorites had control of the land and that their “cup of iniquity was not yet full (Genesis 15: 16).

Something happened at that point which is sometimes referred to as the “death of a vision.” First, God called Abraham forward to a new land, giving the vision to the patriarch that he would be led to a new land which would be his, then the vision is changed and seems to die. Abraham lived in the new land, but following his death, his grandson had to gather the family together because of famine and take them all to Egypt where the entire Hebrew race was enslaved. The vision seemed to die. It was, in fact, a temporary setback made necessary for the survival of the children of Israel.

Many times in our lives we feel strongly that God is calling us in a certain direction for a certain purpose and we experience the “death of a vision” when things go awry and everything appears to have been a waste of time. We often find ourselves angry at God, or at least mildly miffed. Often times God gives us a vision and, down the road, our faith and trust is tested when God appears to withdraw the vision and the promises attached to it. But God is faithful and true. If you have been given a vision by God, minor setbacks are a part of your testing period. God is faithful and visions will be fulfilled in God’s own time and place.

God of truth, may our way be strong and faithful, even in the times when You appear to withdraw. We know You are there and ever faithful!