Optical Perception and Absence of Light
Genesis 15:12
Abram was overcome by a profound slumber as the sun descended, and he was suddenly gripped by a sense of terror and intense obscurity. Genesis 15:12
When God grants a vision to a Christian, it is akin to placing them in the protective shelter of His hand's shadow (Isaiah 49:2). The saint's obligation is to remain motionless and attentively listen. Excessive illumination might give rise to a metaphorical "darkness," which is the opportune moment to engage in attentive listening. The narrative of Abram and Hagar in Genesis 16 serves as a compelling illustration of heeding purportedly sound counsel amidst a period of obscurity, instead of patiently for divine illumination. When God bestows upon you a divine revelation and subsequently, a period of obscurity ensues, exercise patience. If you patiently abide by God's timing, He will manifest the vision He has bestowed upon you in your life. Do not attempt to assist in the fulfillment of God's message. Abram endured a period of thirteen years characterized by quiet, during which his self-reliance was completely dismantled. He surpassed the stage of depending on his own intuition. The years of silence were characterized by strict self-control, rather than being a manifestation of divine disapproval. There is no necessity to feign happiness and self-assurance; only rely on God and remain steadfast in Him (see to Isaiah 50:10-11).
Do I have any trust in the physical body? Have I acquired the ability to transcend any reliance on my own abilities and the trust I place in others who are connected to a higher power? Do I place my faith in literature and religious rituals, or do I find solace in other sources of happiness and fulfillment in my life? Or have I entrusted my faith in God Himself, rather than in His bestowed favors? "I am the omnipotent deity..."El-Shaddai is referred to as the All-Powerful God in Genesis 17:1. We are all being disciplined in order to ascertain the existence of God. Once we truly perceive the existence of God, human beings appear insignificant in comparison, becoming into mere illusions of reality. The individual who is firmly rooted in God remains unaffected by the actions or words of other saints.