Vision Part I

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Graeme Wilson in Victory Call

Recently I did a word study on “vision” in the Scripture.  The noun “vision” in the Bible comes from the Hebrew word “hazon”.  “Hazon” almost always signifies a means of divine revelation, a sight, a dream, or a revelation.  The first of the 34 times it is in the Bible, the noun “hazon” is in 1Samuel 3:1. I will share with you verses 1-4:

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli. And word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent.   It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well),  and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was,  that the LORD called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.” (NASB)

It would seem that Eli was no longer in a place that he could receive a vision from God, but young Samuel, who was resting in the temple of the Lord, had ears to hear what the Lord wanted to share.  Eli encouraged him to be still and listen.  This made me consider if I was resting in the presence of God long enough to hear or see what God wanted to show me.

Another interesting scripture using the noun “hazon” is from Proverbs 29:18: “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.” (NASB) It would seem that if people can’t “see” what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves.  But when they attend to what He reveals in His Word they are most blessed.  This made me think of the times I came up with “good ideas” to solve a problem but totally wasted my time for I had not sought the plan God had.

Another word for “vision” and also used as a noun is “hizzayon”.  This noun is used 9 times in the Scripture.  It refers to a prophetic “vision” as in Joel 2:28 – one of my favorites I love to pray: “It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions.”  (NASB)

I believe God continues to desire to communicate with His people through visions, and the revelation of His Word.  Perhaps God is calling us to be “more than overcomers” in this time we are living.  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 2:7A, 11A, 29; 3:6, 13,22) and receive vision that will be confirmed in His Word.  I believe the challenge is to be submitted to the study of His Word and resting in His presence.  Let’s go for it ladies!!

Blessings,
Patricia L. Wenzel
WOC Graduate

Resources:
W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White Jr.  Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996

James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D. The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible,Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990