Paint An Attractive Vision

After four generations your descendants will return here to this land. Genesis 15:16

If you’re a leader, vision either comes naturally or after you’ve developed it over time. It may surprise you that most people aren’t wired to look into the future and see much of anything on their own.

Human beings need someone to paint a picture of the future for them. They follow leaders—even those with questionable agendas—because the described future fills a void in the human need for vision.

God knew that Abram’s offspring were in for a very long journey. He wanted to plant an attractive vision of the future in their hearts that would sustain them.

The appeal is not to a sense of duty, as in, “You are my chosen people, so you’d better suck it up and keep going.” God’s vision of the future is one of wonder and benefit. People respond better to a promise of reward than to a sense of duty.