Abram has a vision,
in which he hears God speak:
"Maintain thine composure, Abram--
just checking in with thee."
Abram struggles to do just that,
then asks the question top of mind:
"Where are all those kids thou promised me?"
"Look up at the stars:
thou shalt have that many."
"Yes,
we've been over this,
but when?"
God sighs.
"Okay, look...let's try this:"
The vision continues:
"Sacrifice unto me
a heifer, a goat, a ram
a turtledove, and a pigeon.
Then watch what happens.
This will seal the covenant
I made with thee."
Abram does so,
shooing away the pesky vultures
before falling into a vision-sleep.
And here's where the vision
takes an intriguing and mysterious turn:
"a deep and terrifying darkness
descends upon him."
A deep and terrifying darkness
descends upon him.
Abram sleeps into the Void,
the utterly overwhelming Presence,
unimaginable, hubris-stripping, horrifying,
face-to-face-to-face with
the Origin of All That Is,
as It is.
Deeply disturbing and absolutely necessary.
Abram wakens from his vision-sleep--
wide-eyed and trembling,
"OMG!" he says,
fully meaning it.
The vision wraps up:
God passes through the bloody sacrifice,
symbolically sealing the deal.
"Thus shalt it be, Abram."
And all Abram can muster,
is a weak and wobbly nod.
---
God of uncomfortable revelation,
in your mercy,
grant me an encounter
with your deep and terrifying darkness.

Text and image © 2025 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.
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