Today I was reading in 1 Samuel chapter 13 and 14 and was struck by the act of "seeing" and it's outcome. The narrative is about King Saul and his disobedience to the instructions that Samuel gave him from the Lord. His disobedience stemmed from what he saw with his eyes/understanding. Each time I read these words,"Israel saw...", and "When I saw..." the outcome was very bad for King Saul. These words were always followed by disobedience, and disobedience was always followed by defeat.
Eve disobeyed God because she "saw that the fruit was good for eating." Although God had warned her not to eat the fruit, it looked tasty and seemed good-so she ate it. Clearly, seeing can be a major stumbling block. Perhaps this is why Jesus said that he came to give sight to the blind and make blind those who see? In other words, seeing through my own understanding blinds me to the truth. I must be made blind to my sight so that I can see His truth.
Proverbs 3 admonishes us to trust in the Lord with all of our heart, and "lean not to your own understanding". The promise is that He will guide us, and crown our efforts with success if we will but trust him. How easy it is to lean to my own understanding! I look at a a situation, make an assessment, and act according to what seems right in my own eyes-particularly when the stakes are high. Particularly when it concerns self-preservation. This is when it is most crucial that I trust Him. It is also when I am most tempted to go my own way, to walk according to what I see.
In the Old Testament, the people had the commandments and the prophets who brought the word of the Lord to guide them. Over and over again, the Israelites were blessed when they followed the Lord, but suffered when they acted according to what seemed good in their own eyes. As believers who are led by his word and indwelling Spirit (through conviction, peace etc.), we now have these laws "engraved in our hearts." He leads us in paths of life, joy, and peace if we will trust Him more than our own ideas about how to do things.
Through this scripture passage, I can hear the Spirit whispering, reminding me to be blind in matters where He wishes to lead me -He is always a gentleman. I hear him saying, "Trust me, even when it doesn't make sense, and when you think you may have a better idea." He is the Good Shepherd; I am his little lamb. I can rest in knowing that He is working all things out for my good as I fit into His great and glorious plans. He is so good!
Eve disobeyed God because she "saw that the fruit was good for eating." Although God had warned her not to eat the fruit, it looked tasty and seemed good-so she ate it. Clearly, seeing can be a major stumbling block. Perhaps this is why Jesus said that he came to give sight to the blind and make blind those who see? In other words, seeing through my own understanding blinds me to the truth. I must be made blind to my sight so that I can see His truth.
Proverbs 3 admonishes us to trust in the Lord with all of our heart, and "lean not to your own understanding". The promise is that He will guide us, and crown our efforts with success if we will but trust him. How easy it is to lean to my own understanding! I look at a a situation, make an assessment, and act according to what seems right in my own eyes-particularly when the stakes are high. Particularly when it concerns self-preservation. This is when it is most crucial that I trust Him. It is also when I am most tempted to go my own way, to walk according to what I see.
In the Old Testament, the people had the commandments and the prophets who brought the word of the Lord to guide them. Over and over again, the Israelites were blessed when they followed the Lord, but suffered when they acted according to what seemed good in their own eyes. As believers who are led by his word and indwelling Spirit (through conviction, peace etc.), we now have these laws "engraved in our hearts." He leads us in paths of life, joy, and peace if we will trust Him more than our own ideas about how to do things.
Through this scripture passage, I can hear the Spirit whispering, reminding me to be blind in matters where He wishes to lead me -He is always a gentleman. I hear him saying, "Trust me, even when it doesn't make sense, and when you think you may have a better idea." He is the Good Shepherd; I am his little lamb. I can rest in knowing that He is working all things out for my good as I fit into His great and glorious plans. He is so good!
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