Dear Ones:
The spectrum of visible light to our eyes is very minimal. The limitations of understanding what we see are very real. So that, when it comes to believing God to lead us, we are entrusting to Him the knowledge (enormous and trued…) of all that we cannot see, understand, or perceive. This is why in Proverbs 3:5-6 we are admonished to “…not lean unto our own understanding.”
When Namaan, the captain of the host of Syria learned that he was a leper, the king of Syria sent him to Israel for healing. Upon his arrival in front of Elisha the prophet’s dwelling, he would be told by Elisha’s messenger that he was to go and wash seven times in the Jordan river, with the promise that he would be healed of his leprosy. It was at this point that he almost missed the blessing because he said, “Behold, I thought…” He had a concept of what things “should” be, but which were not to be. Like the rich young ruler, he would almost walk away from the blessing. Namaan’s problem was his pride, which led him to lean to his own understanding.
In another scenario in the life of Elisha, illustrating the point in a different way, we find Elisha and his servant surrounded at Dothan by a great military host that had surrounded the city during the night. Elisha’s servant was very fearful, and this because of his limited vision of reality. Elisha would put to rest those fears by asking the Lord, “I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see.” (2 Kings 6:17) It was then that the greater invisible reality was perceived: “…the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” The point is clear. When we lean to our own understanding, we so very often do NOT perceive the greater reality of the kingdom and power of God.
Soon after Saul of Tarsus had his vision of Christ, he was visited by Ananias, who was instructed by the Lord to put his hands on him, and declare: “…Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 9:17) The greater reality here that Saul has not grasped is the power and presence of Jesus Christ. And though Saul would receive his physical sight, his spiritual sight of the greater reality would change his spiritual perception forever.
We read these stories and are apt to think that they only apply to the great men of old. We forget that in the book of the Revelation, in addressing the Laodicean church, the Lord declares her to be blind. (3:17) But then He says, “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried by fire…and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” What is He saying here? It is that we can so easily drift into a life of leaning unto our own, and be blinded by the “normal” ways and means of perception, that we lose sight of the greater realities of our existence. We lose sight of the fact that God is God, sovereign, and faithful. For the promise is that for the one who trusts the Lord with all his heart, and leans not unto his own understanding, but who acknowledges the Lord in all his ways (gives Him access by prayer and faith…), HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS.”
So, let us prove Him to be true today, and accept the limitations of sight and understanding. It is a wise thing to take Christ as our Counselor, this all-knowing God, who sees all things, even into the depths of our hearts. And let us believe Him, as He is also true and faithful. He proved himself to be true for Naaman, Elisha and his servant, Saul, and the Laodicean church. Will He not do the same for us today?
Love, Dad