The Blind Shall See
I love the wondrous works of God told in the Bible. How awesome it must have been when the children of Israel went across the Red Sea on dry land and when the Lord caused the sun not to go down on behalf of Joshua and his army. However, the other day, I was reminded of a wonder that may be even greater than these.
We find this beautiful incident at the end of Luke 18. It was an ordinary day for a blind man, filled with every-day happenings that were part of his world. Then he heard a commotion all around him–upon asking, he learned that Jesus was passing by. No doubt he had heard stories of this One–the Man who had cleansed the incurable outcast lepers and had given sound to deaf ears. So, he did the only thing he could do–he called out for mercy.
At this point the story could have taken a very different turn for those who were all around this unnamed man told him to keep quiet. How easy it would have been to listen to the din of the crowd and just be silent, allowing the day to continue as so many others before had gone. However, he took the chance–he went against the “advice” of the crowd and dared to call out even louder! Then it happened–the amazing thing. Instead of the earth standing still, as we are told it did in Joshua, the Creator stood still and called for the man in need to be brought. Can you imagine how his heart must have beat with anticipation as he was taken to Jesus! We thrill with him as Jesus gives him sight in response to his request and we can only wonder at how this man’s life was altered because the God of Joshua took time to listen to one man’s cry!
Even today, Jesus invites us to ask and to come boldly before the Throne of Grace. We too must fight the “crowd” all around us that tells us that situations are impossible or people are too far gone for any change to occur. All we need to do to counteract those thoughts is to remember a man, no longer blind, who was given sight on a day that dawned without his being able to see its sunrise. Praise the Lord that He is able to do more than we can ask or think!
Lord, we believe, but help us overcome our unbelief!
- Patty Augustine