Help Us to See

Yearly reading: Genesis 24-27

He said, "Are you really my son Esau?" He answered, "I am." Genesis 27:24 NRSV

Isaac really doesn't believe this is Esau. First he asks who it is. Then he wonders aloud how he got the food to him so quickly. Then he wants to feel him to see if it is really Esau. He even admits to himself his confusion: this sounds like Jacob but feels like Esau. He again asks if this is Esau. Finally, when the food is brought to him, he smells him and decides this really is Esau.

Isaac is really and truly blind. He does not see physically. But he also is blind to the faults of his oldest son, Esau. This is the son who sold his birthright because he was hungry. This is the son who marries two local women who drive both his parents crazy.  And we know that he has a temper.

In the story of the blessing, his physical blindness is actually a good thing in the end.

Makes me wonder where in my life do I suffer from blindness. Am I blind when it comes to my family? My job? My neighborhood? My church?

In what areas of your life do you suffer from blindness?

God, it may be painful but help us to see. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims

Can You See?

So the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles; and he ground at the mill in the prison. But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved. Judges 16: 21-22 NRSV

In scripture, physical blindness is often associated with Spiritual blindness - think of Paul on the road to Damascus. Now that the Spirit has left Samson, he is blinded. The once strong and fully capable hero is now a blind, helpless prisoner. But in his weakness, there is hope: his hair begins to grow again. Perhaps this means his life in the Lord is beginning to grow again as well.

Think of a time in your life when you have not been able to "see." Perhaps you were surprised when something happened or someone acted/reacted differently than you expected. Maybe this was before you accepted Christ in your own life. I have often heard folks explain after bad things happened to them through other people that there were "blindsided" (or is it blindsighted?). When this happens, we often feel helpless and somewhat abandoned.

I know that when I am not "right" with God, I can be physically and mentally surprised and often disappointed. The good part of that is when it happens, I know I need to get my life turned around toward God and repair my relationship with the Lord. When I do, my sight returns. God does indeed give sight to the blind.

God, thank you for giving us true sight. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Question of the day: Can you see right now?

Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims