Sabbath Thought - Open Eyes

When was the last time you took the time to watch a sunset?  A sunset is beautiful in its own right - the color of the sun changes as it's rays come through the atmosphere at a more oblique angle.  The clouds take on that color and even change to reflect other colors and patterns.  Depending on the clouds, the color of the sun can change from a blinding white to a glowing red.  Sometimes the sun can seem to shimmer.  Other times it can seem to simple stay at a fixed point.  The waning light can soften and warm up the color, textures and patterns of everything else.

A sunset can also be a time of personal reflection.  How was my day, my week?  Sometimes it can be an acknowledgement of the work accomplished.  But sunsets don't last very long, and most of us don't have an hour on a regular basis to sit and reflect in this way.  The world around us runs at a frantic pace (Daniel 12:4b).  In spite of unprecedented conveniences, life is busier than ever. 

One of the positive short-term consequences of the COVID shut-down was the time many had to be with family, to ponder what is truly important, and to see the physical world around them as they had not for some time (if at all previously).  The physical world around us is truly impressive and beautiful.  It is sad to consider that most do not see beyond the creation to know the Creator.

Much has been written about the biblical character Job and many focus wrongly on his trial, his self-righteousness, or even his shallow "friends".  What most miss is what is found toward the end of that book.  God allowed the trials in Job's life in order to help Job see Him as Job had never really seen Him.  The breakthrough for Job was when his young friend, Elihu, began to cut through the judgement and condemnation of the other friends, and reminded Job of God's justice (Job 34), His Goodness (Job 36), and more.

Elihu was trying to get Job to see God as more than the provider and giver of good things.  God also desires a deep and close relationship with us.  In order to develop the righteous character needed for God to give us eternal life, He allows trials so we can see what is truly important in life, in our character development, and to see Him with open eyes.  Once Elihu helped Job cut through the clutter of self-justification and to see God on a deeper level, then Job began to see God with open eyes.

God helped Job further in this regard as He began to question Job in chapter 38.  "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?"  "Have you commanded the morning since your days began?"  Have the gates of death been revealed to you?"  Where is the way to the dwelling of light?"  God continued to ask Job about various aspects of His creation - how the snow knows when to come, how the animals know it is time to reproduce, how the water cycle functions, and how certain animals know how to behave.  Finally, God puts it to Job in chapter 40:2, "Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?  He who rebukes God, let him answer it."  Put more simply, "Shall the creation rebuke the Creator?"

Job finally saw God as He is and who He is - "...I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know...I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.  Therefore, I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:3, 5-6).

God has plans for you and me (Jeremiah 29:11-14).  Do we see those plans?  Do we see God, not only in His creation, but more importantly in our life?  Do we see God in the good times and in the not so good times, and remember that He is always there for us - even when we take our eyes off of Him?  Do we remember that God is on our side (Psalm 118:6), that He is our strength (v. 14), and that we should praise Him for our salvation (v. 21)?

On this Sabbath day, do we see God with open eyes?

I wish you a deeply meaningful Sabbath,

Dan Dowd

6 August, 2021