Eye Opening Experiences

A few days ago I was trying to locate something in the refrigerator. I looked and looked to no avail. Just as I was about to shut the door I saw it right there in front of me. How could I have missed it? As I was reading my Bible this morning I discovered other instances where we look, but we don't actually see.

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Genesis 3:7

Adam and Eve were naked all along. Genesis 2:25 says they weren't ashamed of it either. Yet, when Satan and sin entered the scene they were "enlightened" to the fact that they were naked and they immediately started trying to hide. Unfortunately, sin destroys innocence and opens our eyes to a lot of things we would be better off not knowing.

Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. Genesis 21:19

Hagar and her son, Ismael, had been wondering around in the hot desert and now their water was gone. Hagar left her son under a bush to die and she went off to die herself. God opened her eyes to His provision- a well of water. It's interesting to me that Hagar hid Ismael under a bush, but it never occurred to her that the bush must have a water source nearby.

Sometimes we need God to open our eyes to His provision too. Hint: It often comes wearing overalls and looks like work. Notice that even in her dehydrated delerium Hagar had to get to the water and make the effort to fill the skin.

Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. Numbers 22:31

Balaam was disobeying God and his donkey had more sense than he did. The donkey clearly saw the angel waiting to slay Balaam and the donkey had sense enough to try to spare his life. God used the donkey to open Balaam's eyes to the fact that he was in real danger.

Sometimes we need God to open our eyes to danger too so we can steer clear of it. Whenever we get off track into disobedience we are definitely in danger in one way or another because we are outside of God's will.

And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servants eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. II Kings 6:17

Elisha and his servant were surrounded by enemies on every side. The servant was fearful and didn't know what to do. Elisha told him not to fear because they had more on their side than against them. God opened the servant's eyes to see God's protecting army all around them.

Sometimes when we're fearful we need God to open our eyes to the fact that He is greater than our enemies or anything that causes us to be afraid.

Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. Acts 24:31

After his resurrection, Jesus walked and talked with two of his disciples, but they didn't recognize Him at first. Like those disciples, we don't always recognize God's presence. This is especially true when we find ourselves in the midst of trials and tribulations. God can seem so far away and we may need our eyes opened to His presence, which never leaves us.

Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Acts 9:18-19

Saul set out to round up and destroy the Christians in Damascus. On the way there, suddenly a blinding light shone from heaven and he heard the Lord speaking to him. For three days afterward he was blind and didn't eat or drink anything. God sent a man named Ananias to pray for him and when he did Saul's eyes were opened again.

Unbelievers who are blinded to the truth, need to have their eyes opened so they can see Jesus for who he really is. They need us to pray for them!

My favorite scripture regarding the opening of eyes is Psalm 119:18: Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. This has been my prayer for many years because sometimes it isn't just unbelievers that are blinded to the truth of God's word. We can read the same passages year after year and miss some very important truths. My prayer for you and for me today is that our eyes would be opened to God's word and to all that He is doing in our lives.