Open Our Eyes

“I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.  I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You, therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:2, 5-6

Job was a righteous man and faithful in His generation. His story has brought comfort and strength to countless people throughout the centuries.

What makes his story so relevant to us is that it involves a major theme that all of us have to face at times throughout our lives. Here is that theme:  enduring suffering and having no understanding of why it is happening. This topic touches us all in various ways and at various times.

Job lost his family, his possessions and his health. Yet he kept his wits about him. Despite his wife’s encouragement to “Curse God and die,” (thanks honey!), he would not sin against God with his mouth. He would not curse God.

After a long time of asking God what He was doing and why, Job was called to account by God.

“Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you will make it known to me.” Job 38:3

God is not playing any games.  I bet Job’s knees were shaking at this point.

Then God questions Job. “Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?”  Job 38:36

He is saying, “Ok Mr. Job. You think you are so smart. Who do you think made all of this, and made you? Who gave you wisdom and understanding?” God was dealing seriously with His servant.  He was beginning to open Job’s eyes.

Then he says this, “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?  He who argues with God, let him answer it.” Job. 40:2

At this point, Job repents. He asks God to forgive Him. He acknowledges God’s greatness and wisdom and thanks Him for His goodness and kindness. Job humbles himself, and a very beautiful thing occurs:  God opens his eyes to see.

That is the context of today’s theme verse: “I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You, therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

There comes a time in every life of faith when our eyes are opened. We see as we have never seen before. We see God as we have never seen Him before. We understand that we are but ashes and dust, and He is the Great King over all creation. It is humbling, and brings us to repentance. But it is also glorious.

We need God to open our eyes. We need Him to give us revelation so that we can see His greatness, His generosity, His kindness and His power. We need our eyes opened so we can see wondrous things in His Word.

Paul prayed for his friends in Eph 1:17 that the eyes of their understanding would be full of light, opened to all the riches that we have in Christ.  He knew that without God’s revelation, we live small lives and fall far short of the glory of knowing our great God.

This is my prayer for you today. That God would open your eyes, as He opened Job’s eyes. You may have heard a lot about God, but I pray you would see Him for who He is. I pray that you would know Him in a way you have never known Him before.

God is great and greatly to be praised. His excellence and wisdom are beyond anything our minds can conceive. He chooses to reveal Himself to the hungry heart. He shows Himself to the humble and the lowly. Seek Him today. Ask God to open your eyes to see Him today in His excellent greatness.

This is our great treasure:  to know God and to see Him as He is. May your eyes be opened and your heart be filled with the greatness of our God and King. He is worthy!

Pastor Tom