“Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.”
1 Samuel 11:1-2 KJV
What a commitment Nahash is requesting! He is not asking for their heads, wives, children or their lives. He just wanted their right eyes. He didn’t want both their eyes because then they would have been useless to him, they would be totally blind and bumping into each other. He just wanted to eliminate the possibility of them living with the full scope of who they were. You know, the devil knows the Word better than we do, he knows that without clear vision people perish (Proverbs 29:18).
This is interesting: the name Nahash is the Hebrew word for ‘snake’, it comes from a root word, “to hiss” – told you it was interesting! The devil knows when you are in full focus of the call of God on your life and when our vision is crisp and clear in your spirit. He wants to remove your focus on Jesus, the Word and what God called you to do.
He did this to King Saul. The scripture above is taken from a victorious story of the early days of King Saul. Remember, Saul started his reign on the right foot and ended on the wrong foot. This story tells us that Saul, when the Spirit of the Lord fell upon him, was focused and his vision was crisp and clear. He had a plan, he recruited, and he executed the plan in flawless fashion. But then came chapter 13, when he took upon himself the office of the priest and his right eye was plugged out, so to speak. It was followed by the rebuke of Samuel and the kingdom being taken from him. In chapter 15, when Saul spared the life of king Agag, he was officially walking lopsided now. Israel needed a leader with clear vision – and then David comes and kills Goliath.
Sin will cause you to lose focus. It will confuse you and cause you to lose your confidence and even question your calling and doubt the vision God has given you for your life. Studies have shown that adults who lose sight in one eye see a decline in their abilities to accurately track moving objects, judge distances, and perceive depth. What is true in the natural is true in the spiritual. This idea was inspired by a blog called, “Learning to live with one eye.” That is what we saints do: instead of fighting the good fight of faith and staying pure before God, we simply learn to live with one eye.
If you sin, repent immediately and do not allow condemnation to poke your eye out and stop you from going to the throne room of God for His mercy and grace in time of your need.
CONFESSION
“Restore my vision, Holy Spirit!”
PRAYER
Father, I am so thankful that you have given me a vision for my life, no matter how much life I have left to live. I ask you to help me to walk with You with both eyes wide open. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.
Jean Thornton
Posted at 09:42h, 03 OctoberI love this!!❤️