In the bible, (Hebrews 11.27) we read that Moses, by faith, forsook Egypt, "not fearing the wrath of the king;"
Why did Moses do this? "For he endured as seeing Him who is invisible."
There is so much we can't see, so we must depend on the One who can.
The other day, I reported for jury duty. Although there were hundreds of people there with me to do their service, we all left that day with no cases to try. The process was slow and extended so we had lots of down time.
During a break, while getting some food, I noticed a lady with a white cane trying to look at the menu on the wall. The menu was very high and she wasn't very tall and it was obvious that she was legally blind. She had pulled out a small scope to help her read the menu.
As she was spending quite a bit of time trying to see the entries on the wall, I asked her if she needed help.
She thanked me but said, "No."
In the bible, in the book of Ruth, Naomi became bitter with God because of her difficult circumstances. She even renamed herself "bitter" (Mara). She didn't think the name Naomi (pleasant) was appropriate any longer. She said, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me." (Ruth 1.20) She, her husband and two sons had left Bethlehem, where they were from, and went into Midian. This was because of draught in their home country. After ten years she is returning to Bethlehem without her husband and two sons who had all died while in Midian. All she had left was one of her daughters-in-law, Ruth, who had chosen her and her God over her own people and their false gods.
I realized that I could see the whole story because I had read the whole book. She and Ruth would go back into the land. A kinsman redeemer named Boaz would fall in love with Ruth, marry her and have a son to raise up to the name of her dead husband (that's the way they did it then in Israel). Ruth's son would be the grandfather of King David, who would be the ancestor of the Messiah, Jesus.
Now we can see what God was up to and it was good. At the time, however, Naomi could not see this. She was like the visually impaired lady with her scope, zooming in on her present circumstances, but not allowing anyone with further perspective into her world. She had become bitter because, in her words, "The Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me."
She could not see the whole picture whereas God could. Not only could God see the whole thing, he was in control of it and would bring something good and beautiful out of it.
My dear friends, it is important for us that when we cannot see beyond our next step that we trust in God who can see it all and is ready to orchestrate some incredible music above all the chaos we feel at the moment. Can you trust God? You can trust God.
I think Charles Stanley is right. He said walking with God is often like walking in the dark with a flashlight. In those times, we cannot see far ahead but only where to take the next step. In those circumstances, we must learn to trust the One who who knows the complete story - that is, the Lord.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8.28
