Lately I have been thinking about how "the blind" or blind are portrayed in scripture and how might it apply to us, we all have been (spiritually) blind and we all still have (spiritual) blind sides, things we still cannot see.
However, we can neither blame ourselves or blame others for this as this is the condition we were born into, God has deemed it necessary that everyone should have this experience, not in the physical but most definitely in regard to spiritual things, it is interesting that the apostles/disciples did not recognize this in themselves when asking Jesus about the blind man here;
Joh 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
Joh 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind
Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Here are also a couple witnesses from the OT;
Exo 4:11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
But here we also have this promise of correction, "that the works of God be made manifest."
Isa 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
We can neither take credit for or assign blame to our own or anyone else's spiritual sight, God gives it and God takes it away, if we have been blessed with this hunger and thirst for His Word, His Truth then that is the spiritual blindness which has begun to be healed.
The constant and consistant quest for wisdom, for knowledge is not within us of ourselves it is His healing power that inspires any of us to seek more Light and not be complacent with where we presently are. We tend to annoy those who are complacent when we seek and search for more, not contenting ourselves with the doctrines of men.
I thought of this condition, the blind man (men in Matthew Chapter 20) who would not be silenced, who continued to cry out to the Lord even after the multitude rebuked him and told him to hold his peace, could this be a type/shadow of His elect.
Luk 18:34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
I found it extremely interesting that the verse above immediately preceeded the following;
Luk 18:35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
Luk 18:36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
Luk 18:37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
Luk 18:38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
Luk 18:39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
Luk 18:40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
Luk 18:41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
Luk 18:42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
Luk 18:43 And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
Can you relate to this?
Peace,
Joe