THE LIGHT OF VISION (7)

“Then GOD OPENED HER EYES, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink” – Genesis 21:19

The God of the Outcast ensured the survival and sustenance of Hagar and her son, Ishmael by the LIGHT of VISION: “Then GOD OPENED HER EYES, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink” (Gen.21:19). Hagar was Sarah’s servant who birthed Ishmael for Abraham. Considered to be a threat to Sarah and her son, Isaac, the Lord permitted Abraham to send Hagar away from his home (vv.9-12). She and her son ended up wandering alone in the desert with no more food or water (vv.14-15). At that point, she resolved that she and her son would die. She walked away from her son so that she would not have to watch him die, and then she sat down and cried. Suddenly, the Light of Vision manifested in response to the lad’s silent voice (vv.16-19).

Scripture does not say that God miraculously created a well of water. The well had been there all along, only Hagar could not see it. It’s only when God opened her eyes that she could see the solution that had been right in front of her. Thus, Hagar and her son were saved by means of the Light of Vision. What we “see” can make the difference between life and death, deliverance and destruction. Sometimes when we are feeling hopeless, stressed, or afraid, we lack the vision of the divinely-ordained “way of escape.” Suffering often blurs vision. Just as naturally, vision is limited in the dark, in suffering we struggle to see beyond our pressing needs. Everything looks hazy – except the problems, which seem disproportionately intense. But there is a God-given Sight that can change suffering!

It takes the eyes of faith to see beyond our present circumstances. We must be intentional about where we focus. Whatever we focus on will capture our attention and transform us (2Cor.3:18). Faith builds; fear consumes! If we view life through the lens of pain and discouragement, we will see only what’s wrong and tough, problems more than God’s provision, loneliness more than God’s Presence, and be fixate more on our fears than on God’s promises.

Let’s turn to God and pray like David: “Look on me and answer, LORD my God. GIVE LIGHT to my EYES, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall” (Psa.13:3-4, NIV). Then, we can joyfully sing “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation” (Psa.13:5, NIV).

David also prayed: “OPEN MY EYES, that I may see wondrous things out of Your law” (Psa.119:18). God, by His Light Vision, will open our eyes and illuminate our souls to see His Promises, Presence, Protection, Provisions, and Paths that leads to deliverance.