Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Eyes on You


Ezra 5:5
But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.

At the start of the year, my husband and I decided it’s time to find a new house for our family. The one we’re renting now is an old, ancestral home, and despite the renovation efforts before we moved in, it’s still deteriorating. Thank God for Google, we needn’t spend much and exhaust ourselves for tripping. All we need to do is allot an hour everyday and check out the classified sites. Specifying our preferences also trimmed down the hard work. But neither brought us success so far. No matter how diligent we are, our look gave us nothing, and brought us nowhere. It is frustrating.

Chapter five of Ezra opens with Haggai and Zechariah prophesying against Judah for their neglect in rebuilding the house of God. The construction was put on hold fifteen years back upon Artaxerxes’ order. Sadly, they never sought God if and when it could resume again. Their zeal grew cold and was diverted to paneling their own houses.  Here, God’s word through His prophets revived their hearts anew and readily, they continued the work. But as always, the enemy was unrelenting too. The Persian governor questioned their authorization permits, even went as far as reporting them to King Darius. But the eye of God was watching over them. He who kept them as an apple of His eye, will never allow them harmed nor touched. In the following chapter, they weren’t just given clearance. They were fully supported and financed.

Sometimes, the concept of God being in heaven clouds our confidence that His help is within reach. It seems that the vast space in between indeed separates us from His love, and that all He can faithfully do is watch us ‘from a distance’. Zechariah 4:10 noted ‘The seven lamps represent the eyes of the LORD that search all around the world’. With seven, it signifies the perfection of God in exercising His providence in all creation. He is no man whose eyes are limited to left and right and a little far beyond. He is ever-present and is with His people 24/7. It wasn’t King Darius’ approval nor their diligence that gave success to the temple restoration. Neither will my family ever find that house no matter how hard we look. Apart from God guiding us with His eyes, our look will give us nothing and bring us nowhere. Isn’t it best if we fix our gaze on Him instead?
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Eyes on You


Ezra 5:5
But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.

At the start of the year, my husband and I decided it’s time to find a new house for our family. The one we’re renting now is an old, ancestral home, and despite the renovation efforts before we moved in, it’s still deteriorating. Thank God for Google, we needn’t spend much and exhaust ourselves for tripping. All we need to do is allot an hour everyday and check out the classified sites. Specifying our preferences also trimmed down the hard work. But neither brought us success so far. No matter how diligent we are, our look gave us nothing, and brought us nowhere. It is frustrating.

Chapter five of Ezra opens with Haggai and Zechariah prophesying against Judah for their neglect in rebuilding the house of God. The construction was put on hold fifteen years back upon Artaxerxes’ order. Sadly, they never sought God if and when it could resume again. Their zeal grew cold and was diverted to paneling their own houses.  Here, God’s word through His prophets revived their hearts anew and readily, they continued the work. But as always, the enemy was unrelenting too. The Persian governor questioned their authorization permits, even went as far as reporting them to King Darius. But the eye of God was watching over them. He who kept them as an apple of His eye, will never allow them harmed nor touched. In the following chapter, they weren’t just given clearance. They were fully supported and financed.

Sometimes, the concept of God being in heaven clouds our confidence that His help is within reach. It seems that the vast space in between indeed separates us from His love, and that all He can faithfully do is watch us ‘from a distance’. Zechariah 4:10 noted ‘The seven lamps represent the eyes of the LORD that search all around the world’. With seven, it signifies the perfection of God in exercising His providence in all creation. He is no man whose eyes are limited to left and right and a little far beyond. He is ever-present and is with His people 24/7. It wasn’t King Darius’ approval nor their diligence that gave success to the temple restoration. Neither will my family ever find that house no matter how hard we look. Apart from God guiding us with His eyes, our look will give us nothing and bring us nowhere. Isn’t it best if we fix our gaze on Him instead?