We were all born blind, spiritually speaking. Through His written Word, given primarily to explain His dealings with Israel, the Holy Spirit promises to restore our sight. An incident that occurred during Christ’s ministry brings out this spiritual reality. “As they approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was going by. So, he began shouting, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ The crowds ahead of Jesus tried to hush the man, but he only shouted louder, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. Then Jesus asked the man, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Lord,’ he pleaded, ‘I want to see!’ And Jesus said, ‘All right, you can see! Your faith has healed you.’ Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.”⁴⁸

It will be the same with the redeemed in the end. They will connect the dots and see the picture! Only then will they recognize that they have been spiritually blind, and sick, and are in need of the Great Physician, and then cry out to be healed. Others, who are equally as sick, if not sicker, who either don’t know it or won’t admit it, will try to repress the attention the Lord’s followers are directing to the Messiah. Remember Jesus said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor–sick people do. I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough.”⁴⁹ But those realizing their sinfulness seek help by providing the one sacrifice God will never turn away. “The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise.”⁵⁰ “The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem and bringing the exiles back to Israel. He heals the broken-hearted, binding up their wounds … His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension! The Lord supports the humble, but he brings the wicked down into the dust.”⁵¹

Anyone involved in the Lord’s ministry will confess that one of the most painful, yet wonderful things ever beheld by anyone is that of a sinner getting right with God! Years of repressed guilt, shame, and hatred for both God and fellow human beings come gushing forth as a mountain stream during a spring thaw. Yet this is what each member of Jacob’s family known as Israel must go through. It is what he went through. Only then can we become one of those stars God showed to Abraham, each representing a child re-born into his spiritual family. As the Psalmist acknowledged, “He … counts the stars and calls them all by name.”⁵²