Faith: Doing Right in Our Eyes

In the fifth century before Christ, the Greek philosopher Protagoras famously asserted that man is the measure of all things. This sentiment can be traced to a much earlier source — satan in the Garden of Eden. Satan promised Eve that if she ate the forbidden fruit that “your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). The consequences have been disastrous. Humans, not God, would determine right from wrong. The Bible describes this as man doing what is “right in his own eyes.”

Before the Jews entered into the Promised Land, Moses explained the blessings for following God’s law and the curses that came from violating it. Moses warned them against “every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes” (Deuteronomy 12:8). Moses encouraged the people to “do what is right in the sight of Yehovah” (Deuteronomy 21:9). The people blamed the lack of a king for why “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6 and 21:5). However, the kings were no better at obeying Yehovah than their subjects were. The kings instead did what was “right in the eyes of all the people” (1 Chronicle 13:4).

Humans suffer from distorted spiritual vision. Scripture is clear, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” (Proverbs 12:15). The wise counsel that we need is the word of God! The Psalms tell us “the commandment of Yehovah is pure enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:8) and “in Your light we see light” (Psalm 36:9). David exclaimed that his eyes longed for “Your salvation and for your righteous word” (Psalm 119:123).

Yeshua (Jesus) is both the “light” and the “word” that we need to see clearly. Yeshua is the “light of the world” (John 8:12), the “true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man” (John 1:14). Yeshua was the Word that “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Therefore, we are to fix “our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2). Yeshua fulfilled God’s promise to “open the eyes of the blind” (Psalm 146:8) – both the physically and spiritually blind.

Believers are the “apple of God’s eye” (Zechariah 2:8) so “He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous” (Job 36:7). He is not watching us waiting for the opportunity to judge and punish us — as nonbelievers assert. Instead, “the eyes of Yehovah move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His” (2 Chronicles 16:9). Because He loves us, He watches us and listens to our prayers. “The eyes of Yehovah are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry” (Psalm 34:15, 1 Peter 3:12).

Yehovah wants to give us spiritual eyes that see and ears to hear (Proverbs 20:12) the truth of His Word and His direction for our lives. Let us accept His gracious offer.