Article August 6, 1938 Issue

"And God saw"

FANNY DE GROOT HASTINGS

The first mention of sight made in the Bible occurs in the first chapter of Genesis. There it is written: "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." Usually, and quite naturally, this passage is read in its entirety. But occasionally it is helpful to pause and ponder the full significance of that first phrase, "And God saw." Even faulty human judgment cannot conceive of God's sight—sight which beholds all as "very good"—being less than good. Not only is this the first Biblical statement about sight, but this sight is in truth the only real sight, and it continues perfect and unchanged forever and ever, as does the one and only original creation, which God beholds.

It is worthy of note that in the foregoing Bible passage no mention is made of material eyes—the usually accepted organs of sight. God's sight is undivided. But in the third chapter of Genesis, in the allegorical account of the serpent's conversation with Eve regarding the forbidden fruit, the serpent is supposed to say, "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." Is not this second, or counterfeit concept of sight, that which causes mankind to believe it sees materially instead of spiritually, the very one which, by implication, we are Scripturally urged to pluck out, since it offends and beclouds the heaven-sent gift of spiritual clear-sightedness?

Since God's sight is not divided or clouded, neither is the real man's. Therefore, to efface the contrary impression we must ever remain in the surety of that original statement about sight—"And God saw." For this passage implies that the single eye of spiritual vision necessarily precludes all faulty sense of vision. This single eye, this integrity of individual perception, is man's direct and undimmed inheritance. Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount, "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light."

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
"The hour is come"
August 6, 1938
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit