Turn to the Lord and see ∙

Turn to the Lord and see ∙

Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear. – Jeremiah 5:21

Jeremiah 5:21-23

 21 Listen, you foolish and senseless people, with eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear.

 22 Have you no respect for me? Why don’t you tremble in my presence? I, the LORD, define the ocean’s sandy shoreline as an everlasting boundary that the waters cannot cross. The waves may toss and roar, but they can never pass the boundaries I set.

 23 But my people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned away and abandoned me.

What is Myopia?

Myopia,often called near-sightedness or short-sightedness, is a vision disorder where distant objects look blurry, but close objects stay clear. This condition happens when light entering the eye is refracted incorrectly, causing images to focus in front of the retina instead of on it. Myopia is common and can greatly affect daily life, but it is easily treatable.

Correcting Myopia

The most common solutions for myopia include corrective lenses, such as glasses or contact lenses, and surgical procedures. Among surgical options, LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis) is the most popular. This advanced procedure uses a computer-controlled cold laser to reshape the cornea, allowing light to focus properly on the retina. LASIK has become a reliable and effective method for restoring clear vision.

Spiritual Myopia: A Deeper Blindness

While physical myopia affects our ability to see the world around us, spiritual myopia is a far more profound condition. It is a characteristic of fallen humanity, rooted in our sinful nature. Just as physical myopia distorts our vision, spiritual myopia limits our perception of truth and reality, leaving us blind to the things of God.

Burton L. Goddard draws a parallel between physical and spiritual blindness, stating: “Although we have much sympathy for a man who cannot read because his eyes are sightless, our attitude is much different toward one who has never learned to read because of laziness or stubbornness. In a country where everyone has an opportunity to learn to read and write, illiteracy is regarded as an inexcusable tragedy. Spiritual illiteracy is a little different. God is not sparing in His denunciation of those who have had a chance to know Him and His salvation but have despised the opportunity.”

This spiritual blindness is not just a lack of knowledge but a stubborn resistance to God’s truth. It creates a veil that veils the mind and heart, preventing individuals from grasping the reality of God’s salvation.

The Veil of Spiritual Blindness

The Apostle Paul addresses this condition in 2 Corinthians 3:14-16, where he describes the spiritual veil that blinds humanity: “But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today, when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”

This passage reveals that spiritual blindness is not permanent. The veil can be removed when people turn to Christ in faith. Through Him, the truth becomes clear, and spiritual reality is revealed.

REFLECT & PRAY

God is actively engaged in human history, shaping His redemptive plans and inviting His people to join in His purposes. As Henry Blackaby notes, “The Father is always working on earth to accomplish His divine purposes. God is orchestrating history. He is present and in the middle of human activity, and He chooses to involve His servants in carrying out His redemptive plans.”

Father, You are always speaking and working to fulfill Your purposes. Forgive my stubbornness and my tendency to rely on my own understanding. Open my eyes to see Your truth and my ears to hear Your voice. Remove the veil from my heart so I can fully embrace Your redemptive plans. 

INSIGHT

The Tragedy of Spiritual Blindness and Deafness

The Father continually reaches out to those who do not know Him, inviting them to see and hear His truth. Yet, many remain resistant, obtuse, and spiritually blind. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God delivers a sharp indictment against the people of Judah, accusing them of refusing to use their eyes to see or their ears to hear His voice. This reminds us that God is not distant or detached but deeply committed to revealing His truth and restoring humanity’s spiritual sight. Jeremiah 5:21: “Listen, you foolish and senseless people, with eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear.”

Jeremiah’s words are straightforward and unyielding, calling the people “foolish and senseless” for their hardened hearts and reluctance to heed God’s warnings. Their spiritual blindness left them unaware of their dire condition, as they worshipped lifeless idols that could offer no help or hope.

The Futility of Idolatry

Judah’s worship of idols revealed how little they understood spiritually. They trusted in man-made objects, wooden and stone idols, that could not save them. The prophets Habakkuk and Isaiah clearly describe the foolishness of idol worship. Habakkuk 2:18 states: “What good is an idol carved by man, or a cast image that deceives you? How foolish to trust in your own creation, a god that can’t even talk!”

Isaiah 44:19-20 concurs: “The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, ‘Why, it’s just a block of wood! … How can the rest of it be a god?’”

These idols, regardless of how splendidly decorated with gold or silver, were lifeless and unable to move. Jeremiah 10:5 mocks their helplessness, comparing them to scarecrows in a field: “Their gods are like helpless scarecrows in a cucumber field! They cannot speak, and they need to be carried because they cannot walk.”

Despite witnessing God’s mighty works, His deliverance from Egypt, His provision in the wilderness, and His ongoing care, the people of Judah remained spiritually dull, unable to comprehend the greatness of the living God.

The Root of Spiritual Blindness

The spiritual blindness of Judah was not just a failure of perception; it reflected a deep-rooted condition of the heart. As Moses lamented in Deuteronomy 29:4, at the end of Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness: “But to this day the LORD has not given you minds that understand, nor eyes that see, nor ears that hear!”

The spiritual blindness of Judah was not just a failure of perception; it revealed a deep-rooted condition of the heart, as Paul explains in 2 Corinthians 3:14-15: “But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth.”

Without divine intervention, humanity remains trapped in spiritual ignorance and cannot grasp the truth of God’s saving works.

The Antidote to Spiritual Blindness

While the condition of spiritual blindness is dire, the Scriptures also provide the solution. Paul reveals the antidote in 2 Corinthians 3:16-17: “But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

When individuals turn to the Lord in faith, the veil that obscures their hearts and minds is lifted. Through Christ, their spiritual vision is restored, revealing the truth of God’s glory. This transformation brings freedom, as the Spirit of the Lord illuminates their hearts and minds.

A Marvelous Hope

Despite humanity’s resistance and spiritual blindness, God’s grace offers a way out of this tragic state. His call remains unwavering, and His power to lift the veil is available to all who seek Him. The Father’s redemptive plan, fulfilled in Christ, not only diagnoses humanity’s spiritual ailment but also provides a cure. Through faith in Christ, the blind can see, the deaf can hear, and those spiritually enslaved can find true freedom.

This truth reminds us that God is not distant or uninvolved; He is deeply committed to revealing His truth and restoring humanity’s spiritual sight.

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© Dr. H 2025