ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 PULELULU ‘EPELELI 22, 2026

2 TU’I 6-8; SIONE 9:1-41

It's sad when anyone is blind to the presence and almighty power of God.

‘Oku tau ongo’i mamahi ‘i he’etau vakai ki ha taha ‘oku kui ki he ki he naunau mo e mafi ‘o e ‘Otua.

It is vital for us to understand that the most important realities in all of life cannot be seen with our physical eyes. Our God, who sits on the throne of the universe, ruling with holy wisdom, absolute sovereignty, and awesome power, cannot be physically seen or touched. His existence, rule, and plan for his creatures are the most visible things in the world, but they are not physically visible. You can't use the scientific method or modern technology to prove the existence or character of God. You can point to physical evidences of his existence in the creation, but it takes another set of eyes to see the glorious one behind the glories of creation. This means that our most important vision system is not our physical eyes. When Luella and I worked at a school for the blind, we became aware of how devastating and life-altering physical blindness can be. But it is not the most destructive form of blindness. Nothing is more devastating than when the eyes of the heart are blind to the things of God.

The blindness in 2 Kings 6:15-17 is instructive:

When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Elisha is under attack. The king of Syria has sent his troops to do him harm. Elisha's servant looks out and sees the Syrian army and panics. But Elisha assures him that they are being defended by an even greater army, one the servant cannot see. So Elisha prays that God would open the eyes of the servant to the spiritual realities right in front of him. The Lord answers Elisha's prayer, and the servant sees that the mountain is filled with horses and chariots of fire. Remember, horses and chariots are a theophany, that is, a divine appearing. God opens the eyes of Elisha's servant to his presence and his power.

This passage reminds us that spiritual sightedness is not natural. When the eyes of your heart "see" God in all his majestic power and glory, you can be sure you have been visited by his grace. It took an act of divine empowerment for the servant to see the presence and power of God.

One of the prophecies regarding the earthly ministry of the Messiah, Jesus, said that he would give sight to blind eyes (Isa. 35:5). Since sin blinds and is still present in our hearts, we should never stop praying for the grace of spiritual sightedness. That's a prayer God delights in answering.