The Blind Spot

“And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants, and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”

Num. xiii. 33.

That was an inventory with the main fact omitted. It was an estimate which left out God. These explorers moved in the world of things which are seen; they never sallied forth, on venturous quest, into the realm of the unseen. Indeed, to them the unseen world did not exist. Spiritual presences and forces were disregarded in their count. They were not even named. They saw nothing but physical giants, and they were dismayed.

It has been charged against William Pitt that he did not comprehend the Revolution in France. ‘He saw his enemy; he did not see his allies.’’ It is a significant criticism, and its application is far wider than the field of European politics. The same defect of vision may be found among men and women

22 who sincerely profess their concern for the Kingdom of God. They see the enemy; they do not see their allies. They see the giants, but they do not see the Lord; nor do they catch a glimpse of the mighty but secret forces which follow His command.

And this imperfect vision, this blindness to the friendly allies, breeds the mood of pessimism. We become possessed by an excessive and debilitating self-depreciation. ‘We are in our own sight as grasshoppers.’’ We feel no more competent to capture the enemy’s citadel than a grasshopper is able to subdue a fort. Spiritual pessimism is the parent of moral paralysis. Nothing so saps our fighting power as the apprehension that we are sure to be beaten. The will eventually softens if it breathes the air of despair. If we estimate the combatants as “grasshopper versus giant” we are undone.

And therefore it is of vital importance that we cultivate the spiritual sight which gives reality to the unseen world. There is a mystical food which is gathered from harvests that grow on heavenly fields. Our spirits are fed on spiritual things, and they find their strength in the bread of life. Heavenly manna is the food of heroes. Courage is the product of grace. Indeed, all our virtues draw their vigour from spiritual breasts. If we cut ourselves away from the things which are not seen,’^ we break communion with our spiritual supplies, and all our powers will become anaemic, we shall lack adequate resource, and when the giant appears we shall surely faint. When the spirit faints the end has come!

But pre-eminently, when we see the giants, we must swiftly turn the eyes of the soul upon the Lord. If we are dismayed by a king let us fix our gaze upon the King of Kings. The mighty Friend will give us confidence to meet the foe. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?’^