Seeing from God’s Perspective
Whenever I take my eyes of the bigness of God and start focusing on my circumstances, I get caught up in my own anxiety and life becomes a struggle. My natural eyes deceive me every time i take the focus off Jesus and put it on only what is possible by my ability, forgetting that God is bigger than the fear trying to strangle me.
What we see in the natural can be deceiving. In Second Kings Chapter six, all that Elisha’s servant could see was that the enemies were surrounding them, the Syrian armies. But Elisha, the prophet of God could see with the unseen eyes of faith. He told his servant not to freak out because there were more with them than those who were against them. And so, Elisha prayed, asking God to open his servant’s spiritual eyes to see into the supernatural realm of God. When God answered Elisha’s prayer, his servant saw that indeed, there were more with them than against them. God opened his eyes to see the mountain full of heavenly armies, horses and chariots of fire! (2 kings 6:17).
The Prophets Call
When God first spoke to Prophet Jeremiah about his calling in the first Chapter of the book of Jeremiah, the Prophet didn’t have a clue about his prophetic destiny. He had no confidence, he didn’t believe in himself, he saw himself as an inferior. He could not imagine himself as a person God can rest His hand upon and use to speak into lives and authority figures to influence and change his nation.
At the time of his calling, all Jeremiah could see was everything missing in his life. He was lacking confidence, deficient in experience, he wasn’t eloquent in speech. He thought and saw himself as ‘only a child’. (Jeremiah 1:6). Jeremiah could not see his future because his insecurities had clogged up his sight. Until God gave him clarity of sight, he could not see beyond his weaknesses to embrace the plan of God for his life.
The Almond Tree – Awake and Watching
With God’s touch, Jeremiah was able to see clearly and declare with confidence, “I see the branch of an almond tree”. (Jeremiah 1:11). Branches of almond tree are used for making rods. In Ancient Israel rod represents authority. For example, God used Moses and Aaron’s rod to perform mighty miracles. Also, Shepherds use rods to guide their sheep. (Psalm 23:4).
The Almond tree itself, is a symbol of an early spring season breaking forth from a gloomy, harsh winter. In Israel, the Almond tree is a common sight, as the first tree to blossom out of the winter season. It is identified as ‘an awakening tree’. The Hebrew word for Almond is ‘Shaked’, meaning “to watch” or “wakeful”. An almond tree speaks of hope, a new season of life and joyfulness. In contrast to other dead trees in winter, the Almond tree is beautiful to behold, blossoming in vivid fresh pink flower and green leaves. Whilst the other trees are sleeping in winter, the almond tree is awake and watching!
A Mission From God
Jeremiah’s calling is symbolical “to Watch” or “Wake”. His destiny was to awaken the nation of Israel. To prophesy and challenge the people of Israel about their calling and destiny as a nation. When Jeremiah confessed, seeing an almond tree he was seeing his prophetic destiny. God was awakening Jeremiah to his prophetic calling, which was God’s ‘rod’ for awakening Israel to her Destiny.
Seeing the Unseen future by Faith
The Bible declares, “we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Until God touched Jeremiah and imparted His divine ability by grace, he was unable to see by faith into the invisible realm of God where all things are possible. God’s hand touching Jeremiah’s life released the power of God upon the Prophet’s life to uproot and plant nations. To fulfill his mission for which God fashioned him from his mother’s womb. (Jeremiah 1:5). In a similar way, God wants us to believe that with His help we can do what we can never do on our own.
Is God calling you?
What do you believe you were set on earth to do?
What do you see?