The Hebrew word ra’ah is found 1313 times in Scripture and it means to see, look at, inspect, perceive, and/or consider. The number 13 is an interesting number that happens to be connected to Our Heavenly Father’s various names and descriptions. The numeric values of HIS Names are all divisible by the same prime number: 13. It is only fitting that the ability to see points to FATHER.
In Genesis 12:1, Abram’s first encounter with FATHER was when he heard HIM:
1 Now the LORD had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country, From your family
And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you
And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Abraham’s first encounter with FATHER was to hear but not see for his eyes had not yet been opened. This is a common theme in Scripture- you first hear, then see. But this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t expect to see and so often we rationalize why we don’t see as an attempt to protect our egos. Many of us have quoted Hebrews chapter 11:
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
FATHER’S Divine Intent was first expressed and then seen as HE framed the worlds. Hope is the expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen and FATHER’S Divine Intent expected the physical manifestation to come forth for HIM to see as HE spoke HIS Divine Intent. Hope precedes faith and faith precedes manifestation. Now let’s add another often quoted verse:
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
First your expectation (hope) is planted and excited within your spirit when you hear FATHER’S Word, and then your faith is empowered. Finally, the manifestation presents itself and finally you can see it. This is a process that FATHER has revealed to us by HIS Word. Many have understood it in varying degrees in the past but few have fully embraced it as a means to fulfill their calling. Could it be that unbelief and insecurity brought on by the ego has caused men to come up short in this area? The carnal man must see then he will believe. Jesus rebuked the disciples concerning this issue in Mark 16 after His resurrection:
14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
Jesus had no problem appearing to men after His resurrection and that reality still applies today. He will not reward the carnal man who must see to believe but He is pleased with those who first believe then see. Many have stopped short of the above process as they quote John 20:
29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
We must understand the context in which Jesus spoke this Word. He directed it to Thomas who had earlier said that he would specifically not believe without first seeing. Jesus Loved Thomas and dealt with his error and allowed him to not only see but to also inspect His wounds. Jesus has no issue in showing Himself to Thomas or us. FATHER had no issue in showing HIMSELF to Abram (Abraham) after Abram heard HIS VOICE:
Genesis 12:7 7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
Abram had yet to fully receive a change in character which would result in the change of his name when he saw FATHER. We must not limit our seeing by allowing our ego to convince us we are not worthy to see or it is not HIS Will for us to see HIM. Abram was not hindered in his ability to see because he simply trusted the WORD that he heard FATHER speak. Do you think that Love only wants to present itself in our hearing only? In the Song of Solomon, most of the book is about describing what is seen, a fulfillment of Love.
I believe THE LORD will appear to those who first believe but are willing also to see HIM. The children of Israel as heard FATHER from afar but only Moses was willing to ascend to see HIM, even if it was only HIS backside at the time. The disciples and untold others have seen Jesus after His resurrection. We too must be expecting to have our eyes opened in response to the hope presented here today. The world does not expect to see HIM but we should. We should expect “the unexpected”. He wasn’t too busy to appear to Saul who was His adversary at the time. I don’t believe He is too busy or preoccupied to appear to anyone who is truly expecting Him though we must not place any preconditions in which He must respond. Love desires and longs for HIS Presence in all aspects.
2 Kings 9:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then 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.
Ezekiel 3:23 So I arose and went out into the plain, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face.
Revelation 19:11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
In Ezekiel chapter 12, FATHER spoke to Ezekiel and said “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house.” Those who are rebellious do not align themselves with the WORD of THE LORD and HIS Divine Intent. We are no longer ignorant of HIS Word of “believing then seeing”. Those around HIS Throne and who are called to ride in HIS army expect to see HIM. Why not now? After all as Jesus said in John chapter 4:
23 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”
Let us not stand afar off but let us ascend and expect HIM to appear as our eyes are opened to behold HIS Glory!