What Do You See?

Daily Devotional: Day 58

“And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart” (1Samuel 16:6-7, KJV).

Following Saul’s disobedience, God rejected him as King of Israel. He, therefore, sent the prophet Samuel to go to Jesse’s house and anoint one of his sons to replace Saul. This brings us to today’s Bible text. As the sons of Jesse passed by, Samuel caught sight of Eliab and concluded, based on his size and appearance, that he must be the Lord’s chosen one. But God quickly prompted Samuel that outward appearances can be deceptive. The first lesson here is that, no matter who you are, you can be fooled by appearances. Even a great prophet like Samuel, got fooled, and if not for the Lord’s timely intervention, would have anointed the wrong person as King of Israel. Imagine the consequences, had God not intervened and corrected Samuel. This teaches us not to be overconfident in ourselves or in our gifts. Every day, we need the humility and patience to allow God’s Word to guide us, so that we don’t get deceived by appearances.

No one is immune to the deception. If Samuel was fooled, so can we. Human beings are interesting creatures. They can manipulate and deceive, hiding their true character behind a charming façade. In the history of the world, many people have made important decisions based on the charm of appearances, only to regret when they discovered the reality behind the veil. But, as the Bible says, let God be true, and every man a liar (Romans 3:4). God alone knows what is in every man’s heart, because he sees beyond appearances. To avoid the danger of deception, you need to stay close to God and be prayerful. Additionally, it’s necessary to meditate on the Word of God day and night. This will make you spiritually sharp and alert, enabling you to discern the true nature of things and people. As the Psalmist rightly says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). Stay close to God, and see beyond.

Prayer:

Dear Father, protect my heart from pride and overconfidence. Grant me the humility to seek the guidance of your Word always; for your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path. Open my eyes to discover every deception in my life, and make me walk in your wisdom. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

For further study: Acts 5:1-11