We are all acquainted today with the fact that there

are rays, namely the infra -red and the ultra -violet, that

are outside the range of human vision.  If the human eye could be adapted and

`improved' as cameras have over the past years, then it is conceivable that

things now totally invisible to sight would become visible.  This

transformation may never take place in the physical realm, but it does in the

realm of the spirit.  Let us see one or two illustrations of this change and

range of miraculously opened vision.

Hagar. -- Genesis 21 records the domestic strife that beclouded

the house of Abraham after Isaac was born.  It was very grievous in the

sight of Abraham that Ishmael should mock Isaac the child of promise,

Sarah's own son, yet it was equally grievous to contemplate turning

Hagar and Ishmael adrift, but his action was decided by the express

command of God:

`Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of

thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her

voice: for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he

is thy seed' (Gen. 21:12,13).

We all know the story -- the water spent in the bottle and the lad left

to die of thirst.  The miracle of his preservation did not consist in causing

water to appear where none had appeared before, but in opening Hagar's eyes

to see:

`And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water' (Gen. 21:19).

All Hagar wanted was the opened eye.

Elisha's servant. -- 2 Kings 6 records the attempt of the King of

Syria to capture Elisha:

`Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and

they came by night, and compassed the city about' (2 Kings 6:14).

When the servant of Elisha saw this formidable host, he cried `Alas, my

master! how shall we do?'  Elisha stayed his fears by saying:

`Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with

them' (2 Kings 6:16),

and then, instead of entering into a wordy battle to prove his point, Elisha

prayed `Open his eyes, that he may see'.  Elisha did not pray for a legion of

angels; for that there was no need, all that was necessary was the seeing

The man born blind. -- In the ninth chapter of John's Gospel we

have the sign of the healing of a man born blind.  The Saviour declared

the solemn and blessed truth:

`I am the light of the world' (John 9:5),