Shabbat Lessons - Faith is not for those who need to see

One of my walking circuits is along the beautiful corn fields - usually accompanied by wild deer and eagles. It's always very quiet, except for the people riding horses and the farm tractors. Another constant companion are the airplanes in the sky, for I live close to an airport.

However, on one of my Shabbat reflection walks, I was puzzled that although I could hear lots of airplanes, I could not see them, even when the sky was not so cloudy. Maybe the science lovers will find a way to explain and I’m sure there is a logic explanation, but I could not help thinking about the following Bible passage:

Now Thomas, also known as Didymus, one of the twelve, was not with them when Yahusha came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen Adonai.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Yahusha came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Adonai and my Elohiym!”

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:24-29)

When Yahusha came back three days after his death, Thomas would not believe what his fellow apostles testified, so he said ‘I need to see’. How many times we discredit spiritual things or dream messages because it challenges our human logic?

By living in faith, we accept that there are things we can’t really explain, things we can’t understand, yet we allow them to exist in our hearts. Are you sure only things you can see exist? In this case, explain radio waves! ;)

Just like the ‘invisible’ airplanes during my walk, I knew they were in the sky because a) that was an airplane route and b) I could hear them! And isn’t it just the same with faith? We can’t really hear someone talking to us, but the Ruach Ha'Qodesh (Holy Spirit) communicates with our spirit and the message is clear as day and we suddenly know it’s there - yet we can't see angels or beams of light (sorry to disappoint you).

In my past life as an unbeliever, I always felt that the airplane was there, but I could not listen to it. Others though, simply think that if they can’t hear the plane or if they can’t see the plane, those who say that the plane is there are stupid, crazy or both. The lack of faith is not a sign of intelligence; it’s simply a sign that this person is not meant to believe – yet.

We tend to give too much value to our rational minds and human understanding of things. What unbelievers fail to understand is that intelligence as we know has little value to the Father. He does not bless you with faith if you study enough, or if you're a good person. Faith is not rational - it requires trust in something we can’t see, something we can’t prove.

When Yahusha departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying,

“Son of David, have mercy on us!” And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”

Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” (Matthew 9:27-29)

May the Father bless you with faith in Yahusha Ha'Mashiach, so that the 'airplane' flying above our heads makes itself known to you as well.