Leading The Blind

"It was a long drive to the airport..."

After volunteering and serving for several weeks at an International Christian conference in Israel one year, I was headed home the next day with a group. Recent bomb attacks in Israel had everyone wary and on high alert; many plans were now in disarray.

The transportation director from the conference told me there was a change of plans. I would no longer ride with the ministry team, instead, I’d have to take public transportation from Jerusalem to the airport in Tel-Aviv, more than an hour’s drive away. Me: a female now traveling all alone, while high terrorist alerts were going on in the nation! The directors assured me I’d be safe. But I was miffed that I’d been so easily cast aside and left to make my way home in difficult, fearful, and trying circumstances.

Early the next morning, I boarded the transport van, a bit wary and unsettled. As I settled into the van seat, I realized the driver still had other passengers to pick up in Jerusalem for the trip to the airport. I sighed, “It’s going to be a very long day.” Finally, the driver stopped for his last pick-up. As the van door slid open, I was shocked to see a blind couple carefully ascending the steps, feeling their way into their seats. I wondered how the husband and wife could travel together.

"I wondered how they would manage traveling..."

I quickly started up a friendly conversation and asked how they would navigate the huge airport. They assured me they had a special transportation assistant awaiting them at the airport. Then the gentleman handed me his money clip and a wad of cash, asking me to count out the proper money to pay the cab driver. “Blind and so trusting?” I mused. I was thankful God had me sitting with them, as others may have tried to take advantage of their situation. It soon became abundantly clear to me that the Lord had assigned me my seat in this van with this couple. I began to let go of the anger I harbored.

Arriving at the airport, shocked, I sucked in my breath as the cab driver unloaded the six passengers’ luggage and dropped us off on the curbside. Everywhere I looked, there was mass chaos every which way I turned. In addition, the airport was on high alert, and I stared at the long lines snaking outside the building in dismay. “I may not even make my international flight home,” I worried.

But turning to my new friends, I finally asked, “Where is the guide supposed to meet you?” They didn’t know. I assured them I would not abandon them in the melee and extended my arm to the gentleman while his wife clutched his. We made for a strange entourage as we tried to navigate the hallway along with our luggage. Finally, I told them, “Stay here with our luggage and rest. Let me find someone to help you. I will be back.”

"There were long lines everywhere..."

After pressing through crowds and people and finally finding an official, I explained the dilemma. The woman quickly came to their aid. Then, turning to the three of us with a cart she loaded our luggage on it. “Come with me!” She declared. Surprised, I raised my eyebrows in question, but she waved me on with the couple still clutching my arm.

In mere minutes, we skipped past all the long check-in and baggage lines and were escorted straight through security and given clearance. I laughed in delight and surprise! Who knew that by helping this blind couple, God was leading this blind woman through the long lines and chaos, and that I had His favor that day? I didn’t see it yet!

The ministry abandoned me to get to the airport on my own that day, but God was using me to help a helpless couple while using those very same circumstances to get me through all the lines and chaos. I just didn’t have eyes to see.

Later, at the gate, I saw one of the important international conference speakers I had worked with at the conference. His ride wasn’t cancelled like mine was, and he had been easily transported and passed through security. Surprised to see me, he said, “How did you make it here so quickly? And how did you get through security?” I smiled, “God was leading the blind. I had His favor!”

"I relaxed at the gate, smiling at God's favor..."

Beloved:

Never doubt that I am always with you! Always. Though others may disregard you, you have My Divine Favor in your life. Trust Me through all the twists and turns in life’s circumstances and know that I am leading you. Like the blind, simply clutch My Hand in trust and surrender. I always have good intentions for you My Beloved one.

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)

“On that day those who are deaf will hear words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of those who are blind will see.” (Isaiah 29:18)

“The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.” (Psalms 148:6)