Jesus also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A rainstorm is coming,’ and it does. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and there is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how can you not know how to interpret the present time?  Luke 12:54-59

How can someone close to God miss the obvious? This was Jesus’ question to the crowds. They were good at reading weather signs but struggled to interpret the times spiritually.

When Saul pursued David to kill him, only a small number of people stood by David. But a group called the ‘sons of Issachar’ understood things correctly. They saw Saul for who he truly was — a disobedient king under God’s judgment. They also saw David for who he was — God’s anointed man who was destined to become king. Based on all the evidence, it seemed that Saul was threatened by a possible coup led by a renegade named David. However, these 200 men understood the situation accurately.  

The children of Issachar, men who understood their times, knew what Israel ought to do.  I Chronicles 12:32

What kind of spiritual insight do I have? The men of Issachar looked at Saul the way God looked at Saul. His crown did not influence them. They could judge his actions and leadership style to recognize that he was out of God’s favor. They searched for his anointing but couldn’t find it. They also looked at David and saw beyond his poverty and ragtag militia. They perceived spiritual greatness and the signs of a kingly anointing.

Not everything is as it seems. Influential people are often fragile like a house of cards. They can crumble after just one confrontation. The humble are often seen as weak, but they may rise to power if God promotes them. Jesus is coming soon, and understanding the times has never been more critical.

Oh, for divine eyesight.  Train me.  Amen