SENSITIVE CHILDREN

In the wisdom of God there are five senses in mankind and the animal kingdom generally. The one that you are using in reading this page is that of sight, in some ways the most interesting of the five, one small eye being able to see things near and things far off, things tiny and things large. The Scriptures contain many references to 'seeing' on the part of divine Persons, so that we should realise that God is observing us in His love. I remember a little boy who, when passing the bright 'eye-sign' at an optician's shop asked his mother, Is God's eye as big as that? .

Smelling and tasting are two other senses which have their importance to us and we should be sorry to lose them. After the flood Jehovah smelled the odour of rest which went up to Him in Noah's burnt-offering. Later, there were two special perfumes to be offered up in connection with God's worship. As to tasting, when the Lord Jesus was at the cross He tasted but did not drink the mingled drink provided. Afterwards, when on the cross He said "I thirst", it says that He received the vinegar offered to Him. He then said "It is finished".

Hearing and feeling complete the five senses and we can think of divine Persons, in grace ready to help us as God helped Ishmael. It is said of this boy that "God has heard the voice of the lad there, where he is". Whether or not the lad enquired of Jehovah we do not know, but the Scripture assures us that He cares about us. As regards feeling, Paul wrote that when he was a child, he felt as a child. This is in the great 'love' chapter. Can you learn by heart chapter 13 of first Corinthians?

J.C.Evershed