The Apple of His Eye

          I have given myself insulin injections for the past 25 years and so I am accustomed to sticking myself with a small syringe. I can go all over my abdomen and arm or thigh and not be bothered about plunging the needle in to deliver the insulin. Even though I am accustomed to this, my ophthalmologist once said that I may have to have an injection into my eyeball. Now that is something quite different for me and instant fear came upon me. “Yikes. My eyeball?” It didn't take place but it made me realize a bit more about the eyeball and the tenderness of it and how that would be something hard for me to do. The eye is something that some have said is the “window into the soul.” Zechariah 2:8 says, “For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.”

       We have perhaps used the expression “the apple of his eye.” It usually refers to something that is very close to the person. It would be his favorite object, person or thing that the person possessed. It is probably used more of close relatives than of any material object. A child is sometimes referred to as the “apple of his eye.” The phrase comes up several times in the scriptures and usually refers to the relationship between God and Israel. You don't want to mess with the “apple of His eye.” The words that are used in the Scripture seem to point to the “pupil” of the eye as being the “apple.” This is where the image comes into the eyeball itself and then is transferred to the brain through the optic nerve. The phrase occurs some 5 times in the Old Testament and is not found in the New Testament in those words. It is comforting to us to know that God protects His own. His love for the people whom He chose is a pattern for His love for each believer. The important fact of Hebrews 13:5 has always been a comfort to me and probably to many believer for it says that God will never leave us nor forsake us. Also, the very core thoughts of John 3:16 express God's love for us even when we are not worth loving. He loves us so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins. You can look at a person's eyes and almost tell how they are feeling even thought there may be a smile on the lips, but the eyes are empty. One observation that can be made about the eyes is that when you look into the pupil of a person's eye, you can see a small reflection of yourself in that person's pupil. The comforting thought of God's protection is one that carries us through the trauma that a day can bring. No matter how severe the problems of the day, we have the comfort that God is greater, He is always with us and that He is always able to overcome the calamities of the day. Praise God that He is with each and every believer.