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The cell phone camera has had a major impact on our world. The state or major media outlets no longer have total control over images or videos released to the public. We saw the power of video this past summer with the image of George Floyd pinned down with an officer’s knee on his neck. We see the power of video in the nation of Belarus today as citizens demonstrate against the rigged elections they believe kept a tyrant in power. Video or photographic evidence can be a powerful persuader.

Wouldn’t it be great if God has left us some videos we could check every time our faith wavered? We could just go to the God video section on Youtube. There we could watch Him speak the 10 commandments to Moses. We could watch from different angles when Isaiah saw the Lord in the temple. We could also watch videos of Jesus interacting with people and doing miracles. Yet would videos of God ensure belief?

You may have heard the phrase “seeing is believing.” Yet we can see the same thing and believe something completely different. Last month in Kenosha, Wisconsin, a young man went down to a riot with an automatic weapon. This was a foolish act from the outset. Protesters eventually confronted him and he shot two or three people. I think two of them died. Was his act one of self-defence or vigilante justice? People watching the same video come to varied conclusions.

Maybe that partially explains why God revealed Himself to us more in word than in image. When God showed up at Mount Sinai before the Israelites, thick clouds and fire covered His appearance. They only heard His voice out of the fire. Then when God gave the Ten Commandments, He said:

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on earth beneath or that is in the water or under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God.” (Deuteronomy 5:8-9).

God, in His great wisdom, knew that any image we made or cherished, even if it was of Him, would become a snare to us. He knew the power of images right from the start. He warned His people against worshiping images instead of Him. “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are home in the body we are away from the Lord for we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:6-7).

So if you’re struggling today wondering about God’s concern for your life, don’t look for an image to comfort you. Go instead to His Word and let Him speak to you. I pray you will receive what He has for you there.

“Lord God, we live in an image saturated world. We can spend much time scrolling through images. Often we fail to discern the impact they have on our heart. Help us to see with the eyes of faith. May the eyes of our hearts be enlightened so we may know the hope to which you have called us and the riches of our glorious inheritance and Your incomparably great power for us who believe.”