eye close up, seeing clearly

Loving
God

“… Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.”

Jesus often used hyperbole to make points, to put into perspective the importance of what we may consider common. I am thinking of Luke 6 where he contrasts what we see flawed in others but not clearly in ourselves.

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. 1

One of the challenges in my relationship with the Lᴏʀᴅ is seeing myself clearly, seeing myself with the vision God has of me. He sees clearly but I tend to mask or ignore some of the larger flaws in my character while being proud of other elements where I am more in agreement with Him. My idea of ‘little’ my include entertainment or habits which are not innately sinful but which easily distract me from time close to God. Little things are actually more of a danger in my life than the ‘gross’ sins that we often rail against.

Solomon in his love letter about intimate relationships has a phrase that has come near to me recently:

“… Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.”

In the midst of talking about drawing near to his love, there is this strange aside which I take as an imperative to not let the little things ruin what could be. How is it that ‘little foxes spoil the vineyard’ as the vines are only starting to bloom? If you have ever watched young foxes they have a bent to gameful activity, what to them is playing, nipping, cavorting, digging, all of which are skills they will use more purposely in maturity but are just activities now. It is said that in a vineyard they will nip the root stock, dig up, even eat shoots before there is any fruit. This activity stunts the growth and later productivity of the vines even though there is no intention on the little foxes activity to ruin the fruitfulness.

Back in Genesis 4 when Cain and Abel both give offerings to God, Abel’s is acceptable to God but Cain’s is not. When God talks to Cain about the why and how to give God what is acceptable, Cain is not willing to change,

In the course of time Cain brought to the Lᴏʀᴅ an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lᴏʀᴅ had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The Lᴏʀᴅ said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, and you must rule over it.” 2

It could have been a little thing for Cain to come into agreement with the Lᴏʀᴅ but he refuses to see what God desires and insists upon his own way despite God’s plea for Cain to change. After all, the offering is being given to the Lᴏʀᴅ so shouldn’t it be what is agreeable to God rather than what Cain wants to give. ‘If you do well, will you not be accepted?’ is God’s encouragement to Cain to take captive Cain’s desire to ‘do it Cain’s way’ and master what is ruining his agree-ability with God. In other words, Cain needs to ‘catch the little foxes’ spoiling his acceptability before God.

The continuing challenge of Life in agreement with the Lᴏʀᴅ is not knowing about the ways of God or the character of God but becoming responsive to what God reveals about His desires for relationship with Him and changing into agreement with Him rather than continuing in our own paths. I need the Lᴏʀᴅ’s order, His wisdom, His enabling, His precepts for my life to be conformable to who He is, that my lifestyle is agreeable before Him. I need to love Him more than my old life, my old dedication to beliefs of what was important enough to give my life energies to maintaining that way. I need to love God above all else and not keep the lesser things convenient to be my familiar comforts just a little ways apart from the Lᴏʀᴅ.

While little foxes are entertaining to watch in their antics, in our lives the little foxes stunt our growth in the Lᴏʀᴅ. Jesus often questioned the common practice whereby we want to continue with the antics instead of giving our lives over to His wholeheartedness:

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 3

In Luke 14, Jesus contrasts the giving up of what formerly held our attentions and commitment and the necessity of counting the cost of coming into fruitfulness in Him. He concludes this passage with the startling statement:

“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” 4

The ‘catch the little foxes,’ is captured in the appeal of Romans 12 where Paul urges the life sacrificed to God,

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 5

I personally do not like giving up or laying down my comforts, my familiars but through repeated application of this philosophy I have found it incompatible with Loving God with wholeheartedness. I simply cannot be close to both Jesus and my old man, the ways of this world.

What say we renew our commitment each day to live daily in as close a proximity to the Lᴏʀᴅ as He will allow—after all, He confirms He desires nearness:

Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 6
FOOTNOTES:
1 Luke 6:41-42 (ESV) – https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/luk/6/41-42/s_979041
2 Genesis 4:3-7 (ESV) – https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/gen/4/3-7/s_4003
3 Matthew 16:24-26 (ESV) – https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/mat/16/24-26/s_945024
4 Luke 14:25-35 (ESV) – https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/luk/14/25-35/s_987025
5 Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) – https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/rom/12/1-2/s_1058001
6 James 4:6-10 (ESV) – https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/jas/4/6-10/s_1150006
Song of Songs 2:15 (ESV) - https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/sng/2/15/s_673015
All Scripture references from the Blue Letter Bible, ESV
at https://www.blueletterbible.org
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2025 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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