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Not by Sight: A Fresh Look at Old Stories of Walking by Faith
Trusting Jesus is hard. It requires following the unseen into an unknown, and believing Jesus’s words over and against the threats we see or the fears we feel. Through the imaginative retelling of 35 Bible stories, Not by Sight gives us glimpses of what it means to walk by faith, counsel for how to trust God’s promises more than our perceptions, and the way to find rest in the faithfulness of God.
208 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2013
136 people are currently reading
934 people want to read
About the author
Jon Bloom
17 books109 followersI serve as Author, Board Chair, and Co-founder at Desiring God and find it a great joy to help others believe and delight in Jesus Christ. I am deeply in love with my wife, Pam, adore my five children and most of the time feel affection for my naughty dog. We make our home in Minneapolis.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
January 26, 2015
Some of us are driven by our emotions and some are driven by the facts. In this devotional type read, you have a nice balance of both. It uses the emotions of familiar bible stories to put you the reader in the midst of what Jesus is teaching us through the gospel.
Whether you are struggling with doubt and unbelief (I believe that the two can be separate) revealing the possible emotions of the culture of the time is not much different than what we struggle with. We all bleed red; we all struggle to be known and to know the known. Knowing the greatness of Christ and his redemptive work can free us from unbelief and to be freed from unbelief is to be freed from fear and greed and pride and anger and lust and despair and other sins that capture our hearts (kindle loc 162).
This is a devotion is to dig deeper in the truths in ways that will give encouragement without compromising the truth
Whether you are struggling with doubt and unbelief (I believe that the two can be separate) revealing the possible emotions of the culture of the time is not much different than what we struggle with. We all bleed red; we all struggle to be known and to know the known. Knowing the greatness of Christ and his redemptive work can free us from unbelief and to be freed from unbelief is to be freed from fear and greed and pride and anger and lust and despair and other sins that capture our hearts (kindle loc 162).
This is a devotion is to dig deeper in the truths in ways that will give encouragement without compromising the truth
July 21, 2015
Provavelmente o melhor livro que li ano passado. Jon Bloom reconta com uma beleza literária incrível diversas narrativas bíblicas, desautomatizando nossa leitura da Escritura ao chamar a atenção para detalhes que simplesmente já estão lá no texto ou que podem ser, para usar a jargão de Westminster, "lógica e claramente deduzidos".
January 3, 2021
Simple, fresh, easy to read and understand.
I like how in a curious, sweet and funny way the author helps to see episodes in the Word where the Lord taught people what it is to live by faith in different circumstances of life. In each chapter the teaching is brief, but at the same time deep and captivating.
I like how in a curious, sweet and funny way the author helps to see episodes in the Word where the Lord taught people what it is to live by faith in different circumstances of life. In each chapter the teaching is brief, but at the same time deep and captivating.
June 10, 2013
This is a phenomenal book. Just finished it and I think I'm going to start reading it again. Beautiful strokes of color in the outlines of scripture's stories of God interacting with man. Drew me closer to Him.
March 1, 2021
What an unassuming blessing of a book.
I had never heard of this book before, I think I came across it when looking for resources on faith. Even though I don't think this book has made a top 10 list that I've ever heard of, when I saw that it was written by Jon Bloom, I picked it up because he's my favorite blog writer on desiringGod (except for maybe Piper). He did not disappoint.
This book has short, inviting chapters written in the style of historical fiction (taking scenes from the Bible and imagining more details/context), all around the theme of walking by faith. I think some if not all the chapters are available on desiringGod as blog posts, but it was still worth purchasing. This article, for example, is also a chapter in the book: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/...
In a season of doubt, this book was easy to just pick up and read whenever I longed for some encouragement. The stories of doubt/faith were food for my soul.
I had never heard of this book before, I think I came across it when looking for resources on faith. Even though I don't think this book has made a top 10 list that I've ever heard of, when I saw that it was written by Jon Bloom, I picked it up because he's my favorite blog writer on desiringGod (except for maybe Piper). He did not disappoint.
This book has short, inviting chapters written in the style of historical fiction (taking scenes from the Bible and imagining more details/context), all around the theme of walking by faith. I think some if not all the chapters are available on desiringGod as blog posts, but it was still worth purchasing. This article, for example, is also a chapter in the book: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/...
In a season of doubt, this book was easy to just pick up and read whenever I longed for some encouragement. The stories of doubt/faith were food for my soul.
May 27, 2020
A great way to dig deeper into some powerful Biblical stories.
March 27, 2022
35 devotionals from the Gospels about faith. Each chapter was not long, but quite deep as you meditate on it.
December 21, 2022
Lovely and refreshing telling of Bible stories.
July 23, 2025
krásna pripomienka prečo kráčam podľa viery a nie podľa zraku <3
September 25, 2014
I happened upon this book when reading a blog post that Jon Bloom wrote. I forget exactly what the blog post was about, but I sure am glad I got this book. It is definitely something to pick up and read over again. The Bible stories are told here in an expansive, devotional format, and every one of them is enlightening, encouraging and yet sticks to the truth w/out adding in unlikely details.
I'll definitely be looking for more from Jon Bloom.
I'll definitely be looking for more from Jon Bloom.
September 4, 2014
This book influenced me far beyond what I expected. Perhaps it's the different takes on familiar scripture stories, or it's due to the sometimes simple and sometimes profound observations made at the end of each chapter. I highly recommend this book. You will find yourself flipping open your Bible saying, 'that's in there'?
June 15, 2013
I kind of used this book as a devotional. the author is very good at going beyond what the words say into the emotions not only of the moment but also the aftermath of realising who Jesus is and how the biblical persons in these stories probably felt. very good and easy read.
July 4, 2024
Awesome book that looks at faith at a lot of different dimensions.
November 8, 2014
Wonderful. Really did seem like a fresh perspective on great old stories. Have already bought half a dozen to give as gifts! A new favorite, highly recommend.
October 5, 2018
Fabulous! Gritty, earthy, imaginative while staying true to scripture. I read this as a devotional, reading the scripture each chapter was based on. So good!
November 4, 2017
Beautiful, thought-provoking, Jesus-exalting, and trust-building. This book was absolutely excellent. It is a pleasure to read how Bloom shows how wonderful Jesus is. He has a gift for this. What a great gift to have. It easily was top 3 books I have read all year.
I have owned it for a few years, and read a handful of the chapters, but never actually read the whole book. I decided to do so because Bloom is my favorite Desiring God author (besides Piper), as he always is thoughtful and intriguing. These 35 chapters are no different.
Many reviews say he is just retelling the stories, but this is far from true. He tells the stories with a lot of biblical foundation (I would say he doesn't go too far off from the biblical account), but I was most impress with his insight and application of the stories. Sometimes this was after the story, sometimes in the middle of telling it, and sometimes before. Nevertheless, Bloom always has something thought-provoking, Jesus-exalting, and trust-building to say. And many times, it simply is beautiful, almost tear-producing.
For example, he has a whole chapter about how an angel didn't come to rescue James from death. One came to rescue Peter, which is a famous story, but Acts tells us that James was killed. Bloom meditates on this and writes:
"The sword came down. No deliverance. Or was there? God allowed the sword to fall on James just as intentionally as he opened Peter;s prison door....There is the real key to understanding Acts 12:2: Jesus let James die because he had a better life to give him. James was not being neglected by Jesus. He was in fact the first of the Twelve to experience what Jesus prayed for in John 17:24: 'Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory'".
Bloom then beautifully applies it, which almost brought me to tears:
"There will be a time when Jesus's prayer for us to be with him with overrule our prayer for prolongs earthly life. And when it does, we will experience a life so far better, richer, fuller, purer, and more joyful that we will shake our heads in wonder that we ever pleaded to stay" (66-67). Amen and amen.
This is just an example of his thoughts and meditations. In short, he takes story upon story from the Bible and really thinks about them. It is a joy to read, and it really builds one's faith in God.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone. In fact, this might be the most faith-producing book I have this whole year. Truly excellent.
I have owned it for a few years, and read a handful of the chapters, but never actually read the whole book. I decided to do so because Bloom is my favorite Desiring God author (besides Piper), as he always is thoughtful and intriguing. These 35 chapters are no different.
Many reviews say he is just retelling the stories, but this is far from true. He tells the stories with a lot of biblical foundation (I would say he doesn't go too far off from the biblical account), but I was most impress with his insight and application of the stories. Sometimes this was after the story, sometimes in the middle of telling it, and sometimes before. Nevertheless, Bloom always has something thought-provoking, Jesus-exalting, and trust-building to say. And many times, it simply is beautiful, almost tear-producing.
For example, he has a whole chapter about how an angel didn't come to rescue James from death. One came to rescue Peter, which is a famous story, but Acts tells us that James was killed. Bloom meditates on this and writes:
"The sword came down. No deliverance. Or was there? God allowed the sword to fall on James just as intentionally as he opened Peter;s prison door....There is the real key to understanding Acts 12:2: Jesus let James die because he had a better life to give him. James was not being neglected by Jesus. He was in fact the first of the Twelve to experience what Jesus prayed for in John 17:24: 'Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory'".
Bloom then beautifully applies it, which almost brought me to tears:
"There will be a time when Jesus's prayer for us to be with him with overrule our prayer for prolongs earthly life. And when it does, we will experience a life so far better, richer, fuller, purer, and more joyful that we will shake our heads in wonder that we ever pleaded to stay" (66-67). Amen and amen.
This is just an example of his thoughts and meditations. In short, he takes story upon story from the Bible and really thinks about them. It is a joy to read, and it really builds one's faith in God.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone. In fact, this might be the most faith-producing book I have this whole year. Truly excellent.
September 10, 2020
The Bible was written in a culture with an oral tradition. The first century church not only distributed the manuscripts, but also shared them via storytelling. In that storytelling tradition, in this book, Bloom takes a number of stories out of the Bible and fictionalizes them. In some, he takes characters that have been transformed by Jesus and imagines what they might do after their Jesus encounters. For example, Bloom describes an interaction between Zacchaeus and a man that had been defrauded by Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus is returning four-fold what he had taken from him per Scripture, and we get to see both Zacchaeus’ new attitude and heart as well as the ripple impact such repentance might have on others. In another example, we get to see the internal dialogue and mindset of a person processing what God put before them. We see, for example, Joseph processing Mary’s announcement to him that she was pregnant with God’s child. At the end of these fictionalized accounts, Bloom shares his lesson on faith. Bloom’s fictionalized accounts never stray towards heresy; his imaginings of people’s actions and feelings seem to fit within the bounds of Scripture.
For me, while I found the accounts very readable, I had two small critiques. One, Bloom’s choices of stories seem to be the obvious choices: Joseph (both from the OT and NT), Peter, Zacchaeus, David, etc. The only obvious choice that was missing was the prodigal son. And my second critique is that not only are the stories the obvious choices, but the insights from those stories are fairly straightforward: that God has a plan even during our suffering, that we no longer need to feel guilt or shame because there is no condemnation in Christ and that we’re forgiven, that Jesus is more valuable than our idols, etc. These are all valuable lessons that Bloom shares, but they also all feel like we’ve heard them all before. A quick, engaging read, but a little too shallow for my tastes.
For me, while I found the accounts very readable, I had two small critiques. One, Bloom’s choices of stories seem to be the obvious choices: Joseph (both from the OT and NT), Peter, Zacchaeus, David, etc. The only obvious choice that was missing was the prodigal son. And my second critique is that not only are the stories the obvious choices, but the insights from those stories are fairly straightforward: that God has a plan even during our suffering, that we no longer need to feel guilt or shame because there is no condemnation in Christ and that we’re forgiven, that Jesus is more valuable than our idols, etc. These are all valuable lessons that Bloom shares, but they also all feel like we’ve heard them all before. A quick, engaging read, but a little too shallow for my tastes.
April 29, 2018
This was an excellent devotional book. You can read one a day, but I usually read more than one. Jon Bloom adds details to real biblical accounts, not included in the Bible, which helps flesh out characters and details. He acknowledges that the account details he adds are not concrete, but they are things that could very possibly have happened, and are not far-fetched. This devotional is effective in helping you think deeper about Jesus' interaction with people and various details of their lives when confronted by the God of the universe, incarnate, that you may not otherwise think of when reading the actual biblical accounts. This is not meant to replace your Bible reading, but enhance it.
February 7, 2021
Four years ago I reviewed a similar book by the same author, Things Not Seen. While the details differ, the positive comments I made then are equally applicable here for the same reasons. Whereas that volume focused on trusting God’s promises, this one concentrates on living by faith in God. Other than mentioning this difference in specific focus, I have nothing new to add to my prior review beyond repeating that I recommend both of these books with my highest compliments.
January 17, 2022
This one was so good. Highly recommend it. Some of my favorite chapters from Jon Bloom were: The Adulteress Woman (John 8), John the Baptist (Luke 7), Zacchaeus (Luke 19), Joseph Barsabbas (Acts 1), Joseph & Mary (Matt 1), Centurion (Luke 7), and Andrew (John 1 and various texts). As the subtitle says it really is a “fresh look at old stories” while staying within the boundaries of what could have happened. The foreword by John Piper tees the book up nicely as well.
March 22, 2023
an eye opener of clearer understanding-seeing Jesus thru a better different lense.
Praises to the Lord Jesus Christ He has done great marvelous things.
The writings and clarity of scripture brings a clear understanding into the scriptures of Jesus
Chewy, filling and revelation filled. Seeing Jesus through a new pair of glasses, even after many years of following Him. The Holy Spirit always has new revelation for us.
Praises to the Lord Jesus Christ He has done great marvelous things.
The writings and clarity of scripture brings a clear understanding into the scriptures of Jesus
Chewy, filling and revelation filled. Seeing Jesus through a new pair of glasses, even after many years of following Him. The Holy Spirit always has new revelation for us.
March 10, 2021
My daughter (early 20's) and I used this as a devotional/study book. I had read another of Jon Bloom's books and found his takes to be refreshing and eye-opening. We hoped this book would help us dig a little deeper in our faith, but I think we were the wrong audience. This book would be better suited for new Christians or perhaps teenagers.
February 25, 2022
“In your place of desperation it may be that what you need most is not less turmoil, but more trust. For God chooses stables of desperation as the birthplaces of his overwhelming grace.”
Refreshing little devotional book looking at how familiar figures from the pages of the bible would have felt after encountering Jesus.
Refreshing little devotional book looking at how familiar figures from the pages of the bible would have felt after encountering Jesus.
October 11, 2017
I have long admired and appreciated Jon Bloom's gift for bringing familiar Bible stories/characters to life in fresh and compelling ways, and then drawing piercing personal/modern application. This book and its partner, Things Not Seen, are gems.
September 18, 2018
Highly, highly recommended! Fresh insights on familiar passages. Each chapter is a standalone, so this works well for a book you want to read piecemeal, or for a book or bible study group that covers a chapter at a time, with spotty attendance.
October 16, 2018
Imaginative in transporting the reader into the finer detailed reality of some common people in Scripture, I’m left feeling encouraged that the struggle to walk by faith has been a part of the Christian faith from the beginning and that God’s promises are as true today as they were 2,000 years ago
January 29, 2022
This book does a great job giving commonly heard scripture stories a new light. It really helps to see scripture in a different light as long as it stays true to the original text and I believe this does.
November 24, 2022
A Deeper Look
This book touched me deeply as I paused with the author's characters from Scriptures. It felt like I was there with them, gleaning fresh insight from the Holy Spirit alongside them.
This book touched me deeply as I paused with the author's characters from Scriptures. It felt like I was there with them, gleaning fresh insight from the Holy Spirit alongside them.
December 29, 2024
There were some nuggets that I am taking forward with me, and overall I liked the blend of scripture and creativity. I didn’t agree with some of the theology, and thought a few of the messages over simplified God and missed the mark.
April 2, 2018
Really enjoyed this, added a layer of depth to some shorter, less discussed interactions in the Bible, as well as some classics that were worth thinking about.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews