3198. 'And lifted up his eyes and sew' means directing the attention. This is clear from the meaning of 'lifting up the eyes' as thinking, dealt with in 2789, 2829; here it means directing the attention since it is said that 'he lifted up his eyes and saw' and this has reference to Rational Good to which truth from the Natural had not yet been joined.

Answering" in the Bible is often paired with "saying." In these cases generally it indicates a level of perception coupled with the receptivity. This means you not only accept what's coming to you from the Lord, but also see it and recognize the truth in it, and the fact that it will lead you to a better life.To "answer" generally indicates a state of spiritual receptivity. Ultimately this means being receptive to the Lord, who is constantly trying to pour true ideas and desires for good into our hearts and minds. It can also being receptive in the external parts of ourselves to the leading of the internal parts of ourselves – committing to making our actions follow our deeper beliefs.