And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.”
Isaiah 6:9 NKJV
This is one of the saddest verses in the Bible. God had called Isaiah to prophesy to the nation of Israel. They had fallen into idol worship and God had had enough of their disobedience. They were about to experience His wrath. He warned Isaiah that He would prophesy, but they just wouldn’t get it.
Jesus referred to Isaiah 6:9 in Matthew 13:13 when he explained why he spoke to the people in parables. He told His disciples, “Therefore, I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” He goes on in verse 14 to explain that this is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.
When the disciples asked Jesus why he spoke in parables, He explained to them that they had been given the knowledge to understand.
Biblical knowledge is God given. When we hunger and thirst for God’s word, and we read and study God’s word, God will see to it that we understand. You may have to use an easier version of the Bible. You should definitely attend Bible teaching worship services and Bible studies to help you understand. But when we hunger for God’s word, we are eager to do these things.
When we avoid these things and fall into idol worship, we are actually rejecting God. We can find times for all kinds of activities but no time for God. We let other things get in our way of spending time with Him. My friend, this will anger God. Be very careful.
We are told in Romans 1:18-24 that if we reject God enough, He will leave us to our own evil desires. This is just what was happening with the nation of Israel. God had had enough of their disobedience and was about to pass judgment. He sent prophets to warn them, but they did not listen, nor did they turn back from their evil ways.
He told Isaiah that they just wouldn’t get it. They wouldn’t understand. So, my question today is do you get it? Do you understand God’s great love for you? Do you understand that obedience and faith are not optional? And most importantly, do you understand that there will come a time when it will be eternally too late to decide to trust and obey Him?
When we reject God, God will tire of our rejection. He will come to a point where His wrath takes over, and He will definitely judge and discipline us for our disobedience. In Matthew 5:6, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
In Jeremiah 29:10, God tells Jeremiah to tell the people that they will spend 70 years in captivity, but after these seventy years, He will bring them home. He goes on to tell them in verse 13 that they will seek Him and find Him when they search for Him with all their heart.
Maybe things are going really well in your life, and you just don’t need the Lord right now. But rest assured we need God. We need Him every hour whether we realize it or not. If things are going well for you, it’s due to His mercy and His grace. You must know this, however, there will come a time when He tires of your rejection and will discipline you. You should also know that it’s not worth the temporary pleasures of this earth to forego an eternity in heaven with Him.
I urge you not to wait until you are in a 911 prayer situation. Get into a right relationship with God now. Be hungry for His righteousness. You will find yourself longing to worship Him and study His word. You will be eager to speak to Him in prayer in both good times and bad.
I have hungered for this world, and I know hunger for His word and His righteousness. And I can promise you, what God has to give is much more filling than what this old world has to offer.
Have a great day!