The apostle John wrote about Jesus, “though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him. That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, Lord, who has believed our report? and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, ...”, and in chapter twelve and verse forty of his book John shared how Isaiah said, “He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts” where we read:
He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
The verse reads, “He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart;” John began with the words, “he has blinded their eyes” which means “He, God, has darkened the mind and blunted the mental discernment of the people”, “and hardened their heart” or “and made dull, calloused and petrified their power of understanding”. John shared how Isaiah said God “darkened the minds and petrified the understanding” of the people.
The verse continues, “that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.” John added the words, “that they should not see” which means “so they were unable in incapable of observing, perceiving and understanding” “with their eyes” or “with their spiritual eyes”, “nor understand with their heart” which means “nor comprehend, perceive, ponder or consider with their soul or mind as they are the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors”, “and be converted” or “and return or turn to the worship of the true God”, “and I should heal them” which means “and I, God, will cure, heal and make the people whole”. John shared how Isaiah said if people could “see” and “understand”, God would “cure, heal and make” them whole.
When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how the resistance of people to “believe” in Jesus would cause God to “blind” the “spiritual eyes” of them and make their “hearts” calloused from “understanding”. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person, however, He will not always strive with man. (See Genesis 6:3) There is a point, and none knows when, that God “makes firm” a person's resolve to resist and reject His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Those who are wise will seek the Lord with all their hearts and minds and ask Him to remove any “callouses” that keep them from a relationship with Him.
Next time John shares how Isaiah spoke these things, “when he saw his glory”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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