“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.” (John 12:40) The LORD quotes from Isaiah 6:10, “HE has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn--and I would heal them.” Notice it says GOD blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts. So how can GOD blame them when HE is the reason they are unable to believe? Good question. I speak on this text because it is so easy to see this text in the wrong context and take it as GOD depriving someone of free will but yet still punishing them. Many people today take this and misinterpret it due to their lack of understanding. We have to understand that GOD is a loving GOD and because HE loves us so much HE gives us the opportunity to choose whether or not we will believe in HIM and choose to follow HIM. Isaiah prophesied long ago the coming of CHRIST and on HIS arrival, many people will not see HIM for who HE is (eyes blinded), choosing not to believe (hardened heart), turn from HIM (disobedience), and miss the blessing. So when GOD says HE hardened their hearts and blinded their eyes, HE is saying HE gave them over to their wicked ways and allowed them to reap the fruit of their disobedience. The word hardened implies that a heart becomes dull or calloused. The more we move in disobedience the more of the possibility we take of us living in disobedience. A harden heart and blinded eyes is the result of a life choosing to live in disobedience. Moses approached Pharaoh in Exodus 5-8, the Bible says Pharaoh refused to let GOD’s people go free so GOD hardened his heart. Pharaoh refused to see GOD in his decision-making and allow his heart to serve the GOD of Moses. Since he chose to continue in disobedience, GOD gave him over to his wicked ways and he reaped what he sewn. The fruit of his disobedience not only destroyed his kingdom but affected his son. Sometimes GOD has to give us over to the very things we want so we can see the consequences and hopefully come back to HIM. We go through so much unnecessary things because we refuse to see JESUS in the decisions we make; and we suffer so many heart aches and disappointments because we refuse to allow JESUS to govern our hearts. The Bible says at the end of that verse GOD wanted to heal them. The LORD’s commands are not burdensome but are given to keep us not to harm us (1John 5:3). Why do we choose to reap the fruit of disobedience instead of receiving the blessings of obedience? Is your heart becoming hardened or eyes becoming blind to GOD? Is JESUS in your daily decision-making? How much of your heart are you allowing to serve GOD? We can choose the direction but we can’t avoid the consequence. Thought: There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Prov 14:12)
Posted on: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:28:52 +0000
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