"He said, "Go and tell this people:" 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." - Isaiah 6:9-10
Word pictures confuse me most of the time. Lisa used to use word pictures frequently to get her point across in discussions. She was really good at it, drawing on topics she knew I would have an interest in like baseball, football or anything technical. How she could take an everyday discussion on parenting our children or dealing with our finances or improving our communication and turn it into a parable that got her point across in a way that I could relate too, was beyond me. The problem is that word pictures are only effective the first time their used. Each subsequent time that a similar word picture or parable is used it tends to fall short of making the point for one reason or another.
The prophecy from Isaiah 6:9-10 reflects on God's directions after Isaiah stepped forward to serve God. God's direct command, "GO..." calls Isaiah out to a service for the most Holy. He is to prepare the people of Israel for the Messiah who will come preaching and teaching in manners that are not understood by man. He was to make it possible for the people to draw closer to the Messiah for answers to life’s questions. In turn this would allow them to be healed by Him.
Christ, throughout His ministry, uses parables and stories to make His point. How many times have you read the story of the fig tree in Luke 13 and scratched your head as to the meaning? Or the parable in Luke 18 about the rich man regarding the camel going through the eye of a needle? Christ's parables are a way for His pupils and His followers to continue striving to learn more of the Kingdom of God. For us today, these parables contain the same strength. They draw us to Christ, so that we may learn about His ministry and His message for the masses. In turn we are capable of then sharing that information with the people we come into contact with.
The prophecy from Isaiah 6:9-10 reflects on God's directions after Isaiah stepped forward to serve God. God's direct command, "GO..." calls Isaiah out to a service for the most Holy. He is to prepare the people of Israel for the Messiah who will come preaching and teaching in manners that are not understood by man. He was to make it possible for the people to draw closer to the Messiah for answers to life’s questions. In turn this would allow them to be healed by Him.
Christ, throughout His ministry, uses parables and stories to make His point. How many times have you read the story of the fig tree in Luke 13 and scratched your head as to the meaning? Or the parable in Luke 18 about the rich man regarding the camel going through the eye of a needle? Christ's parables are a way for His pupils and His followers to continue striving to learn more of the Kingdom of God. For us today, these parables contain the same strength. They draw us to Christ, so that we may learn about His ministry and His message for the masses. In turn we are capable of then sharing that information with the people we come into contact with.
No comments:
Post a Comment