Tag: ear dull

10.w. “Your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”

Micah 3:4  Then they will cry to the Lord, but he will not answer them; he will hide his face from them at that time, because they have made their deeds evil. Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry “Peace” when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths. Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without divination. The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.

Deuteronomy 31:17-18    Then my anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide my face from them, and they will be devoured. And many evils and troubles will come upon them, so that they will say in that day, ‘Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?’  And I will surely hide my face in that day because of all the evil that they have done, because they have turned to other gods.

Deuteronomy 32:19-20   “The LORD saw it and spurned them, because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters.  And he said, ‘I will hide my face from them; I will see what their end will be, for they are a perverse generation, children in whom is no faithfulness.

Isaiah 59:1-15    Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;  but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

How sad, terrible, and overwhelming to have God hide His face from His people?  How big is the separation when there is no answer from God?  When there is sin in our lives and in our nations and we have known what it means to seek and follower after God but have willfully chosen paths away from Him can we expect and answer from Him?  The answer to this is yes and no.  When we come to our senses like the prodigal son He is there with expectant arms wide open.  It is in the time between our unfaithfulness and willing disobedience, and a drought of God’s Word in our life when we will find that it is not so much Him speaking into our lives but rather we are not listening.  The worst part of this is that we choose to not listen and then wonder why, when troubles find their way into our lives, God does not seem to be anywhere near us.  God orchestrates and/or allows troubles to come on individuals and nations.   He has used these times to draw them back to Him, recognizes their sin, repents, and turns away from that which was appalling to obedience to Him.  As a nation, we find ourselves in a time now that prudent minds would seek God with a humble heart.  But this isn’t what we do, is it?   We look to local, state, and federal governments to answer our questions and fix the troubles we are facing.  Could it be that God is taking away (hopefully temporarily) that which we hold so dear in this world?  I do know this unless we turn to Him with humbleness and repentant hearts our nation will go from worse to worse.  Seek Him, dive deep into His Word, and open the ears to your hearts, minds, and souls.

21. “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Numbers 11:23  And the Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord’s hand shortened? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not.”

Genesis 18:14    Is anything too hard for the LORD?

Psalms 78:41    They tested God again and again and provoked the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 50:2    Why, when I came, was there no man; why, when I called, was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, by my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a desert; their fish stink for lack of water and die of thirst.

Isaiah 59:1    Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;

Micah 2:7     Should this be said, O house of Jacob? Has the LORD grown impatient? Are these his deeds? Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly?

Matthew 19:26    But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Luke 1:37     For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Ezekiel 24:14    I am the LORD. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord GOD.”

When God speaks do we trust what He says?  Do we believe what He says?  Do we cling to what He says?  Do we listen to what He says? Do we rely on what He says? Are we changed because of what He says? Are we wanting to hear Him speak through His word? Are we living according to His word?  Are our thoughts and actions in accordance with His word?

Many of the answers to these questions can be rooted in how we view God.  We believe we are not good enough for Him to save us or work in our life.  We put limits on God’s power, His love, His calling, His purpose, His judgment.  These limits are rooted in our lack of understanding and knowledge of God and much by the influence of our culture. Our belief in who God is and what He can do, how He can do it, and if He is alive and present, get sidetracked and confused because of our belief, trust, faith, hope, and love needing to be grounded in His word are grounded instead by the words of man.

Man can do many things but there are always limits.  Some things are possible but others are impossible. With God all things are possible.  God can do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine. God is awesome in power and might.  God is steadfast in His love for those called by Him.  God is righteous and holy.  God’s judgment is never wrong.  God’s grace and mercy in and through Jesus Christ have given us new life.  In this new life our sins, though they be red as scarlet, shall be white as snow.  In Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven.

Because in God all things are possible we find in His word strength for today and hope for tomorrow.  In trusting and relying on Him our days are never burdensome but rather filled with a never-ending reliance, fulfilling satisfaction of knowing we are in His loving hands. His word gives life, strength, hope, and purpose to those who seek and desire to know, understand and serve Him.