One for the think muscle….

I sat and contemplated the call of the Prophet. Those incredible names buried in the middle of the Bible. What was it about these individuals that God himself would speak directly, outloud, you know, just like talking to your mom, outloud! (goosebumps are allowed)

Isaiah was called by God to announce the Messiah and his coming both first and second. In the 6th chapter we read the ninth verse thusly:

9 He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’

Seems rather strange that God himself would tell the world that there would be those that would not fully understand his plan? Apparently that answer is a firm yes. Before you cry foul, lets take a serious look at the free will gig. You can choose anything you want to believe in, or not, at any time.

God is so ‘on point’ with your freedom that He says it again ….

Matthew 13:14 “In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”

So, this means the are those that aptly understand the Scriptures, and in the case of the Disciples, there are those that do not understand the parables. Again, the principle is exampled in the words of the Messiah “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” Matthew 13:13

As well, we see this in Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

For those that understand the “Old Testament” IS the Bible of the Apostles and Disciples, the “Old Testament” IS the Bible of the Christian faith and the letters of Paul attest to the validity of Torah. They can see the importance of Isaiah’s message and call to the people to return to Torah. This is Gods will. John proclaims it in one of the affirmation letters.

1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

1 John 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

These commandments ARE the Torah! Praise Yah!

These instructions give us the framework for living with Him and other struggling, sin-capable, goofy human beings! Praise God, because I know I am a handful, and by the way, so are you! People need to know how to show us grace and kick our tails at the same time. People who are there to help us grow in our spiritual walk and where do they come from? The previous generation obviously, and yet they would have need of trainers from the prior generation. The Hebrew nation did this with the utmost scrutiny.

This how Paul, James, John, and every other contributor to the Bible you hold today, learned the Scriptures. They had a father or a grandfather that lead the daily Scripture reading at the break of day. Not really a sermon, by design, it was more of a collegiate level discussion of the events that the family would “meditate” on during their daily activities.

The same daily activities existed in 6000BC as it does today. Children had to be fed and educated, housing had to be acquired and maintained. There were cities and taxes, jobs skilled and unskilled, there were bosses and employees. So, with so many things the same, when did the thought process change?

According to the Apostles, it changed seconds after Yeshua resurrected, as they record in Acts….

Acts 28:26 “‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”

The front of the book IS the Book.