Opposites

And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people,

‘Listen carefully, but do not understand.
    Watch closely, but learn nothing.’
Harden the hearts of these people.
    Plug their ears and shut their eyes.
That way, they will not see with their eyes,
    nor hear with their ears,
nor understand with their hearts
    and turn to me for healing.”  Isaiah 6:9-10

Something I am fascinated with is the dynamics of ‘opposites.’  There is the saying that opposites attract, which is not entirely accurate.  For example, most people who are fiscally responsible rarely stay with someone who is poor with their personal finances.  Nonetheless, an outspoken person can find quite the match with someone who is both reserved and cautious with their words.  They balance each other.  The same dynamic could apply to words and taking what is said and its intended purpose.  If I were to tell my granddaughter to stay inside because it is nice and warm here, one could easily understand that if she wanted to play in the cold because of it snowing, that might be exactly what she wants to do.

As Christ followers, we understand how opposites work.  We understand how God represents light and those things that oppose it whether it be sin, apathy, or life without Him represent darkness.  When Jesus speaks of us, He says, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.” (Matthew 5:14-15) Furthermore, the book of John starts speaking of Jesus saying, “The light shines in darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” (John 1:5) Whether it be topics like faith or lack thereof, we can take heart in our understanding of what we have with and without Christ.

We should always seek understanding of God’s word not just for what the words say but what they fully mean. In today’s verses, God is giving Isaiah instructions to tell the people that they will be in exile until the new kingdom is built.  That is a depressing story.  However, reading the verses with more depth gives some insight into God wants and wishes for us.  In His instructions to Isaiah, He wants to ensure Israel, “will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts,” so they will not turn to Him for healing.  When you invert its meaning, it sounds like this: Soften the hearts of these people.  Open their ears and shut their eyes.  That way, they will see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts and turn to Him for healing.  This sounds like what a healthy relationship with God would be like.  Our ears would hear His instruction much like when Jesus spoke of the Good Shepherd.  Speaking of those who do not know Him, He said, “I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold.  I much bring them also.  They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.” (John 10:16) We would see His workings like the people seeing Lazarus rise from the dead.  As Jesus performed that miracle, it said, “Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen.” (John 11:45) And our hearts would be very much like the one described in Ezekiel 36:26, which said, “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”

Understanding God’s word always leads to spiritual growth.  We might read the same verse repeatedly getting the same meaning, and then, we might read it entirely differently another way.  This helps us better understand God’s will for our lives.  When we take time to look at God’s word from different perspectives and angles, we always find ourselves in a better position.  Like today’s verse, we gain further reassurance of what a fruitful and growing relationship with Jesus Christ looks like. And in learning, we find a greater deepening for that relationship.  Let us seek to deepen our study of His word to build that kind of relationship.  How can you be more deliberate in study of God’s word?  What greater wisdom can you glean from His word?  My prayer is we look at God’s word from multiple sources to see how opposites can be a path to greater understanding.  Amen.