And he said, “Go, and say to this people:
“‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
Make the heart of this people dull,
and their ears heavy,
and blind their eyes;
lest they see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”

Isaiah 6: 9-10

Over the last couple of days with my grandsons, I was reminded that it is quite easy to hear without really listening. For my grandsons, these were not serious transgressions. They are simple high-energy boys who go faster than they should at times.

Not so for the people who listened to Isaiah’s message. They heard the word of the LORD and failed to comprehend. But the message applies to generations beyond.

After encountering his own people Jesus was frustrated with their lack of belief “Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him.” He then quoted the passage above from Isaiah in John 12: 38-40

“So that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
Therefore they could not believe.

For again Isaiah said,
“He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
and understand with their heart, and turn,
and I would heal them.”

John 12: 38-40

Still some believed in Jesus, but they lacked the courage to stand with Him –

Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

John 12: 42-43

It’s a reminder to all of us that is summarized in the saying below –