Hard Hearts

But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. [John 12.37]

These are sad words.

Admittedly, the discussion that immediately follows is a bit disturbing:

This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted: “Lord, who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?” But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said, “The Lord has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts— so that their eyes cannot see, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and have me heal them.” [John 12.38-40]

Uh, say what?

Interestingly enough, I looked at Isaiah 6.10 (the verse quoted here), and what it says comes across a little differently than John presents it in his writing:

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” 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 6.8-10]

I am not seeing in Isaiah's account that the Lord hardened their hearts, but more so that Isaiah was to harden their hearts...

I am not splitting hairs here. This is important to me and to every person who believes in Christ! What John portrays is that God hardened the people's hearts - and that leaves freewill out of the salvation equation. However, what Isaiah's account reveals is only somewhat slightly less disturbing in that God instructed Isaiah to harden the people's hearts!

Many at this point will resort to the myriads of volumes of books and commentaries written by men in their attempts to understand and explain these scriptures. Here is where doctrines are born that may or may not reflect the true character and nature of God. So, I believe every person who questions these passages should first and foremost seek counsel from the Lord Himself and His Word.

Here is where we MUST rely on the what the Word of God clearly states about God BEFORE we even attempt to understand the passages discussed here. There are more than numerous scriptures that define God as just, fair, not willing that any should perish - not to mention that "God so loved the world..." Unless we are firmly founded on these defining characteristics of God, we will be tempted to believe something about God that is simply not true! And we must remain purposefully mindful that our enemy wants nothing more than to feed us half-truths about God so that he might deceive us into sinful conclusions!

So, did God want the people's hearts hardened, or did He know their hearts would be hardened at His Word? There is a huge difference! But we will not be able to draw proper conclusions unless we are intimately aware of Who God Is!

Frankly, nothing potentially hardens the heart of man like God's Word. For that matter, the very thought of God makes some people mad. Why is that? Because they are proud and stubborn. Because they refuse to consider (let alone accept) anything outside what they "think" to be true. Does God make them that way? Yes and no. Yes, in that the very thought of God infuriates them, but, no, in that it is their pride that hardens their hearts (this really helps to understand the hardening of Pharaoh's heart in the OT).

Think of it like this: pulling a string across the floor in front of a cat is going to draw the certain response of stalking and attacking. Likewise, the thought or mention of God to a proud person will invoke a certain response of disdain or disgust. If you want to see what a cat is made of, you get out a string. If you want to see what a man is made of, you mention God.

God, Who knows all, knows the hearts of men. He knows not all men will humble themselves to Him. He knows. When God speaks, He speaks based on the all His knowledge. And, even though God knows those who will follow Him and those who will not, He offers salvation across the board to all. Some will be saved. Others will be mad - hard-hearted, and lost. Does that mean God wants them that way? NO. It means He knows they will be that way.

And then, the infinite beauty of John 3.16 means just that much more: for God so loved the world...

Father, You are absolutely amazing. Thank You for loving me and calling me to Yourself as Your own. Forgive me for my hard heart. Forgive me for doubting.