Isaiah 28:9-14 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
These verses characterized the people’s reaction to Isaiah. In effect, they were saying, “He’s speaking to us like a school teacher speaks to small children. We don’t need to be taught. We’ll make up our own minds.” For this attitude, Isaiah prophesied that the Assyrians would teach them in a way they would like even less. How do you approach the reading of God’s Word, beloved? Do you read your bible wanting to hear what God says, or to confirm your preconceived views or interpretations? Are there subjects in the bible that you flat out refuse to accept because they do not line up with what you believe? When you read a portion of Scripture that contradicts your denominational or systematic theologies creed, which do you believe?
I am amazed at how many bible-reading Protestants shun what the Scriptures say about predestination, miracles, election, the power of the tongue, hell, the extent of the atonement of Christ or unity among the brethren because it colors outside the lines of their theological bent or comfort zone. Let all Scripture be your foundation of belief and practice. Live with the apparent tensions and contradictions. When you discover contradictions to your views or bents, it is not meant for you to choose sides, it is meant for you to drop to your knees and acknowledge the fact that finite minds will never be able to fully comprehend the awesomeness of your God and Redeemer’s wisdom, love and absolute power over every single soul and square inch of His universe in this life.
