Isaiah 28:9-13
Isaiah 28:9-13 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.
God is speaking through the prophet Isaiah about the men of the tribe of Ephraim. He is explaining that though God has reached out to them they have chosen drunkenness (both physical and spiritual) rather than listening to His word. It is interesting in reading this that it demonstrates a biblical theology that is true down to this day.
The only men that can hear and learn the word of God are those who are willing (through the Holy Spirit) to become like children again (luk 18:16-17). Only these can enter the kingdom of God. When we hear the word and are regenerate by the Holy Spirit we must start with milk (basic doctrine) and grow into manhood and eating meat (complex doctrine) (Heb 5:12-14). Then we will find the path that gives us rest (isa 28:12, Matt 11:28).
On the flip side of this are those who refuse the word of God, and despise His rest. The very thing that was meant for salvation, the gospel, turns into a stumbling block to them and the cause of their damnation. That is what the prophet is saying in Isa 28:13, the word God have them to guide them now becomes the very thing to cause them to fall backward and be broken, snared, and taken.
The point is this, there are only two reactions to Gods word in the gospel. One is for someone to be born again, given a new heart, and enter the kingdom of God (Ephesians 1 and 2 among others), the other is to become hardened by it and continue further down the road to destruction. That is why it is said in Hebrews chapter 3 that if we hear His voice today we should not harden our hearts.
Have you heard the gospel? What have you done with it? Have you rejected it in the past? It’s never too late to hear God’s voice today and repent and be saved. It’s a sobering thought to think
“Romans 14:10-11 ......for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
If you’ve heard His voice today do not harden your heart but become like a child and seek truth in His word!
