Who is deaf?

The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save . . . [But] your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. — Isaiah 59:1-2

A man told his doctor that he thought his wife was going deaf. The doctor told him to conduct a simple test. When the man reached the front door of his home, he called out, “Darling, is dinner ready?” Hearing no response, he walked inside and repeated himself. Still no reply. On the third try, when he was just behind her, he finally heard her say, “For the third time, yes!”

Similarly, the ancient Israelites thought God was deaf when the problem was actually with them. Isaiah was a prophet sent to warn God’s people about impending judgment, but his message fell on deaf ears. Instead of being God’s covenant people, who were to bring light to those in darkness and release them from the dungeons of sin (42:7), they refused to hear Him. “They would not walk in His ways, nor were they obedient to His law” (v. 24).

The prophet explained why their prayers seemed to fall on deaf ears: “The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God” (Isa. 59:1-2). One reason for not receiving answers from God is that sin may be blocking our hearing. Let’s examine ourselves carefully.

Our God isn’t hard of hearing. — C. P. Hia

Nothing between my soul and the Savior

Naught of this world’s delusive dream;

I have renounced all sinful pleasure,

Jesus is mine; there’s nothing between. — Tindley

READ: Isaiah 42:1-4, 23-25

God speaks through His Word to those who listen with their heart.

The Bible in one year:

• Psalms 31-32

• Acts 23:16-35