What was the message God gave Isaiah to say to Israel about hearing and seeing?
God spoke through Isaiah the prophet to the fathers, saying: Go to this people, Israel, and say, Hearing you shall hear and not understand, and seeing you shall see and not perceive. Their hearts were waxed gross, ears dull of hearing, and eyes closed, lest they should see, hear, understand with the heart, be converted, and He should heal them.
Les explains that Paul, speaking to the Jewish leaders at Rome, cites the Holy Spirit’s word through Isaiah to Israel’s forefathers. The message declared that hearing they would hear but not understand, and seeing they would see but not perceive. Their hearts were waxed gross, their ears were dull of hearing, and their eyes were closed, lest they see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, be converted, and God heal them—spiritually, and maybe also physically. Les notes God spoke this clear back in Isaiah 600 years before Christ. This rejection led to the crowning statement that salvation is sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it.
And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: