"Heareth not"
Daniel Valles

READ Isaiah 42:19-25

Many Christians in America are under the delusion that God could never judge America, that we are special because we have His name on our money and national motto, etc. So did Israel. They are more special to Him than any other nation. Yet, for all the mercy that He showed them, He still judged them repeatedly to draw them back to Him. Vs. 24 specifically asks the rhetorical question of who did all the the destruction of Israel and Jacob. Isaiah answers the question by stating that God did! Isaiah then stated that it was because "we have sinned". He then specifically mentions two areas in which they sinned. "They would not walk in his ways", and "neither were they obedient unto his law".

Before you state that this could never apply to America, consider that just because a nation has all the trappings of Christianity, with religious knick-knacks selling like crazy, seeker-friendly churches, etc., does not make that nation a God-fearing nation! When Constantine legalized Christianity, it became the hottest thing since sliced bread! Everyone was taking the title and terminology of 'Christian'. In vs. 20, Israel is described as "seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not." We have a plethora of sound doctrine, teaching, and materials available in this country; but most do not take them to heart and apply them to their life! In these seeker-friendly churches that are sprouting up everywhere, the physical growth may be impressive, but the spiritual growth can be stagnant!

In vs. 25, God notes a characteristic of these people who are judged. I hope and pray that it does not describe you. He states that when He judged Israel, there were people so devoid of a fellowship with Him, whose conscience was so seared, that they did not even know they were being judged by God. "hath set him of fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart." (vs.25)

Get right with God, plead with Him to forgive any sins that hinder your walk with Him, grab a hold of the altar and pray that you will never become so cold and indifferent, that you cannot ever hear Christ calling to you. God is not interested in our sacrifices and outward showing of piety and 'Christianity'! He yearns for people who will just hear Him!