Faith Seeking Understanding

Isaiah 42:18–25

“Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see! Who is blind but My servant, and deaf like the messenger I send? Who is blind like the one in covenant with Me, blind like the servant of the LORD? You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen.” It pleased the LORD for the sake of His righteousness to make His law great and glorious. But this is a people plundered and looted, all of them trapped in pits or hidden away in prisons. They have become plunder, with no one to rescue them; they have been made loot, with no one to say, “Send them back.” Which of you will listen to this or pay close attention in time to come? Who handed Jacob over to become loot, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned? For they would not follow his ways; they did not obey His law. So He poured out on them His burning anger, the violence of war. It enveloped them in flames, yet they did not understand; it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.

“But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly; They became stubborn and would not listen to Your commandments. "They refused to listen, And did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them; So they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But You are a God of forgiveness, Gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness; And You did not forsake them. "Even when they made for themselves A calf of molten metal And said, 'This is your God Who brought you up from Egypt,' And committed great blasphemies (Neh 9:16–18). Like the Israelites, indeed we may have seen many things but pay no attention; ears are open, but do not listen (v. 20), and would sometimes, in our wilderness wandering experiences, want to return to Egypt, moments like the psalmist when he said, “surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments (Psa 73:13–14),” but God is gracious and forgiving, compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love. God will help us understand that in challenging situations (or as in yesterday, in prayers seemingly unanswered), He is reaching out to us in love, longing to embrace us in His arms, that He may bring us comfort amidst what He knows is necessary in imparting spiritual maturity and true faith. “Fides quaerens intellectum”, means “faith seeking understanding”, a principle emphasised by Church father, Augustine (300AD), carried on by Anselm, Bishop of Canterbury (1000s AD), this takes root from the Apostle James who encourages us, “if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you (Jam 1:5).” It is this wisdom from above that helps us comprehend and grasp God’s hand and message in times of trouble. Holy Spirit we know You are God, we know wisdom and discernment comes from You alone, have mercy upon us Your children, through Christ our LORD, You have taken away the veil that separates, help us to choose to see and hear this time and in our daily walk all the days of our lives. Rescue us from our tendencies to go our own way, and guide us with Your Wisdom that You so generously give, at every turn. In Jesus Christ’s mighty name. Amen.