Q6. The Impossible Mission

[Pastor Ralph]

Q6. (Isaiah 6:9-10) How do you make sense out of these verses? Is Isaiah called to an impossible mission? Why will Isaiah’s prophecy make the task worse? In which parable did Jesus quote this passage (Matthew 13:1-23)? In Jesus’ parable, is there any frustration in preaching the gospel? Is there any hope?

[IvoryEagle]

How do you make sense out of these verses? After reading it in old and new, it makes sense that some will receive  and some will not.  Those that do, will receive at different levels of intensity.

 

Is Isaiah called to an impossible mission? NO, to God, nothing is impossible.

 

Why will Isaiah's prophecy make the task worse? Yes, He doesn't know who is receiving

 

In which parable did Jesus quote this passage (Matthew 13:1-23)? The Sower

 

In Jesus' parable, is there any frustration in preaching the gospel?  No, because He understands the levels

 

 

Is there any hope? Yes,

 

     

 

[charisbarak]

He knew the attitudes of the hearts of Israel and it's leaders.

The mission was difficult, but not impossible.  After all, it was God's leading.

God told him that their hearts would continue to be hardened after hearing more prophecies and rejecting them.

The parable was the sower.

Yes, frustrations of the soil of the person's heart--some weedy, some rocky, some hard, and some soft!

Yes, always hope.  We are told to sow the seed,  Beyond that, it is the Holy Spirit's job of doing the drawing.  There was always a remnant.  We don't know who will accept the offers of salvation--but God does, so we go & obey. 

[parkerslope]

You make sense of these words by knowing that God knew before the words were spoken how the listeners would respond.

Isaiah's mission is not impossible because their were the few, the remnant, that would hear and trust Him.

If someone told you that you would reply a certain way, I sure you would not like it - even angry about it.

These words are quoted by Matthew in 13:14 - 15.

Jesus was frustrated because people would only have lip service for what was the truth and eternally important.  Jesus wanted all to be saved, and cared about those with stopped up ears.

There is always hope as long as there is life.  Always a few will listen and the many will go about their way over the dead body of Jesus.

[RD35]

People who resist the truth can only be brought to repentance by telling them the truth again. But if they reject the truth a second time, and a third, and a fourth, they become increasingly hardened in their resistance -- hard hearts, the Bible calls it. Their pride and rebellion have reached such a stage that most likely they will misperceive the truth they do hear.

 

Isaiah had a very difficult mission but it was not impossible because God was with him, and all things are possible with god.

 

The prophecy of Isaiah would make tasks worse as generally people tend to become more rebellious when corrected, and as God had told the people would harden their hearts more.

 

The Parable of the Sower.

 

Yes Jesus is frustrated with the people who are only hearers but not the doers of the word, yet there is hope as there will always be a few who would listen to God.

[talmid danny]

Isaiah has a message to preach. The people were spiritually blind to YHVH’h words. This was because they would not repent of their sins. History shows that Judah at this time was strong in might. However under Uzziah there was much social and religious corruption. People’s hearts had become hard; people did not want to follow YHVH’s word. Yes Isaiah’s mission was difficult as the people’s hearts were already hardened to sin. Isaiah’s mission would be confrontational to them and make them worse. I guess you can compare them to Pharaoh. These are people that are spiritually dead.

The parable was that of the Sower it represents people whose hearts have grown cold to the word. It’s interesting because in verse 11 the word mystery is used this is the Ruach Hakodesh working in people’s hearts. As such it is a mystery concealed to the hard of heart. But to the true believer it is a mystery revealed they hear the word, they obey, and they repent. There is frustration in preaching the gospel. People will be unreceptive to the word. Some will listen and will backslide. Some will be true believers the remnant.

 

 

[Windcatcher]

• The response to the truth seems to reveal the heart condition. So I make sense of it by looking at it as a response not something God did or did not do.

no - His mission was to complete the hardening by speaking the truth.

Because their hearts will be more and more hardened.

Sower

Yes - only some will hear and only a few will "stay". That can be discouraging.

Yes - there will be a few.

[Skinnykenny]

As Isaiah learned through self discipline and divine grace to die to oneself and put on God alone, so too the sower is God, but the seeds are the faithful who have learned how to die to ones self, who have learned the virtue of grieving and no longer suffer in grief, but now are ready to produce fruit due to a genuine willingness to be broadcasted into the world to be an example of true life in Christ.

 

Before a kernel is suitable for planting it must first die or else it simply rots. Thus, the believer, like Isaiah must first die to ones self and then at God's will be broadcast into His field where the seed will become a power-plant of life, an actual living and growing example of life in Christ Jesus.

 

Now, there of course will be many who will resist the divine light, life and way, for they rather love their imagined possessions of worldly power, authority and riches. And yes, many will not listen due to the various and numerous obstacles in their lives. But we as seeds are sent by God to these places and persons despite their infirmity of inordinate pride or impenetrable ignorance.

 

Isaiah knew he was sent like a seed on a fools errand to a hard and rocky path filled with the potholes of stiff necks and hardened hearts, but with God leading him Isaiah also knew that everything is possible when divinity enters into the darkness of men's hearts. God did not tell Isaiah go and convert these people and renew their minds in the truth. No, rather God sent Isaiah to preach and prophecy the Word and He God the Almighty would do the heavy lifting, He would accomplish the impossible according to His own good and divine timing.     

[JanMary]

On ‎8‎/‎1‎/‎2013 at 9:48 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

 

Q6. (Isaiah 6:9-10) How do you make sense out of these verses? Is Isaiah called to an impossible mission? Why will Isaiah’s prophecy make the task worse? In which parable did Jesus quote this passage (Matthew 13:1-23)? In Jesus’ parable, is there any frustration in preaching the gospel? Is there any hope?

 

 

a.  God knows the heart of man. He will not force Himself or His truth upon anyone. Some will hear and receive truth  (Scripture, the Gospel, prophecy), in gentle words of encouragement. Others, with hardened hearts of rebellion will not receive truth even in cold harsh language. These verses are God revealing the hardness of these people's hearts...in essence He's saying:  "Isaiah, go and tell them but they have made up their minds...they will not hear, or see or desire to turn to me in repentance until they are led into captivity. The truth you speak to them now WILL dawn on them at that time and they will cry out for mercy!"

b.  God's Word will never return void but will accomplish the purpose for which it is sent! (Isaiah 55:11) Isaiah's mission will bear results, in the future, when the people finally wake up to the truth due to their painful consequences. I'm sure Isaiah felt hopeless at the time.

c.  Anger is always the result of hearing "NO" or boundaries! God was telling them through Isaiah that He was at the end of His patience with them. Isaiah must have felt like his breath was wasted, and of no purpose,  carried away on the wind.

d.  Jesus quoted the parable of the sower. The kernel of truth is hidden in the parable for those seekers who long for truth, and hidden from the hardened hearts until and if they decide that they want to know the truth.

e.  Yes! Jesus longed for every heart to desire to be saved...to come to Him in humility and accept His grace and outstretched arms of forgiveness. But they are the few who will enter through the narrow gate of truth....the majority will desire to live in their "own truth"...the lie of Satan that they can earn or work their way into Heaven apart from Jesus' sacrifice or that there is no God, and they are the master of their own fate.

f.  The hope is in the knowledge that there are many ears who will hear and eyes that will see. But the message must be preached to every creature, so that "at that day" there will be no excuse for having rejected His extended hand of Mercy and grace!

[hanks]

Q6. (Isaiah 6:9-10)

How do you make sense out of these verses?

Is Isaiah called to an impossible mission?

Why will Isaiah's prophecy make the task worse?

In which parable did Jesus quote this passage (Matthew 13:1-23)?

In Jesus' parable, is there any frustration in preaching the gospel?

Is there any hope?

The Jews had heard the very Word of God but because of their stubbornness and pride they failed to understand the significance of the Truth. The people were so blinded, and hardened through the continuous rejection of God’s Word. Like in the world today, the more that Israel resisted God’s Truth, the less they were able to receive God’s Truth. They must have thought they were religiously successful while in actual fact they were spiritually blind, deaf, and under Divine condemnation. Even so, Isaiah was still to proclaim the Word no matter how people responded. Perhaps Isaiah hoped that by serving the Lord he could change the hearts of people. Instead the Lord told him that his message would not result in much spiritual response. They had not listened in the past and they would not listen now. The only way forward was to discipline the people because of their disobedience. Jesus in explaining the purpose of the parables encountered the same reaction to His teachings. The people would hear but not understand. There is always hope! Even though the world has turned its back on God. If left alone, all of us would surely be lost, but God in His grace and mercy does save some.    

 

 

[blezed]

How do you make sense out of these verses?

1.  God knew that the nation would not repent but there may be some individuals, remnent, that may hear and repent.

 

Is Isaiah called to an impossible mission?

2.  No.  The people had hardened their hearts, but if there was one that heard, it makes the mission worthwhile.  We gave to remember, nothing is too hard for God.

 

Why will Isaiah’s prophecy make the task worse?

3.  The people will hardened their hearts even more. 

 

In which parable did Jesus quote this passage (Matthew 13:1-23)?

4.  Parable of the sower.

 

In Jesus’ parable, is there any frustration in preaching the gospel? Is there any hope?
5.  Yes.  God gives us every possible chance to repent.  It is frustrating to preach the truth and people know it is the truth but still will not receive it.  There is always hope.  That is why God gives us a 2nd, 3rd, etc chance in hopes that some will hear.

 

[dmmelo9]

Hello,

 

Where there is God's word, there is hope always.

[Squirt]

Q6. (Isaiah 6:9-10) How do you make sense out of these verses?   It is not the Lord’s intent to prevent His people from turning from their sins.  He knows that Isaiah’s message to them will cause most if not all to become even more set in their ways, but He’s going to give them the message anyway.  

Is Isaiah called to an impossible mission?   It will appear a failure to Isaiah.  But we often will not know either the purpose or the result when we answer God’s call.   I believe it was S. D. Gordon who wrote about the weavers of Gobelin tapestries who worked from the back of the piece and never saw the pattern they were weaving.  They worked from the master weaver’s plan.

Why will Isaiah’s prophecy make the task worse?   Those who have turned away–blind eyes, deaf ears, hard heart–will grow harder, more settled in their opposition.   Isaiah has been given a specific message.  He cannot, like Paul in 1 Corinthians, change the delivery to match the audience  “I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.’ (1 Corinthians 9:22b).

In which parable did Jesus quote this passage (Matthew 13:1-23)?   Jesus told the parable of the Sower.  And when He finished, the disciples asked Him “Why do You speak to them in parables?  He answered them,’Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them.’” (Mt 13:10-11)


In Jesus’ parable, is there any frustration in preaching the gospel?   Yes.  His people are just as stiff-necked now as they were in Isaiah’s time.    He knows that many won’t respond.   How did He feel about that?    "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”  (Mt. 23:37)

Is there any hope?  Not likely.
 

 

[wjcargile]

Isaiah will preach, people will hear and not understand, some will harden their hearts, others will hear and accept the WORD on different levels.

Isaiah mission is not impossible. With God "All things are possible."

Worse because they will hear and not believe.

Parable of the Sower.

 

Frustration:

(Matt 13:13) "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand."

(Matt 23:33) "You snakes! you brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemed to hell?

 

There is Hope:

(Matt 23:39) "For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.'

[haar]

Q6. (Isaiah 6:9-10) How do you make sense out of these verses? Is Isaiah called to an impossible mission? Why will Isaiah's prophecy make the task worse? In which parable did Jesus quote this passage (Matthew 13:1-23)? In Jesus' parable, is there any frustration in preaching the gospel? Is there any hope?
 

 

Isaiah is called to a difficult assignment but a possible one, I think.

 

The people who are rebellious will further harden their hearts on hearing the message from the Lord God.

 

There is frustration most times in preaching the word of God as the expectant fruitful outcome does not usually come.

[Delivered]

Q6. (Isaiah 6:9-10) How do you make sense out of these verses? Isaiah is well aware that judgment is coming to Israel; however, he is also aware of God's promise that they will one day return, so these verses must have made sense to him, as he asked, "How long it will take".

 

Is Isaiah called to an impossible mission? In the flesh it appears to be an impossible mission, for Isaiah will be preaching to a religious and arrogant people, who kept on hearing, but did not listen, they are not a people of "HUMILITY" for only the humble can understand the word of God.

We must not forget, with judgment coming to Judah, God in His mercy and love for His people, will send the prophet Isaiah to proclaim the word of God to them, for there is always hope for those who choose to repent, there will be a remnant as God has promised.

 

Why will Isaiah's prophecy make the task worse? It is sad to say, but the longer people turn a death ear to the things of God, the harder it is to hear, for the calling of God is a calling of "FAITHFULNESS" to Him and his word.

 

In which parable did Jesus quote this passage (Matthew 13:1-23)? Verse 9, "Those who have ears to hear, let them hear"! It is an invitation to seek the Messiah's deeper meaning and to respond with one's whole being, and not everyone is ready to do so, just as in the land of Judah.

 

In Jesus' parable, is there any frustration in preaching the gospel?

Up until now Jesus addressed the people in plain speech, and now he speaks in parables: because they seeing, see not; and they hearing, hear not, therefore they do not understand, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah who said, By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and will not perceive what you see.

 

Is there any hope? Yes there is still hope for a wicked nation that has turned its back on God, just as there was for wicked Judah who turned their back on God, and yet God still sent out his prophet Isaiah to preach God's word, lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, it is called "MERCY"

[Guitar Jim]

Q6. (Isaiah 6:9-10) How do you make sense out of these verses?

 

They can be interpreted in two ways. God telling Isaiah to harden their hearts on His behalf, or simply that the people have hardened their hearts. When Jesus quoted this in Matthew, He used the latter version.

 

 

 

Is Isaiah called to an impossible mission? Why will Isaiah’s prophecy make the task worse?

 

To people who are unwilling to listen, the Good news, the prophecy of doom, or any message from God will be ignored. If Isaiah preaches to them they will only harden their hearts further. I don't believe God actually caused them to harden their hearts. I believe they did it of their own volition. Going right back to the time of the exodus we find Israel resisting God.

 

 

 

In which parable did Jesus quote this passage (Matthew 13:1-23)?

 

The parable of the sower and the seed.

 

 

 

In Jesus’ parable, is there any frustration in preaching the gospel? Is there any hope?

 

Of course there is frustration. Three out of the four kinds of people mentioned in the parable didn't benefit from hearing it. They are represented by the seeds that fell on the path, among the thorns, and in the rocky ground.

A quarter of the seeds fell onto good ground and grew and flourished into a good harvest. So there is always hope. We see time and again in the Bible that there'll always be a remnant that will be saved, that will overcome.

 

[humblejon]

God is acknowledging the reality of the human heart. Some have reached a level of intense rebellion that their heart is stone cold and will continue to harden each time God reaches out through His messagers. It is a difficult task but if only one soul is saved then the mission was worth all the effort. (Even the Heavenly hosts rejoice when even one soul is brought back to salvation).

If we were Isaiah, it would be discouraging to set out on this mission, but the faithful need to trust Gos and Allow Him to worry about the consequences.

Jesus is taking about the parable of the Sower. It becomes frustrating when we spread the seeds (God's word) onto bad soil (unrepentive hearts). Yet when God's word is sowed on good soil (humbled and contrite heart) it will bear the fruits of repentence.

[joey felipe]

 How do you make sense out of these verses?

God created man with his freedom and freewill. He can make choices in his life either it will make or break him, either physically or spiritually. The same thing in Isaiah and our time now, we can do whatever we want to do, we can choose God or evil to rule us in our life. God will not force us to worship and serve Him in our life.

 

 Is Isaiah called to an impossible mission? 

In a man's view, at first it seems impossible specially if we do not have the big faith for the big mission. Yet, in Gods sight nothing is impossible specially if it is His plan for His glory and honor. I don't think God called prophet for an impossible mission, God will not call us for nothing or just to waste our time, He always has purpose if we can not see the result of His work today....wait in the future.

 

 Why will Isaiah’s prophecy make the task worse?

Because it will appear that Isaiah or God is threatening them, that if they will not listen and repent they will be doomed for destruction.

 

 In which parable did Jesus quote this passage (Matthew 13:1-23)?

The parable of the sower and the seed.

 

 In Jesus’ parable, is there any frustration in preaching the gospel? 

No, there is no frustration in preaching the Gospel. GOD NEVER FAILS. His work always has a purpose, in preaching the gospel not everybody who hears and listen will accept and be saved yet the sure thing is that they have heard the word and it is up to them to contemplate on it.

 

 Is there any hope?

YES. there is always big hope when it comes to God even if we are the worst sinner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Alexander Mengistu]

Ans. to Q#6:

1. Sometimes people may misunderstand or forget the work of God. As in the times of Isaiah the people can’t make themselves on Gods way because they lost the wisdom of understanding God’s work. And at the times of exodus the people of Israelites forget continually the miracles that God do for them.
2. The mission is possible: at first God will not give as a mission that we can’t achieve; even at such hard situations; if it is a call from God nothing and no one can resist us.
3. The way God told Isaiah about the people is ironic and strict. They can’t understand and perceive though they can hear and see. So God ordered Isaiah to shut their eye and make their ear heavy.
4. Mat. 13:15 “For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”
5. There is no frustration on preaching the parable rather Jesus was just indicating the different situations that one can react to the parable. But above all Jesus wants to conclude on one hope: people who are open hearted to God’s word. Mat 13:23 “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

 

 

[lewis53pr@yahoo.com]

(Isaiah 6:9-10) How do you make sense out of these verses?

 

God's people had resisted Isaiah so much that they could'nt hear, perceive or understand what Isaiah  was telling them.

 

Is Isaiah called to an impossible task?

 

No, because there's nothing impossible with God.  

 

Why will Isaiah's prophecy make the task worse?

 

The more Isaiah shared the prophecy with the people  the more hard hearted they became.

 

In which parable did Jesus quote this passage (Matt13:1-23)?

 

In the parable of the sower.

 

In Jesus' parable, is there any frustration in preaching?

 

Yes, theres frustration  in preaching because only 1  person out of  4  receives the word.

 

Is there any hope?

 

Yes, there's  hope because people are always receiving Jesus Christ  as Savior and Lord.

 

 

 

 

 

[NancyinBelize]

Is there any hope? Yes, for us who preach, we must never give up hope that some of our words will penetrate the hearts of our listeners. We can choose to dwell on what discourages us or cling to the glimmers of hope that we occasionally see in the people we love in our flock. Every Sunday I see cause for both discouragement and hope. I'd rather affirm the work of the Pirit than the discouragement sent by the Devil.

Secondly, I am encouraged to know that it is the Spirit of God that convicts people...not my magic words...so I cling to Hope knowing that God's Spirit can make a difference even in the hardest hearts. Our congregation has people who are prostitutes, some who use prostitutes, and several addicted to alcohol...the Spirit of God has made a radical transformation in these hard hearts...some days more than others.i continue to hope. That's our job.

[Craig]

Q6. (Isaiah 6:9-10) How do you make sense out of these verses? Is Isaiah called to an impossible mission? Why will Isaiah’s prophecy make the task worse? In which parable did Jesus quote this passage (Matthew 13:1-23)? In Jesus’ parable, is there any frustration in preaching the gospel? Is there any hope?

 

 

It is irony.  The people of Judah and Jerusalem will not hear and understand what Isaiah is saying because of their hard hearts.  The task will be made worst because Isaiah knows they will not respond.

 

Jesus quoted this passage of scripture in the Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed.  Many hear the gospel and just don't understand or don't want to understand.  Many don't permit the gospel to take root in their lives for a myriad of reasons.  Mostly because the cares and the things of the satanic world order are more important.  However, there are some who grasp and treasure the gospel and integrate it into their lives and bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.

 

 

 

 

[GoRaysXD]

Q6. (Isaiah 6:9-10) How do you make sense out of these verses? Is Isaiah called to an impossible mission? Why will Isaiah’s prophecy make the task worse? In which parable did Jesus quote this passage (Matthew 13:1-23)? In Jesus’ parable, is there any frustration in preaching the gospel? Is there any hope?

 

It is irony.  The people of Judah and Jerusalem will not hear and understand what Isaiah is saying because of their hard hearts.  The task will be made worst because Isaiah knows they will not respond.

 

Jesus quoted this passage of scripture in the Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed.  Many hear the gospel and just don't understand or don't want to understand.  Many don't permit the gospel to take root in their lives for a myriad of reasons.  Mostly because the cares and the things of the satanic world order are more important.  However, there are some who grasp and treasure the gospel and integrate it into their lives and bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.

 

 

[Lion of Grace]

I make sense of Isaiah 6:9-10 by understanding that though I may be called to share the Word of God with others and to teach the Word of God, I am only a "conduit" of God's work. It is up to those who hear to accept the Word as truth and to turn to God for cleansing and change. My call, is to continue to teach and preach. The rest is up to God and the choices of the recipient. Everyone has free will to accept or not. So often in ministry, the truth of the Word is not embrace or is partially embraced. I do grieve for those who say, "Thanks but no thanks." but that does not change my call or cause me to quit. There are always the few who WILL embrace Christ and the Gospel. I rejoice in that!

Isaiah wasn't called to an impossible mission (though a discouraging and hard one). His mission was to prophecy and he was obedient to that no matter the outcome.

Isaiah's prophecy made his task worse because the people didn't want to hear his particular message, so they in turn would reject him, fight against him and stay in rebellion. The same is true today. If your message is seen as stepping on their toes or convicting them in any way, you will not be graciously received. 

Matt. 13:1-23 is the parable of the sower. A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he scattered the seed, some fell on the path and the birds quickly came to eat it. Some fell on rocky ground, but there wasn't much soil. The plants grew but could not take root. It came up quickly, but the sun scorched and withered the plant. Others fell among thorns and they choked the plant. But some fell on good soil where it produced a hundred or sixty or thirty times what was sown.

Isaiah's message never fell on good soil. It was not received or grown. There was no fruit for his labor.

Yes, there is frustration in preaching the Gospel and the truth of the Word. It is heartbreaking to see God extend his hand to people who will never accept Him. We know God has something so special and rewarding for them, but they just refuse to eat the bread of life or be quenched with His water. We know His saving power, but they will not take it.

Is there hope? YES!!! There are those who DO receive and we continue so everyone will have the chance to hear, turn and be saved. There is reward in knowing we have been faithful no matter the outcome. Everyone WILL hear, but not all will receive....but we continue to share and to pray for those who do not seem receptive. God is often doing a mighty work to get them to turn....so wait and be patient....all may not be lost....I was one of those miracles!!!