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"I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, "Here am I, here am I." All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations…" Isaiah 65:1-2 NIV

Today I learned that it all depends on the perspective which we look at scripture for the truth it contains. There is one perspective which is found in the wisdom of man and another found in the wisdom of God. Take this verse for example. If we look at this from the perspective that it speaks of the nation and people of Israel (or even House of Israel) is it true?

In numbers we find the story of Balaam (Numbers 22:21-39). He was a prophet but still not a good man and considered a false teacher who loved the wages of wickedness (2nd Peter 2:15). He was not seeking the Lord, rather his own foolish desires and the Lord appeared to him having opened his eyes. The same could be said about Paul. He was not seeking the Lord, rather he sought to persecute the church, going from house to house dragging off the people and putting them in jail (Acts 8:1-3). Yet the Lord revealed himself to Paul by opening his eyes.

So in this we can see how the Lord will reveal himself to certain individuals who were not seeking him. Yet it was done because the Lord had a work for them to accomplish. Here is something to ponder...we are told that the covenant people (House of Israel) will fall into unbelief due to iniquity and that the Lord will send the Gentiles to remind them of who they are (III Nephi 9:87-93) . Because of unbelief, they clearly are not seeking him, yet the Lord will reveal himself through signs and wonders (Isaiah 29:14)!

But then if we see the Lords revealment as signs and wonders (instead of a man seeing a man), can we then say that he in fact does reveal himself to ALL people as he pours out blessings upon all people (raining on the good as well as the bad)?

"I am found of them who seek after me, I give unto all them that ask of me; I am not found of them that sought me not, or that inquireth not after me. I said unto my servant, behold, me. Look upon me; I will send you unto a nation that is not called after my name, for I have spread out my hands all the day to a people who walketh not in my ways, and their works are evil and not good, and they walk after their own thoughts…" Isaiah 1-2 IV

If we look at the perspective of ALL people we can also see this is true. It is true in how the Lord respects our agency and how he will not do anything that usurps our choice. This is why signs do not come to make faith, rather to confirm faith. It is such a profound truth and promise...if you seek Jesus, you will find him.

But then in this verse something very unique is conveyed. Jesus will send his servant to the people, pointing them to the Lord. A forerunner who prepares the way (and the people) to receive him.

Just pondering...what are your thoughts?

In Christ I Serve,

Steve

To my brothers and sisters,

I must apologize for this thread I started on a mystery to ponder. Having re-read my first post and the subsequent discussion, this hasn't gone the way I intended and I blame myself for the first post. Let me be blunt. The Lord showed me something regarding his work and it was confirmed twice, yet the Inspired Version says this isn't so in one section, then contradicts itself in another (I will get to this below). Basically, I tried beating around the bush because I didn't want to start a discussion regarding the validity of the Inspired Version, rather a work so profound and beautiful that I wanted to write about it as a mystery to ponder.

Here is a verse I pondered and prayed about awhile back:

How in the world could this happen when Egypt and Assyria (Iraq, Syria, Western Iran) were Muslim countries and hostile to the Lord, yet here the Lord calls them his people and his handiwork!

About a year ago I received an email telling of an extraordinary event happening in these Muslim countries. People were testifying of having dreams and visions where the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to them. These people were soundly Muslim, yet the Lord was revealing himself to those who did not ask for him, and Jesus was being found by those who did not seek him. Frankly, I passed it off as an email hoax.

But then I was given that book I have been mentioning titled, "The Destiny of Islam in the End times". In it the writer testifies of having an extraordinary encounter with the Lord that converted him soundly. But then he writes of the number of Muslims who contact him, testifying of having similar encounters! They want to know more of this man who is visiting them in their dreams. Jesus is reaching out to a nation (Muslim) that has not called on him saying "Here am I, here am I".

When I went to post about this great event happening today, I found the differences in the biblical accounts (as I listed in the first post), where the Inspired Version stated that the Lord WOULD NOT be found by those who did not seek him. Yet here is where the Inspired Version contradicts itself:

In the Inspired Version, Joseph changed the meaning of the Isaiah verse, yet in Romans where Paul is quoting the Isaiah verse it is left as it was before. Yet we can see how Joseph "worked" on chapter (10) in Romans leaving Paul's quotation of Isaiah unchanged and not making the same change as before. So in one section it reads that the Lord is NOT found by those who do not seek him, yet in another place we are told that the Lord WILL reach out to those who do not seek him.

So this was my mistake in the first post. I should have just shared the testimony of what the Lord is doing without trying to give the scriptural witness after I saw the discrepancy in the Inspired Version. Please forgive me, but rejoice with me in this great end times work that is unfolding around us today. It is still a great mystery to ponder and I have some additional thoughts, but will leave it at this for now...

In Christ I Serve,

Steve