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This week we conclude our study of Luke Chapter 16. Please read verses 19-31 every day this week and, if possible, use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 16:27-31 (The Message)
‘”The rich man said, ‘Then let me ask you, Father: Send him to the house of my father where I have five brothers, so he can tell them the score and warn them so they won’t end up here in this place of torment.’ “Abraham answered, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets to tell them the score. Let them listen to them.’” ‘I know, Father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but they’re not listening. If someone came back to them from the dead, they would change their ways.’ “Abraham replied, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, they’re not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead.’”’
“There are none so blind as those who will not see”. I’m quite sure that you’ve heard this phrase on many occasions and I’ve used it myself so many times. Generally, I’ve said it when I’m faced with someone who is determined to continue with a course of action when I’m absolutely convinced that they are doing it wrong! Of course, I’m also sure that people have said that of me when I’ve been stubbornly refusing to listen to better advice!
I remember one time in work when a colleague of mine was trying to resolve a very difficult issue. I mentioned to him that he shouldn’t do something and that I was convinced that it wouldn’t work. Well, he wouldn’t listen and started to do the very thing I’d ‘told’ him not to do. After several hours of frustration, he finally gave up and discussed the matter with me. It was quite difficult not to say “I told you so”, and I’m almost sure that may have said it once or twice to him during the course of the conversation. I explained to him that I had done the very same thing myself the day before and failed miserably after hours and hours of hard work. When he heard that he was quite annoyed and asked me why I’d not mentioned that I’d done the same thing (and failed). However, he agreed when I said that I didn’t think it would have made any difference because he was determined to do what he thought was right. You see it didn’t matter that I’d made the same mistake, he was resolute in his conviction that he knew better. There are none so blind as those who will not see.
We see almost the exact thing in our verses today. The rich man found himself in hell, being tormented and in agony. He was desperate for some relief and cried out to Abraham to ask Lazarus to use his finger, dipped in water to help cool him down. Abraham explains that this wasn’t possible because no one could pass between heaven and hell. Also, he said that the two places were entirely different. One place would offer comfort, the other place only provides torment and suffering. It’s a rough, rough place to be!
For the first time in this story, the man begins to show some sympathy for others instead of being completely self-absorbed. The rich man is now aware that he’s going to be in torment for ever and begins to think about his family. Note however, that he’s still only interested in sending a message to his own family. He now wants Lazarus to do something for him even though in life, he had done nothing for Lazarus.
The response of Abraham is chilling: they’ve had an opportunity to listen and they have not. Not even a person raised from the dead will make them listen. There are really none so blind as those who will not see. My prayer is that we listen to God’s Word, accept it and learn to apply it to every area of our lives. May we be ever sensitive to His voice and live our lives according to His direction and plan.
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