“… Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me” (Romans 10:17-20).
“I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: (Isaiah 65:1).
In these verses, the Bible presents the astonishing and unexpected profile of our Lord in a scenario completely opposite of the nature of our thinking. We see Him found of them that sought Him not.
“Found of them that sought me not.” That is a strange statement. I thought that only seekers were finders! Is it not written, “Seek and ye shall find?” Here we have the scene turned. The finders were not seekers.
Contrariwise to the scriptural position Israel is placed in, we should never forget that God never changes. Nor do His purposes. God does not begin a project then cast it aside in frustrated boredom for lack of a positive response. Rather, “… He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (His coming)”. Make no mistake, folks, Jesus Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost.
It was love that prompted the Lord to come seeking, calling out our name. Not once or twice, but over and over. He sought me. You have your own personal testimony of His search for you. Ah, it was love that prompted the Lord to seek us out, and follow us, though we sought Him not.
Paul declares this to be a bold statement of Isaiah’s, and all will agree with him when they note that it has to do with the calling of the Gentiles. His reference is in the past tense, but Isaiah has it in the present. Both are correct. It has been true in the past; it is true today. God was, is, and always will be seeking lost souls until He comes.
Look at the incredible … the Lord lost? Yes, the expression “found” implies that God was lost to them. You have heard of a lost soul; have you heard of a lost God? The Lord found? There are two kinds of finding―the casual stumbling upon a thing or person we were not looking for, and the finding as the result of seeking.
Men are not conscious of their need of Christ until He comes seeking them. Then, in so many different ways the Lord reveals Himself, whether at a bedside or a graveside; whether in a merciful rescue from a hopeless situation or an awakening and a coming to their senses. He must be found before He can manifest Himself. Seek Him now.
And when you have found Him keep Him. Remember, “Finders Keepers Losers Weepers”.
Pastor Mason