“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Probably that last word “God” should be “Christ.” The more ancient manuscripts do have the word Christous rather than Theoo, and so we probably should read it, “By the word of Christ.”) But I say, Have they not heard? (Or literally, “Is it that they have not heard?”) Yeah verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. But I say, Did not Israel know? (Or is it that Israel has not known?) 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 Isaiah is very bold, and saith, I was found by them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.”
The word (the King James Version) represents two Greek words, apeitheia, “disobedience” (only in Romans 11:30,32; Hebrews 4:6,11), and apistia, “distrust,” the antithesis to “faith”. (which see). The two words are not only akin etymologically but run into one another by mental connection, certainly where spiritual relations are concerned, as between man and God. For when God has spoken, in precept and yet more in promise, distrust involves, at least potentially, an element of disobedience.
In today’s sermon, there are a variety of lessons to be learned. Christians can take a page from the book of the Israelite better known as the Children of Israel, where they were stumbling between Baalism and the Messiah. The people theoretically understood that they were a people of royalty, but they could not accept the fact that they were not given liberty to sin, not being involved in idolatry and abomination and the act of keeping them safe in Egypt and delivering them from, the tyranny of Pharaoh was not a smoke-screen but it was done on promise it was done because they were God’s people. Christians today are about to be left of this promise of entering into his rest because people would like to obtain the liberty to sin when they so desire and be holy when they so desire, but God is not having none of that He requires commitment, He requires accountability which begins when one confesses from their mouth that He God and accepts him through Baptism which is the seal of repentance.