Prophetic hardening

How do prophets harden and deafen the deaf?

Perhaps it works like this: Prophets speak in extremes. Prophets shout. Prophets “draw large and startling figures” (Flannery O’Connor). Yet nothing happens. They keep shouting and drawing. Still nothing happens. They shout louder, their colors get bolder. Years, then decades pass. Nothing happens.

Eventually, the prophetic shouts blend into the background, the white noise of traffic that we no longer hear. Their startling figures begin to look normal, and we might even hang a few in museums. It’s the patience of God that deafens the blinds, that leaves the numb ever number.

Beware the knowing smile at the crazy wearing a “The End Is Near!” sandwich board. Yours may be the smile of the deaf and blind. For there is a God who judges in the earth.