From where does faith come?
Romans 10:17 shares that faith comes by hearing.
Now it is self evident that not all who hear the gospel message receive or even comprehend that message.
The importance, however, is that there is a message.
It presupposes that the message has one who delivers that message in some form, be it written, verbal, or signed in some manor, the message is delivered.
Isaiah asks, "Who believed our report...?" If there had been no report there would be nothing in which to believe.
So two questions are asked.
First, is there faith in a report, message, without that report, message delivered?
The second is like the first, does faith then exist where there is no basis or necessary for faith?
To answer the questions one must come to terms that if nothing is available, there is no faith to extend.
However, "faith (is by, comes by, exists by, occurs by, materializes by) hearing, and hearing by the Word of God". Astute scholars know there is no Greek for what is translated "comes by" but is formed by the intent of the passage. It is not here time or space to argue how or why.
Therefore it is the message of the Scripture that is heard, the report (Isaiah 53) that is given.
It then follows that some believe and some do not.
That leads to the next question.
Who believes?
The answer is as Scriptures state, "He that has ears to hear."
The Romans 10 is establishing that no person is excusable when it comes to God manefesting Himself, be it Jew or Gentile.
The balance of Romans establishes that it is God that purposefully prevents hearing to some and opens stopped ears in others. It is in that light (the last chapter of Romans) that those with opened ears not only respond to the gospel, but conduct themselves in humility with the understanding God specifically allowed that one to be His for purpose and His glory.
No scripture passage establishes that Mark, Paul, Peter and John, ever wrote from the viewpoint that God was not directly involved not just at the moment of salvation but throughout his adopted child's whole pre life, life, and post life. The adopted child does not have ability to adopt the self, or even ask for the self in the matter of adoption.
Salvation was never a decision of human ability, nor offered to human kind with that understanding.
God is not reactive.
God is proactive in every child of His from before the conception, through the new birth, and prepares that dwelling in eternity specifically for that adopted child.
Therefore, he who hears is the one God has given the hearing ability. (Romans)
He who believes is the one whom God has given the ability. (John)
He who grows, matures to bear, is the one in whom God plants in the prepared soil. (Mark)
Isaiah rightly ask, "To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?"
The answer can only be - to His own redeemed ones who He had given ears to hear.