Isaiah was only the messenger. Imagine being the father of a wayward child. You remember the 100’s of times that you had pretend weddings with dolls, teddybears, and occasionally Daddy!!!
But, kids grow up. And like rebellious children, Israel grew up to be selfish, materialistic and narcissistic. They knew that Adonai was not like the foreign Gods. He was not willing to be used as a tool or exploited like some carved piece of wood or stone. He raised these people and gave them everything they had.
They were slaves and He freed them, trained them, led them, fed them, healed their sickness, and fought their battles. He cleared an entire country for them an even established them as a powerful nation. He put up with their disobedience and forgave many, many horrific displays of absolute rebellion.
Now the nation had matured and had gone through judges, kings, division and destruction. The mighty nation was now down to Judah and Benjamin. They occupied Jerusalem, the city of David and God still protected them despite their rebellion. But, as any father must, The Lord God almighty sent Isaiah to tell the nation that He was at the end of His patience.
He called them what they were—whores, cheats, corrupt, and truly irredeemable. He remembered the childlike beauty of their entrance into Israel; and, how they followed His lead and cleared the land. He saw them obey, trust and grow to prominence–but now they were nothing like the chosen people He led before.
Isaiah conveyed the final ultimatum follow or fail. Walk with Me, or be led away enslaved. He was clear that as a nation the decision was made, but as individuals Israel still needed to choose.
In our world, the culture is out of control and chaos reigns supreme. Most of the world is post Christian; and America is sprinting to catch up. Much like the Israel of old, America wants to be like the rest of the world–they seem so much more hip. But within this country there is still a number of His chosen that can follow closely and humbly. If we will do that, who is to say whether God would withhold His wrath–He did it with Isaiah’s king Hezekiah. He can also do it for US.
But even if the Lord does not, we each have the promise of the cross, eternal life free from sin and pain. We simply have to live as His chosen in personal relationship with Christ and redeemed by His blood. God calls out of Love–Won’t we accept the gift and walk in His amazing journey?
God Bless You
How the faithful city
has become a whore,[d]
she who was full of justice!
Righteousness lodged in her,
but now murderers.
22 Your silver has become dross,
your best wine mixed with water.
23 Your princes are rebels
and companions of thieves.
Everyone loves a bribe
and runs after gifts.
They do not bring justice to the fatherless,
and the widow’s cause does not come to them.
24 Therefore the Lord declares,
the Lord of hosts,
the Mighty One of Israel:
“Ah, I will get relief from my enemies
and avenge myself on my foes.
25 I will turn my hand against you
and will smelt away your dross as with lye
and remove all your alloy.
26 And I will restore your judges as at the first,
and your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness,
the faithful city.”
27 Zion shall be redeemed by justice,
and those in her who repent, by righteousness.
28 But rebels and sinners shall be broken together,
and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.
29 For they[e] shall be ashamed of the oaks
that you desired;
and you shall blush for the gardens
that you have chosen.
30 For you shall be like an oak
whose leaf withers,
and like a garden without water.
31 And the strong shall become tinder,
and his work a spark,
and both of them shall burn together,
with none to quench them.
Walking With God 