So I was fully prepared to move onto a new topic in the Proverbs 31 GW series (godly woman - love me some abbrevs), when I had a great discussion about Isaiah 30 at my med school bstud:
“Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; who go down to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge. But Pharaoh’s protection will be to your shame, Egypt’s shade will bring you disgrace. Though they have officials in Zoan and their envoys have arrived in Hanes, everyone will be put to shame because of a people useless to them, who bring neither help nor advantage, but only shame and disgrace.” (v. 1-5)
I don't know about you - but this is certainly a convicting passage for me. It is so easy for me to go ahead with my own plans without consulting the Lord about them first. I often turn to something else other than the Lord for my refuge when I am discontent - be it the approval and attention of others, cute clothes, or some diet coke and dark chocolate. This passage reminds me that by rejecting the Lord's advice, I'm actually being obstinate - I don't often think of my disobedience quite this seriously! Additionally, this passage reminds us that we are turning to things that are utterly useless - in fact they only bring us shame and disgrace. Quite a convicting passage for us to turn to the Lord's with our deep desires and longings instead of turning to something else!
For these are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the LORD’s instruction. They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!” (v. 9-11)
I wanted to talk about this section mainly because it reminds me of when I've hit rock bottom with disobedience in the past - in those circumstances, I don't even want to be confronted by truth and wise words from others! It's always a healthy reminder to me that when I don't want to hear correction, chances are, something's wrong!
Listen to what the Lord says is the solution to all of this:
In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it. (v.15)
When I'm trying to change myself to be in line with God's will, I'm a doer: I want to start a new bible study plan, give up gossiping forever, or just do something that will outwardly show that I'm changed. As followers of Christ, our outward actions should reflect our changed inner hearts (James 2:26); however, sometimes the actions the Lord calls us to are not quite as glamorous or big as we would like. Here, the Lord says to become strong, we must become quiet before Him and trust in Him - certainly different than my traditional picture of strength! Yet if we actually think about it, how strong are we compared to the Lord? Do I actually want to rely on my own strength, or would I rather rest in that of the Lord of the universe?
And this is where Isaiah leaves us:
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you!” (v. 18-22)
What a beautiful portrayal of the Lord's deep and undeserved love for us! Despite how the Israelites have pursued all other things beside the Lord, God is quick to answer them and promises to give them clear teachers and directions. One of my biggest fears in giving up things to follow the Lord completely is that I'll be going it alone, yet this passage is a wonderful reminder of how groundless such fears are. The Lord's deep, present love motivates the Israelites to totally give up their idols and turn completely to the Lord - how AWESOME is that?
So my encouragement for you today is this: If the Lord can do it for the Israelites, He can do it for you. No matter what else you have put your trust in, the Lord's love for you is present and instructive. He asks you to be still before Him and trust Him, and He promises to be with you as you are surrendering your idols to Him. Blessed are those who wait on Him!
This little post is certainly not enough to do this beautiful passage justice, so my challenge to you all today is to go read the whole chapter on your own!
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