Today, we are back in the Book of Isaiah. Reading through the prophets can certainly be heavy. It can seem as though it is all doom and gloom. Judah accused the prophets (or seers as they are also called) of this very thing in our reading this morning. Notice, … They tell the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” They tell the prophets, “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies. Forget all this gloom. Get off your narrow path. Stop telling us about your ‘Holy One of Israel.’ ” (Isaiah 30:10–11, NLT)
Wow! The prophets Micah, Isaiah, Hosea, and many more to come were not prophesying doom and gloom; they warned the people of impending judgment so they might repent and avoid the coming destruction. But that was considered a narrow path—doom and gloom!
With their hearts closed to the One who wants to show them mercy, what does God do? So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help. (Isaiah 30:18, NLT) God is not going to force His people to turn from their evil. He will allow judgment to do its work. Because they rejected the mercy of God, notice what happens. This is the reply of the Holy One of Israel: “Because you despise what I tell you and trust instead in oppression and lies, calamity will come upon you suddenly— like a bulging wall that bursts and falls. In an instant it will collapse and come crashing down. (Isaiah 30:12–13, NLT)
What a reminder! It is good to hear the uncomfortable, and even better when we respond by repenting. Pride, however, resists correction, even to the point of wanting to be lied to! Humility receives mercy.
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Isaiah 28-30.