I like to think I'm an open person. But sometimes I lean more toward being private. This is why it's SO hard for me to share this, but I feel like God wants me to. I attend a Tuesday morning Bible study, and this morning someone quoted, "Sometimes your greatest message is the mess of your life." Meaning that God can take the messy parts of our lives and use them to minister to others.
Not too long ago I did a guest post on the blog "Or So She Says" that chronicled one particular messy part of my life. I feel like God wants me to share it on my own blog too. I don't know who this is supposed to speak to, or why He wants me to do it, except maybe to help me finally get over the shame and guilt I still sometimes feel when I think back to this time in my life. You can find the link to my guest post here.
I hope it ministers to you! God Bless.
February 8, 2011
February 5, 2011
Longing
"The Lord longs to be gracious to you..." Isaiah 30:18
What God showed me today seemed simplistic at first. Of course He longs to be gracious to me. He loves me. Didn't He "so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life?" That sounds a lot like GRACE to me.
But what caught my eye in this verse was the word "longs," and with that one word came a deeper glimpse into God's character. I've always believed that He loves me. I've always believed that He pours measure upon measure of grace upon all of us, an endless supply of a very precious commodity none of us deserves. But when was the last time you thought about God longing for you?
He sees how many times we mess up. He sees how many times we struggle with doubt. He sees all of our pain and sin and still longs to shower grace on us. And not only that, but to have compassion on us too (also in verse 18). What's the difference between being gracious and having compassion?
To me, God is gracious when He forgives my sin when I ask Him...again.
He has compassion when He wipes away the tears and bandages the self-afflicted wounds and whispers His love in my ear.
He could just show grace to us by forgiving us when we ask and leaving it at that. "Don't worry, my Son's blood covered that sin. You're off the hook. Catch you next time." Kind of like a friendly uncle that gets you out of trouble every now and then, but not someone you share an actual relationship with. No, God goes a step further and shows us compassion when we sin. He mixes His love with His grace until we realize that He is not just in the business of forgiving sins, He is also in the business of loving us, cherishing us, and having a relationship with us.
Why does this matter? To me, God seems a lot more personal when I see and feel evidence of His compassion in my life. His graciousness to forgive is awesome enough, but He goes that step further to show compassion in a special, unique way just for me.
If you stop and think about it, grace and compassion are two amazing things that we don't deserve without the blood of Jesus. And we love and serve a God who longs to do both in our lives, if only we ask Him. That's the key word: ASK. He knows the desire of our hearts, and He knows when we've sinned and need to ask for forgiveness, but so much of His moving in our hearts and lives depends on us speaking up in the first place! I'll close with verse 19 to really drive that last point home:
"He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you." Isaiah 30:19
February 1, 2011
Connections
Today I read the first half of Isaiah 30. I only had time to read half because I had a Bible study this morning, so I read verses 1 through 17. Later that morning a sister in Christ quoted verse 18 of Isaiah 30, so I figured that was a good indication from God that I need to finish this chapter up soon!
But first, something cool God showed me about the first half. God uses this prophecy to warn Judah through Isaiah because they are forming an alliance with Egypt instead of turning to Him. In fact, verse 2 says they didn't even consult Him before doing so! The latter part of that verse caught my attention though:
"...To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!"
I read that phrase a few times, thinking, It seems to me I've read these words before. Sounds like a psalm I've read a bunch of times. I'll admit, I couldn't remember which one exactly. Definitely looked it up in the back, and discovered the one I was thinking of was Psalm 91.
Check out Psalm 91:1...."He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." The words "shelter" and "shadow" are what jogged my memory in the first place, and here they are in Psalm 91! The fact is, we all seek shelter somewhere, especially when life gets difficult. We can find our refuge in the comforting shadow of God who covers us with His mercy and love, or we can settle for something far less and deal with the pain that inevitably follows when we place our trust in someone or something other than our Lord. How cool is it that God uses the same terminology in two different books of the Bible to get that point across!
But the connections don't end there. Read on to verse 6, where God's people are described as carrying their "riches" and "treasures" on the backs of their beasts of burden to Egypt, "a land of distress and anguish, from where come the lioness and lion, viper and flying serpent." And yeah, I totally got distracted with the whole "flying serpent" idea. Hopefully you did too. That way I won't feel so silly. But anyway, I looked back in Psalm 91, and in verse 13 it reads, "You will tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down." Again, similar terminology yet very different circumstances. In Egypt (or at least on the way to Egypt), God's people are prophesied to encounter lions and snakes, and I can only surmise by the tone of the prophecy as a whole that the creatures pose a real danger to them, yet they are so determined to be allies with Egypt that they don't realize that maybe these animals are simply obstacles God put in their way. If only they chose to align themselves and their "riches and treasures" with God, then the once-threatening lions and snakes would become the hunted instead (Psalm 91:13).
One more. Verse 17 of Isaiah 30 says that the rebelliousness of God's people will become their destruction, in that "one thousand will flee at the threat of one man." In the previous verse, Isaiah prophesies that the people of Judah will not take God's call for repentance seriously, and will instead put their trust in acquiring more "swift horses." (Ever tried to cling to something worldly rather than just repent and turn to God? I know I have.) As a result, they use those horses to try to outrun their enemies, and it seems they're not very successful since all it appears to take is one man to cause a thousand more to flee (verse 17). Look back in Psalm 91. Verse 7 says, "A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it [destruction] will not approach you." This verse, and the psalm as a whole, describes the peace and security we have access to when we abide with God and put our trust in His hands. Instead of being one of those thousand people fleeing from one singular enemy, we can be one singular person causing a thousand ememies to flee! Remember, Romans 8:37 says that in the face of any hardship or danger we are more than conquerors; the NASB says we overwhelmingly conquer. That means overcoming on a large scale. Why cause one nagging temptation to flee when you can cause a thousand to flee? With His help, we can.
It's always cool to me when I find similar words and phrases in different books of the Bible. The fact that they're there stresses the fact that the Bible is indeed God-breathed. Who else could have inspired such subtle yet powerful connections? It also stresses the fact that we should read the Bible as a whole, instead of picking and choosing certain books or passages or stories. True, we have our favorites, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that; it helps with memorization, application, prayer, and sharing God with others when we read and re-read our favorite sections of Scripture until they are imprinted on our minds and hearts. But especially after what God has shown me today with these two passages, one a sobering prophecy and the other a sweet song of thanksgiving, I for one want to start delving into the parts of His word that I seldom consider reading. Seeing one idea reinterated or rephrased in a different manner from one passage to another can lead to deeper understanding, more meaningful application, and more powerful prayers. Those are all things I desire in my walk with God. May His Word always speak to me in new and exciting ways.
But first, something cool God showed me about the first half. God uses this prophecy to warn Judah through Isaiah because they are forming an alliance with Egypt instead of turning to Him. In fact, verse 2 says they didn't even consult Him before doing so! The latter part of that verse caught my attention though:
"...To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!"
I read that phrase a few times, thinking, It seems to me I've read these words before. Sounds like a psalm I've read a bunch of times. I'll admit, I couldn't remember which one exactly. Definitely looked it up in the back, and discovered the one I was thinking of was Psalm 91.
Check out Psalm 91:1...."He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." The words "shelter" and "shadow" are what jogged my memory in the first place, and here they are in Psalm 91! The fact is, we all seek shelter somewhere, especially when life gets difficult. We can find our refuge in the comforting shadow of God who covers us with His mercy and love, or we can settle for something far less and deal with the pain that inevitably follows when we place our trust in someone or something other than our Lord. How cool is it that God uses the same terminology in two different books of the Bible to get that point across!
But the connections don't end there. Read on to verse 6, where God's people are described as carrying their "riches" and "treasures" on the backs of their beasts of burden to Egypt, "a land of distress and anguish, from where come the lioness and lion, viper and flying serpent." And yeah, I totally got distracted with the whole "flying serpent" idea. Hopefully you did too. That way I won't feel so silly. But anyway, I looked back in Psalm 91, and in verse 13 it reads, "You will tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down." Again, similar terminology yet very different circumstances. In Egypt (or at least on the way to Egypt), God's people are prophesied to encounter lions and snakes, and I can only surmise by the tone of the prophecy as a whole that the creatures pose a real danger to them, yet they are so determined to be allies with Egypt that they don't realize that maybe these animals are simply obstacles God put in their way. If only they chose to align themselves and their "riches and treasures" with God, then the once-threatening lions and snakes would become the hunted instead (Psalm 91:13).
One more. Verse 17 of Isaiah 30 says that the rebelliousness of God's people will become their destruction, in that "one thousand will flee at the threat of one man." In the previous verse, Isaiah prophesies that the people of Judah will not take God's call for repentance seriously, and will instead put their trust in acquiring more "swift horses." (Ever tried to cling to something worldly rather than just repent and turn to God? I know I have.) As a result, they use those horses to try to outrun their enemies, and it seems they're not very successful since all it appears to take is one man to cause a thousand more to flee (verse 17). Look back in Psalm 91. Verse 7 says, "A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it [destruction] will not approach you." This verse, and the psalm as a whole, describes the peace and security we have access to when we abide with God and put our trust in His hands. Instead of being one of those thousand people fleeing from one singular enemy, we can be one singular person causing a thousand ememies to flee! Remember, Romans 8:37 says that in the face of any hardship or danger we are more than conquerors; the NASB says we overwhelmingly conquer. That means overcoming on a large scale. Why cause one nagging temptation to flee when you can cause a thousand to flee? With His help, we can.
It's always cool to me when I find similar words and phrases in different books of the Bible. The fact that they're there stresses the fact that the Bible is indeed God-breathed. Who else could have inspired such subtle yet powerful connections? It also stresses the fact that we should read the Bible as a whole, instead of picking and choosing certain books or passages or stories. True, we have our favorites, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that; it helps with memorization, application, prayer, and sharing God with others when we read and re-read our favorite sections of Scripture until they are imprinted on our minds and hearts. But especially after what God has shown me today with these two passages, one a sobering prophecy and the other a sweet song of thanksgiving, I for one want to start delving into the parts of His word that I seldom consider reading. Seeing one idea reinterated or rephrased in a different manner from one passage to another can lead to deeper understanding, more meaningful application, and more powerful prayers. Those are all things I desire in my walk with God. May His Word always speak to me in new and exciting ways.
December 20, 2010
Where do you dwell?
"Terror and pit and snare confront you, O inhabitant of the earth." Isaiah 24:17
The prophecy in the twenty-fourth chapter of Isaiah concerns the entire earth, not just a selected kingdom or group of people. It has several parallels to prophecies outlined in the Book of Revelation, but one of them stuck out at me in particular.
This chapter is basically a sandwich in structure...it starts with chaos and destruction, has a few verses that glorify and praise God there in the middle, and then ends with more chaos and destruction. Verse 13 starts the praise section, describing a "shaking of an olive tree" and "the gleanings when the grape harvest is over." Basically God's judgment has already began its terrifying work, and numerous people have been wiped out. However, there is a remnant of His people leftover who "raise their voices and shout for joy" (verse 14). In the midst of unfathomable death and despair, they choose to marvel at God's majesty and righteousness and praise His name, saying "Glory to the Righteous One" (verse 16).
The latter part of verse 16 immediately shifts focus once again to fear and trembling, saying "woe to me," and verse 17 warns the inhabitants of the earth of the "terror and pit and snare" that will inevitably find them. When I looked up this verse using an online commentary (found here) it referenced Revelation, in which there are several verses that mention those who inhabit the earth (3:10, 6:10, 11:10, 13:12, and 13:14). There is also one verse that mentions those who dwell in heaven (13:6). The first group will experience the horrific consequences of their sin and the Antichrist's deception during the end times. The latter group will be with God in heaven and sit in His presence.
Here's the point....where we dwell now affects where we will dwell later. Whether we live long enough to see the prophecies in Revelation and Isaiah carried out or not, where we choose to dwell has a huge impact on our lives and our walk with God. If we choose to be an inhabitant of the earth, we will make worldly things our focus. We will strive and chase after wealth, live for our desires, and experience the consequences of our sin in both this life and the next. If we choose to sit with God in the heavenly places, we will chase after Him. We will live for Him. And we will experience the peace and comfort that can only be possible in the midst of terrible suffering because it's from Him.
And please don't let it escape your notice that we can be seated with Him in heavenly places in the here and now. This happens the moment we accept Jesus as our Savior (Ephesians 2:6). Although we live out our earthly lives wrapped up in flesh, our spirits are already in His presence, seeing Him face to face. Jesus lived a human life but continuously lingered in His Father's presence; why shouldn't we each enjoy the same privilege?
So as you go about during this busy week before Christmas, ask yourself, "where do I dwell?" Are you seated with Him in the heavenly places and letting His majesty and peace envelop everything you do, or are you dwelling on the earth and settling for whatever semblance of comfort it can try to scrape together for you? Dwell with Him. Talk with Him. Praise Him. Then even in the midst of hardship and despair, your first impulse will be to worship and glorify Him. I can think of no better attitude to have in a time such as this.
The prophecy in the twenty-fourth chapter of Isaiah concerns the entire earth, not just a selected kingdom or group of people. It has several parallels to prophecies outlined in the Book of Revelation, but one of them stuck out at me in particular.
This chapter is basically a sandwich in structure...it starts with chaos and destruction, has a few verses that glorify and praise God there in the middle, and then ends with more chaos and destruction. Verse 13 starts the praise section, describing a "shaking of an olive tree" and "the gleanings when the grape harvest is over." Basically God's judgment has already began its terrifying work, and numerous people have been wiped out. However, there is a remnant of His people leftover who "raise their voices and shout for joy" (verse 14). In the midst of unfathomable death and despair, they choose to marvel at God's majesty and righteousness and praise His name, saying "Glory to the Righteous One" (verse 16).
The latter part of verse 16 immediately shifts focus once again to fear and trembling, saying "woe to me," and verse 17 warns the inhabitants of the earth of the "terror and pit and snare" that will inevitably find them. When I looked up this verse using an online commentary (found here) it referenced Revelation, in which there are several verses that mention those who inhabit the earth (3:10, 6:10, 11:10, 13:12, and 13:14). There is also one verse that mentions those who dwell in heaven (13:6). The first group will experience the horrific consequences of their sin and the Antichrist's deception during the end times. The latter group will be with God in heaven and sit in His presence.
Here's the point....where we dwell now affects where we will dwell later. Whether we live long enough to see the prophecies in Revelation and Isaiah carried out or not, where we choose to dwell has a huge impact on our lives and our walk with God. If we choose to be an inhabitant of the earth, we will make worldly things our focus. We will strive and chase after wealth, live for our desires, and experience the consequences of our sin in both this life and the next. If we choose to sit with God in the heavenly places, we will chase after Him. We will live for Him. And we will experience the peace and comfort that can only be possible in the midst of terrible suffering because it's from Him.
And please don't let it escape your notice that we can be seated with Him in heavenly places in the here and now. This happens the moment we accept Jesus as our Savior (Ephesians 2:6). Although we live out our earthly lives wrapped up in flesh, our spirits are already in His presence, seeing Him face to face. Jesus lived a human life but continuously lingered in His Father's presence; why shouldn't we each enjoy the same privilege?
So as you go about during this busy week before Christmas, ask yourself, "where do I dwell?" Are you seated with Him in the heavenly places and letting His majesty and peace envelop everything you do, or are you dwelling on the earth and settling for whatever semblance of comfort it can try to scrape together for you? Dwell with Him. Talk with Him. Praise Him. Then even in the midst of hardship and despair, your first impulse will be to worship and glorify Him. I can think of no better attitude to have in a time such as this.
December 13, 2010
harlot's wages
"Her gain and her harlot's wages will be set apart for the Lord..." Isaiah 23:18
Today's passage is Isaiah 23...yep, I'm still in Isaiah. Maybe one day I'll move on to the other prophets.... :o)
This chapter contains the prophecy regarding the city of Tyre, which one commentator describes as "the mart of the nations" since it was established near the sea and it served as a place for merchants to buy and sell (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary, found here). The city is destroyed due to the pride of its inhabitants and their unwillingness to turn to God (verses 9-11). However, after a period of seventy years, God will again "visit" Tyre and show mercy to the city and its people (verse 17). But Tyre goes back to its old ways. It is described as "playing the harlot with all the kingdoms of the face of the earth" (also in verse 17), which is pretty much what it was doing before. Here's the kicker...Tyre's "harlot's wages" are described as being "set apart for the Lord" (verse 18). My first reaction upon reading this was, huh?
So I looked in the margin of my Bible since the phrase "set apart" had a couple of other references; I mainly studied the first reference, which is found in Exodus 28:36. In this passage God is instructing His people regarding the construction of His temple and all of its elements, specifically the priestly garments. Verse 36 describes a plate of pure gold that has the phrase "Holy to the Lord" engraved on it. This plate is then to be fastened on a blue cord and put on the front the turban that Aaron, the chief priest, was to wear. Aaron was to wear this plate because he would bear "the iniquity of the holy things which the sons of Israel consecrate...that they may be accepted before the Lord" (verse 38). All of the sacrifices and gifts that the priests brought to the temple were still defiled in a way since they were human and had a sinful nature. But if Aaron, the appointed priest, brought the sacrifices to the Lord in His appointed way, God would accept them (phrasing borrowed from here).
I think at this point I may have uttered another huh? How in the WORLD can you compare the wages of a harlot to a chief priest bringing sacrifices before the Lord? The phrase "set apart" is used in both of these instances, so they must have something in common, right?
If we read further in Isaiah 23:18, we find out what Tyre's gains are to be used for: "food and choice attire for those who dwell in the presence of the Lord." And furthermore, these wages are described as "sufficient" for this purpose, and are not to be hoarded or stored up (also in verse 18). So basically although the people of Tyre will ultimately return to their old ways, their profit will be used for the furthering of God's kingdom.
Here's where it gets a little trickier. To me, it's not clear whether this new monetary exchange is really endorsed by the people of Tyre. Are they giving their wages over to God voluntarily or are they just accepting the fact that their money is not their own anymore and doing so begrudgingly (which I would almost be afraid to do, given the massive wrath and destruction their city saw seventy years earlier)? Different commentaries say different things; some say this passage is a lesson about being a good steward no matter what your calling is, and others say it is an example of God allowing His people to slip back into their old ways but yet also furthering His kingdom by doing so.
Either way, there is a question to be asked of yourself. Just how much are you giving to His kingdom? Are you hoarding your wages or worse, playing the harlot and spending them on idols for your own personal gain? And this goes beyond money. These "wages" can encompass a bunch of different things, such as how you spend your time, how you set your priorities, and where you focus your attention. If there is one thing to be learned from the prophecy against Tyre, it is that God can set apart anything as holy to Him. No matter how worldly something may seem, it is not beyond God consecrating it and using it for His kingdom. So will you give it willingly and take part in the blessing that comes as a result, or will you try to withhold it with a clenched fist and feel the pain of it being taken away? God wants to further His kingdom, and will use whatever means He thinks necessary to get us to be a part of it, but I believe it truly blesses His heart when we do so with a willing and loving heart. It's time to give, even if it's just the wages of a harlot.
Today's passage is Isaiah 23...yep, I'm still in Isaiah. Maybe one day I'll move on to the other prophets.... :o)
This chapter contains the prophecy regarding the city of Tyre, which one commentator describes as "the mart of the nations" since it was established near the sea and it served as a place for merchants to buy and sell (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary, found here). The city is destroyed due to the pride of its inhabitants and their unwillingness to turn to God (verses 9-11). However, after a period of seventy years, God will again "visit" Tyre and show mercy to the city and its people (verse 17). But Tyre goes back to its old ways. It is described as "playing the harlot with all the kingdoms of the face of the earth" (also in verse 17), which is pretty much what it was doing before. Here's the kicker...Tyre's "harlot's wages" are described as being "set apart for the Lord" (verse 18). My first reaction upon reading this was, huh?
So I looked in the margin of my Bible since the phrase "set apart" had a couple of other references; I mainly studied the first reference, which is found in Exodus 28:36. In this passage God is instructing His people regarding the construction of His temple and all of its elements, specifically the priestly garments. Verse 36 describes a plate of pure gold that has the phrase "Holy to the Lord" engraved on it. This plate is then to be fastened on a blue cord and put on the front the turban that Aaron, the chief priest, was to wear. Aaron was to wear this plate because he would bear "the iniquity of the holy things which the sons of Israel consecrate...that they may be accepted before the Lord" (verse 38). All of the sacrifices and gifts that the priests brought to the temple were still defiled in a way since they were human and had a sinful nature. But if Aaron, the appointed priest, brought the sacrifices to the Lord in His appointed way, God would accept them (phrasing borrowed from here).
I think at this point I may have uttered another huh? How in the WORLD can you compare the wages of a harlot to a chief priest bringing sacrifices before the Lord? The phrase "set apart" is used in both of these instances, so they must have something in common, right?
If we read further in Isaiah 23:18, we find out what Tyre's gains are to be used for: "food and choice attire for those who dwell in the presence of the Lord." And furthermore, these wages are described as "sufficient" for this purpose, and are not to be hoarded or stored up (also in verse 18). So basically although the people of Tyre will ultimately return to their old ways, their profit will be used for the furthering of God's kingdom.
Here's where it gets a little trickier. To me, it's not clear whether this new monetary exchange is really endorsed by the people of Tyre. Are they giving their wages over to God voluntarily or are they just accepting the fact that their money is not their own anymore and doing so begrudgingly (which I would almost be afraid to do, given the massive wrath and destruction their city saw seventy years earlier)? Different commentaries say different things; some say this passage is a lesson about being a good steward no matter what your calling is, and others say it is an example of God allowing His people to slip back into their old ways but yet also furthering His kingdom by doing so.
Either way, there is a question to be asked of yourself. Just how much are you giving to His kingdom? Are you hoarding your wages or worse, playing the harlot and spending them on idols for your own personal gain? And this goes beyond money. These "wages" can encompass a bunch of different things, such as how you spend your time, how you set your priorities, and where you focus your attention. If there is one thing to be learned from the prophecy against Tyre, it is that God can set apart anything as holy to Him. No matter how worldly something may seem, it is not beyond God consecrating it and using it for His kingdom. So will you give it willingly and take part in the blessing that comes as a result, or will you try to withhold it with a clenched fist and feel the pain of it being taken away? God wants to further His kingdom, and will use whatever means He thinks necessary to get us to be a part of it, but I believe it truly blesses His heart when we do so with a willing and loving heart. It's time to give, even if it's just the wages of a harlot.
November 29, 2010
delightful plants?
"For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and have not remembered the rock of your refuge. Therefore you plant delightful plants and set them with vine slips of a strange god. In the day that you plant it you carefully fence it in, and in the morning you bring your seed to blossom; but the harvest will be a heap in a day of sickness and incurable pain." Isaiah 17:10-11
Sobering prophecy, isn't it? And what does it mean for us? Let's break it down, phrase by phrase, to get to the heart of the matter:
- "you have forgotten the God of your salvation" : The sin that starts it all. This act will have a profound effect on the events described in the rest of the passage. In what areas of your life to you tend to "forget" God?
- "you plant delightful plants" : Often, we try to control what we will reap by choosing what to sow. We want what is pleasant and desirable, so we plant "delightful plants" instead of ones that might require some work (or worse, ones that might come with thorns or thistles). What "plants" are you choosing in your life, and what "plants" are you trying to avoid?
- "set with vine slips of a strange god" : Not only do we try to rely on our own judgments and abilities, we often call on the help of another ("strange god") rather than the help of God. What's worse, these "vine slips" we use to bolster our efforts will most likely corrupt what we've started. What we've planted will become our worst nightmare once harvested because of this corruption. Even though we've planted flowers, we will harvest weeds. What "vine slips" are you allowing to corrupt your garden?
- "you carefully fence it in" : This sounds like a last-ditch effort to really make sure we've got everything under control. Rather than trust God, we "carefully fence in" what we've planted in order to protect it from the elements. But by fencing in one area of our lives, we end up fencing every area in until we are completely blocked off from all that God has for us. We protect our plants, but at what cost? What areas of your life do you try to "fence in," and just what are you trying to protect yourself from?
- "you bring your seed to blossom" : At this point, everything seems to be going to plan. We've thought of everything we need, and everything appears to be in place for some delightful plants to grow. We see the results of our labor in some blossoms, but these provide a false sense of security and will most likely result in complacency. "Look at all that I've accomplished on my own. I don't need God's help with this. Looks like I can make it to harvest without Him." Do you ever catch yourself thinking these thoughts?
- "the harvest will be a heap..." : The inevitable occurs here. Our best-laid plans crumble before our very eyes, and the plants we reap bring sickness and pain. The word "heap" in this verse suggests that the harvest was barely gathered up before its effects (sickness and pain) hit those who harvested it. Rather than bundle the crop up and bring it elsewhere (whether it is the threshing floor, a press, a marketplace, or a storehouse), the workers have hastily abandoned it where it was reaped. While we were expecting abundance and prosperity from our plants, all we are left with is a messy heap of weeds, the pain of regret, and the consequences that come with not relying on the One who created us. Can you look back on your life and see a "heap" where there was supposed to be a harvest?
November 4, 2010
Striking to heal
"The Lord will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the Lord, and He will respond to them and will heal them." Isaiah 19:22
I'm ashamed to point out the obvious...I haven't posted anything on this blog in two months. So much has happened during that time, from my sweet boy learning how to crawl, the internet in our house not working for weeks at a time, and on my part, a bout of just sheer apathy. However, the Lord is faithful, and even though I often leave Him waiting on our time together, He is always there when I return to Him.
The nineteenth chapter of Isaiah describes a prophecy regarding the great nation of Egypt. The prophet describes a time of great turmoil, where the inhabitants will turn against each other (verse 2) and will suffer under the rule of a cruel king (verse 4). Top that off with some plagues against nature (including the rivers drying up as described in verse 6 and the fields becoming desolate in verse 7), and the nation will really hit rock bottom. Because the wisest of men cannot explain what is happening to Egypt and how to overcome it (verse 12), the people are left to literally tremble in the wake of God's hand "which He is going to wave over them" (verse 16).
One might ask what the purpose of all this devastation might be. It seems to be a common theme in most of Isaiah's prophecies thus far, in fact. Shouldn't a loving God use love to call His people to Him? Surely that would have been enough to get Egypt's attention, right?
I'm thinking no. We're talking about Egypt here, one of the greatest empires in history. Because of its affluence and wealth, it would have been all too easy for Egypt's citizens to bask in the glow of their own pride. Sometimes God allows hardship to come upon His people in order to get them to the place where turning to Him is really the only option. C.S. Lewis described pain as God's "megaphone to rouse a deaf world" (The Problem of Pain). At times it is simply the only means to get our attention.
Pain and hardship does have its purpose, though. Check out the rest of Isaiah 19, starting in verse 18. The tone of the prophecy shifts to a more promising end for the nation. It describes five Egyptian cities as "speaking the language of Canaan" and "swearing allegiance to the Lord of hosts." They will build an altar and cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors (verses 19 and 20), and then He will send the greatest Gift of all, His Son Jesus. God will "make Himself known to Egypt" through Jesus, and they will offer praise and sacrifice to Him in return (verse 21). He strikes Egypt in order to heal them. He allows them to have temporary pain and oppression, but then gives them Himself as the ultimate salve for their wounds.
Not only that, He adds Assyria and Israel in a three-fold blessing, saying "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance" (verse 25). Although Egypt was once prideful, worshiping idols and their own intellect, God will raise them up to be a nation of blessing and promise. He allows the nation to suffer for a time, but because of the spiritual longing of five cities, He will bring healing and restoration to their land.
Return to Him. Even if whatever you're going through seems to burn you inside and out, return to your Healer and He will allow beauty to rise out of the ashes.
I'm ashamed to point out the obvious...I haven't posted anything on this blog in two months. So much has happened during that time, from my sweet boy learning how to crawl, the internet in our house not working for weeks at a time, and on my part, a bout of just sheer apathy. However, the Lord is faithful, and even though I often leave Him waiting on our time together, He is always there when I return to Him.
The nineteenth chapter of Isaiah describes a prophecy regarding the great nation of Egypt. The prophet describes a time of great turmoil, where the inhabitants will turn against each other (verse 2) and will suffer under the rule of a cruel king (verse 4). Top that off with some plagues against nature (including the rivers drying up as described in verse 6 and the fields becoming desolate in verse 7), and the nation will really hit rock bottom. Because the wisest of men cannot explain what is happening to Egypt and how to overcome it (verse 12), the people are left to literally tremble in the wake of God's hand "which He is going to wave over them" (verse 16).
One might ask what the purpose of all this devastation might be. It seems to be a common theme in most of Isaiah's prophecies thus far, in fact. Shouldn't a loving God use love to call His people to Him? Surely that would have been enough to get Egypt's attention, right?
I'm thinking no. We're talking about Egypt here, one of the greatest empires in history. Because of its affluence and wealth, it would have been all too easy for Egypt's citizens to bask in the glow of their own pride. Sometimes God allows hardship to come upon His people in order to get them to the place where turning to Him is really the only option. C.S. Lewis described pain as God's "megaphone to rouse a deaf world" (The Problem of Pain). At times it is simply the only means to get our attention.
Pain and hardship does have its purpose, though. Check out the rest of Isaiah 19, starting in verse 18. The tone of the prophecy shifts to a more promising end for the nation. It describes five Egyptian cities as "speaking the language of Canaan" and "swearing allegiance to the Lord of hosts." They will build an altar and cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors (verses 19 and 20), and then He will send the greatest Gift of all, His Son Jesus. God will "make Himself known to Egypt" through Jesus, and they will offer praise and sacrifice to Him in return (verse 21). He strikes Egypt in order to heal them. He allows them to have temporary pain and oppression, but then gives them Himself as the ultimate salve for their wounds.
Not only that, He adds Assyria and Israel in a three-fold blessing, saying "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance" (verse 25). Although Egypt was once prideful, worshiping idols and their own intellect, God will raise them up to be a nation of blessing and promise. He allows the nation to suffer for a time, but because of the spiritual longing of five cities, He will bring healing and restoration to their land.
Return to Him. Even if whatever you're going through seems to burn you inside and out, return to your Healer and He will allow beauty to rise out of the ashes.
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