Isaiah
63:1–64:12, Luke
23:26–24:12, Job
14:1–10
Once I told a friend that if I were an animal, it would be
a zebra — black and white and totally untamable. We laughed. Now as I read
Isaiah this explains why this Old Testament book is such a favorite; Isaiah is
black and white also.
For instance, this prophet declares the world has only two
kinds of people; those who listen to God and those who will not listen. To
those who won’t listen, Isaiah tells what the Lord says, “But you who forsake the Lord,
who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed
wine for Destiny, I will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow
down to the slaughter, because, when I called, you did not answer; when I
spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my eyes and chose what
I did not delight in.”
Therefore the Lord God
says: “Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall
be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty; behold,
my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be put to shame; behold, my servants
shall sing for gladness of heart, but you shall cry out for pain of heart and
shall wail for breaking of spirit.” (Isaiah 65:11–14)
In the next chapter, Isaiah again proclaims God’s word: “I also will choose harsh treatment for them and bring
their fears upon them, because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke,
they did not listen; but they did what was evil in my eyes and chose that in
which I did not delight.” (Isaiah
66:4)
However, for those who do listen to God, Isaiah offers the
good news: “Before they call I will answer; while
they are yet speaking I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24)
He later adds that God will heed those who listen. He
says, “All these things my hand has made, and so
all these things came to be, declares the Lord.
But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in
spirit and trembles at my word . . . . “Behold, I will extend peace to her like
a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall
nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees. As one
whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in
Jerusalem. You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; your bones shall
flourish like the grass; and the hand of the Lord
shall be known to his servants, and he shall show his indignation against his
enemies.” (Isaiah 66:2,
12–14)
In the reading from Job, it’s easy to see that Job also knew
that God calls and wants people to listen and be redeemed. He says, “You would call, and I would answer you; you would long
for the work of your hands. For then you would number my steps; you would not
keep watch over my sin; my transgression would be sealed up in a bag, and you
would cover over my iniquity.” (Job 14:15–17)
However, hearing the Lord speak is only part of what is
needed before I will experience any of His promises. Israel proved that even
when they heard, they could not sustain an appropriate humble obedience. They
continually fell into sin and unbelief. Something more was needed and Jesus
explained what it is. He begins with the hearing part . . .
Jesus said to them, “These are
my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything
written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the
Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that
repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all
nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And
behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city
until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:44–49)
Hearing is important, but to respond as I should, I need
my mind opened to what God is saying. Even if I see incredible works by God, I
might still have a closed mind. Even the disciples saw Jesus’ death and
resurrection, but until He granted understanding they could not grasp the
reality of it. Not only that, until He granted His power, they could not respond
in obedience to what He said.
I am like that too. I am weak and needy, unable to grasp
the Word of God even as I read it. Without the grace of God and the sacrifice
of Jesus Christ for sin, all His promises mean nothing. Without the grace of
God and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, the Words of God go in one ear
and out the other, no matter whether those ears are black or white.
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