Adversity and Grace

Isaiah 52:1–54:17, Luke 20:41–21:24, Job 12:1–12

Isaiah 53 and 54 are two of my favorite chapters in the Bible. They speak of Jesus and His sacrifice for our redemption, and point to the promises of God concerning future guidance and protection. The original audience is Israel, yet this is the living Word of God; it speaks to me also.

It says of Jesus: “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:3–6)

Such great injustice, or so it seems. Yet we so easily forget the prevalence of sin (don’t we all turn our own way much of the time?) and our need for redemption and forgiveness. Take time to think of what this says.

It says why Jesus had to die: “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:10–12)

Besides the plan of God, these chapters also declare His grace: “For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer . . . . All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you . . . . no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:7-8, 13-15, 17)

In the good times, we sinful beings tend to forget God. When adversity happens, we tend to blame others or the devil. Job had it right when he said, “In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip. The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand. But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:5–10)

Just as God planned the greatest injustice in the death of His sinless Son, He also is in charge of all adversity. He has a purpose for everything that happens to us. Even all creation knows this is true. What I don’t always remember is that when adversity comes, I can seize it as opportunity to share the goodness of God, just as Jesus said I should . . .

“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness.”

That is not the normal reaction to terrible trials, but by the grace of God, it can be. Jesus adds further instruction so that I can bear witness to Him, no matter what: “Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.” (Luke 21:10–19)

Jesus encourages me to remember that God is sovereign over the good times and adversities. I can rest in His promise to give me His attitude, His words, His peace, all because of His amazing grace.

Self-righteousness is dangerous

Isaiah 50:1–51:23, Luke 20:1–40, Job 11:12–20

After being told this week essentially that I must save myself, I’ve noticed the readings for each day address the folly of trying to do so. Salvation is by grace through faith, not about what I am or can do because then I would boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9). I was saved from the penalty of sin when Jesus came into my life.

The Word of God also says, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6-7). This means that I’m also saved from the power of sin by the work of the Lord Jesus and by relying on Him. Without Him, I can do nothing, as He makes clear in John 15.

Isaiah offers this bit of encouragement. He says, “Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment.” (Isaiah 50:10–11)

If I were not saved and trusting the Lord and was in the darkness of sin, these verses apply to me. However, they also apply to believers who are in a situation where all seems dark. This happens. It might be because of sin, but it can also be a time of testing (like Job) when God’s presence seems missing and the light of salvation becomes dim. In that case, He says here to trust God anyway, not making my own “light” by trying to figure out my problems and needs apart from Him. If I walk by any light I create, I will not have the peace of God but be in torment.

Experience also shows me that this is true. If I reason or use human wisdom without insight from the Lord, or if I am rationalizing and supposing with no reference to what God says, the answers do not satisfy, nor do they bring His light to me.

One of Job’s comforters seemed to be doing this human wisdom thing. Job was suffering without any obvious cause. His ‘friends’ accused him saying it must be some hidden sin. One of them gave the following advice . . .

“If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him. If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents. Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear. You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away. And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning. And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security.” (Job 11:13–18)

Essentially, he is saying, “Save yourself because if you do what I say, you will create some light in your life and be secure.” There is nothing more discouraging to a person who is struggling with unknown elements, lack of light from God, and pain besides, to hear words like that. It is like saying, “Pull up your bootstraps” to the chronically ill, or “Cheer up and be happy” to someone suffering from clinical depression. Such ‘comfort’ is actually cruel.

Not only that, it rejects the truth of who we are and who Jesus is. I am a sinner and utterly unable to save myself. Yes, Jesus is in my life and I can do all things through Him, but I cannot operate apart from Him and create my own answers to any problems or predicaments. I cannot create my own burning torch and walk by its light and then expect to lie down in peace.

Jesus is the Savior. He saves from the penalty of sin (God’s eternal wrath) and the power of sin — both through the power of faith. I am saved by trusting Him, not trusting my own devices or efforts. Human wisdom is not only folly but dangerous . . .

Jesus told a parable to the people about a man who sent his son to his tenants, but they rejected him as they had rejected and killed every servant he’d sent prior to that. Obviously He was referring to God sending His prophets and then His Son. After finishing the parable, Jesus looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” (Luke 20:17–18)

My efforts to produce ‘light’ will not will not only fail, but they are glaring symptoms of trusting myself and rejecting my Savior, sheer folly indeed!

Walking by faith . . .

Isaiah 48:1–49:26, Luke 19:11–48, Job 11:1–12

Yesterday I shared with someone that I felt discouraged because I could not see God doing anything in answer to my prayers, particularly for my family. This person told me that I needed to try harder, be more obedient, and so on, then God would hear and answer me.

This made me feel even worse. If God does what I say or reveals Himself to me only in relation to my performance, then our roles are reversed; I become the god and He becomes the servant. “Trying harder” has never worked for me.

Later in the day, God corrected my complaint. Instead of needing to “see” what He is doing, He reminded me that I am to walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) I need to trust Him even when I cannot see what He is doing. Instantly my spirits lifted.  

Then this morning, the Lord reminded me of His gracious power to save in relation to my prayers. He said . . . “Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and raise my signal to the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders . . . those who wait for me shall not be put to shame . . . . for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children . . . . Then all flesh shall know that I am the Lord your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” (Isaiah 49:22–26)

What is it about the human heart that forgets the truths of God and needs to be continually reminded? Sometimes I wonder if I will ever “get it” when it comes to simply trusting God. He said it; He will do it; and that is final! Until I forget . . .  sigh.

God also encouraged me from Job. These lines are words from one of his ‘comforters’ and have value, but they were spoken from an attitude of accusation, rather than trying to comfort Job in his misery.

Zophar said, “For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in God’s eyes.’ But oh, that God would speak and open his lips to you, and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.” (Job 11:4–6)

Of course we get less than our guilt deserves. God does say that the soul that sins must die, but He also says that whoever puts their faith in Jesus Christ will have eternal life. Both statements are true, but if I live by the first one, I have no hope. Being told to ‘try harder’ is a statement that fits with that hopelessness. I already know that my efforts apart from Christ are useless.

However, if I live by the second statement, my life is lifted above what my guilt deserves. Faith carries me into obedience, and that is not my own doing; it is the work of God’s Spirit in me and it happens by faith. When comparing these two, I can rejoice because mercy triumphs over judgment.

Jesus affirms that any worthiness we have is a gift from Him. While some have more opportunities than others, everything we do depends on what He gives us. His parable about the nobleman who gave money to his servants illustrates how Jesus gives resources to His people. Some get much, others little, but each is expected to be faithful with what they have and each will be rewarded. From that, I understand He is more concerned about faithfulness, not quantity or big productions.

The story illustrates the importance of being obedient with a willing heart. Some of the nobleman’s citizens hated him and declared they didn’t want him to rule over them. One of them refused to use what he had been given. This man lost everything. The nobleman had those who refused his rule brought to him and he said, “Slaughter them before me.” (Luke 19:12–27)

Those who reject the lordship of Jesus Christ will suffer judgment, getting what their guilt deserves. Those who submit to Him and use the resources He gives will have varying degrees of success and at the end their work will become visible, even revealed by fire. That fire “will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:13–15)

That is, if I do what Jesus tells me, big or small, He will reward me. Anything I do apart from what He tells me will not pass the test and be lost. However, my salvation does not depend on those works. Salvation is by “grace through faith” — and both are gifts from a merciful God, One who gives us everything we need to do whatever He wants us to do, even the faith to trust Him when we cannot see what He is doing.

God is active even when we cannot see what He is doing

Isaiah 45:14–47:15, Luke 18:9–19:10, Job 10:11–22

For anyone who wonders about God’s participation in this world, or who thinks those who are evil will prevail, read Isaiah 45-47 for reassurance about both. Verse 14 of 45 says that the people of the world will see that God is in His people and plead saying, “Surely God is in you, and there is no other, no god besides him.” (Isaiah 45:14)

Isaiah declares, “Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior. All of them are put to shame and confounded; the makers of idols go in confusion together. But Israel is saved by the Lord with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity.” (Isaiah 45:15-17)

Last night I went to bed wondering. There is much sadness around me, much chaos in the world. Has God forgotten us? But this morning He says, “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’” (Isaiah 45:22–23) Verses in Philippians also say that every knee will bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! He will prevail over evil.

God speaks to me saying, “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save . . . . Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’” (Isaiah 46:3–4, 8–10)

Job’s story for today has him still in his perplexity, yet he speaks truth: “You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit. Yet these things you hid in your heart; I know that this was your purpose. If I sin, you watch me and do not acquit me of my iniquity. If I am guilty, woe to me! If I am in the right, I cannot lift up my head, for I am filled with disgrace and look on my affliction.” (Job 10:11–15) Even in his situation and even though he had lost sight of his redemption, Job knew that God does what He purposes to do. That comforts and encourages me.

Jesus reminds me to beware of self-righteousness. His parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector contrast pride and humility. The Pharisee thanked God that he was not like others and recited his goodness. The tax collector kept his eyes lowered and beat his breast saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Jesus said that this man was justified (declared just by God) because those who exalt themselves “will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9–14)

As for the rich who rely on their wealth, Jesus said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” (Luke 18:24–27)

I was tested on all these today. One friend repeated most of the above truths without knowing I’d already read about them. That comforted and encouraged me.

However, another ‘friend’ challenged every point and like Job’s comforters, suggested something was wrong with me if I could not see what God is doing. I felt discomforted, discouraged, and even oppressed — until the Lord reminded me that I walk by faith, not by sight. He wants me to trust Him even when He is hidden from view.

God can do the impossible. He is described as One who saves, who protects those who trust in Him, and who does whatever He plans to do. The mess in the world does not thwart Him. The pain in the lives of people is not ignored by Him. He is still Lord of all, and I can trust Him to do all things well, even when I cannot see any of it.