Isaiah
28 reminds me of an organization called Al-Anon. This group was
formed to provide hope and strength to the family of those dealing
with the painful side-effects of problem drinkers. Often the drinker
is deceived while the family members continuously pick up the broken
pieces. In today’s chapter, Isaiah writes to “Ephraim’s
drunkards… the pride of those laid low by wine“.
Ephraim is a title of the Northern tribes of Israel, these are the
more publicly rebellious cousins that split the nation and repeatedly
turned from God. Isaiah begins with an important statement, “See,
the Lord has One who is powerful
and strong“. I believe there
is no addiction that the Holy Spirit of God cannot overcome, “Like
a hailstorm and a destructive wind, like a driving rain
and a flooding downpour, He will
throw it forcefully to the
ground“. Isaiah paints a
powerful picture too familiar to the loved ones of “That
fading flower” that does not
know any limits. We watch them drink without a thought “like
figs ripe before harvest… take them in hand, they swallow them“.
These are the ones that hold fast to the belief that I am not an
alcoholic because I have a job and don’t miss work. Does alcohol
cause separation from God, or those that love you?
Isaiah
inserts a promise to all that accept their need for God’s
salvation, “In that day the
LORD Almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for the
remnant of His people“. There
will be no testimony or plea deals in this court, “He
will be a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment“.
God rules with perfect understanding, and notice where the judgment
begins, “Priests and prophets
stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine… they stagger when
seeing visions, they
stumble when rendering decisions.
All the tables are covered with
vomit and there is not a spot without filth“.
They wear the clothes of a priest, but God sees the reality. Isaiah
asks mockingly, “To whom is he
explaining his message?” Our
actions always speak louder than our words. Isaiah next describes
the resulting superficial religion, where rules replace a
relationship with God, “Do
this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a
little there“. Do your
standards keep changing?
Isaiah
adds a final rebuke to those that are deceived, “Very
well then… they will fall backward; they will be injured and snared
and captured… hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers. You boast,
‘We have entered into a covenant with death… it cannot touch us,
for we have made a lie our refuge’“.
Have you taken refuge in a lie? Isaiah closes with real hope for
all mankind. “See, I lay a
stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure
foundation“. Messiah would
bring truth and salvation, “I
will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb
line. The understanding of this message will bring sheer terror“.
The terror comes with the realization that God’s standard is
perfection. Here is the amazing grace of God, according to Romans
3:26, Jesus Christ is both Just and the Justifier. He does not
compromise God’s standard, instead, He paid the penalty, so that
all who believe may receive forgiveness from sin. It is this reason
alone that Isaiah can write, “All
this also comes from the LORD Almighty, whose plan is wonderful,
whose wisdom is magnificent“.
There is no higher power than Jesus Christ. What is keeping you
separated from His love?