Isaiah
30 reminds me of the word “incorrigible”. It literally means not
correctable. The original use was more of a legal status put on one
that cannot be reformed, and thus no further effort should be made to
try. Lock the door and throw away the key, this one is beyond hope.
Today’s prophesy was given to the northern tribes of Israel, but it
could be written to many of us. He begins, “Woe
to the obstinate children… those who carry out plans that are not
Mine… heaping sin upon sin…without consulting Me“.
Israel often turned to Egypt for help in times of trouble, rejecting
God in the process. Isaiah warns, that protection “will
be to your shame“. It will
“bring
neither help nor advantage, but only shame and disgrace… a land of
hardship and distress… whose help is utterly useless“.
In distress we often look for help in all the wrong places and
unbelievably, we repeat the mistakes the next time because it seems
easier. Friend, are you a repeat offender?
God
instructs Isaiah to write this down, “inscribe
it on a scroll… for the days to come”
so it will be “an everlasting
witness… for these are rebellious people… unwilling to listen to
the LORD’s instruction“.
Hold on tight because this might describe you. First those in
rebellion say, “Give us no more
visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things“.
Stop telling me the truth. Then, “stop
confronting us” with God. I
may have words filled with frustration, but God’s Word has the
power to penetrate past the pity. Isaiah warns “Because
you have rejected this message… sin will become for you like a high
wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses“.
We want to soften the blow, but Isaiah says, “It
will break in pieces like pottery“.
God gives each of us free-will, but no matter how far we run from
God, He is standing there, waiting for us to return. Some will
choose, “repentance and rest…
salvation…quietness…trust…strength“.
To others, he says simply, “but
you would have none of it“.
He adds, “your pursuers will be
swift… you will all flee away… till you are left… on a
mountaintop, like a banner on a hill“.
Are you alone and exposed?
Isaiah also writes, “Yet
the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to
show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are
all who wait for Him!” Listen
to the words he has written for everyone that is ready to ask for
God’s forgiveness, “you will
weep no more. How
gracious He will be when you cry for help! As soon as He hears, He
will answer you“. Isaiah
writes, to those crying out “Why?” “Although
the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of
affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes
you will see them“. “Your
ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way’“.
There will be evidence of change, “desecrate
your idols… throw them away“.
And Isaiah writes this promise, “He
will… send
you rain for the seed you sow… the LORD binds up the bruises of his
people and heals the wounds He inflicted… you will sing… your
hearts will rejoice“. Are you
still doubting? Are you asking how do I know this is for me? “The
LORD will cause people to hear His majestic voice“.
In John chapter 10, Jesus says He
is the Good Shepherd and “He
calls His own sheep by name and leads them out“.
If you are reading this today,
maybe he calling you out?
Thankfully, God never sees us as “not correctable”.