Isaiah 2 reminds me of my sweet wife and her total lack of skepticism. I grew up with four older brothers, and quickly learned that things are not always what they appear. In my house, phrases like “look over there”, usually meant, don’t look over there if you know what is good for you! We live in an age where politicians, pill-pushers and ponzi schemes all use false promises and misdirection to get more of our dollars. All people want peace, comfort and safety, but of the three, peace can be the most elusive because there are so many levels. We have peace from conflict, peace of mind and spiritual peace and they are not the same. Isaiah begins his prophesy by looking ahead to what he calls the last days. He is talking about a time yet to come, a time when Christ will reign on earth. He begins, “In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established… and all nations will stream to it“. During this time, war will be absent and “He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths… He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples“. He adds, “They will beat their swords into plowshares… Nation will not take up sword against nation“. Isaiah invites all of us cynics to, “Come… let us walk in the light of the LORD“. Satan, the greatest con-man of all time has many convinced that God is to blame for all the evil in the world today, but friend, we are living in the age of man. Jesus warned, “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name… and will deceive many“. Real peace will come from Christ alone.
Isaiah writes, the people “are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and embrace pagan customs“. He continues, “Their land is full of silver and gold; there is no end to their treasures… there is no end to their chariots. Their land is full of idols they bow down to the work of their hands“. Some are deluded into thinking wealth will bring peace. Today the God of the Bible is being systematically removed from public expression, and we see the elevation other forms of false spirituality in its place. We are replacing God with the works of man. In the last days, “People will be brought low and everyone humbled“. Isaiah explains, at the return of Christ, “The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day“. Have you been looking for peace in your own efforts?
Thanks to ridiculous date setters, the return of Christ is a punch line. Jesus said “No man knows the hour or the day” of His return. But Isaiah describes the scene on that day, “People will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from the fearful presence of the LORD… They will flee to caverns in the rocks… when He rises to shake the earth“. Isaiah asks a question to the gullible that have been trying to trying to satisfy their need for peace with God through selfish pleasure. “Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?” Jesus Himself gave this promise to those willing to trust Him, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans” (John 14:16). Will you hold on to pride, or accept the promise? Please don’t be naive.