Isaiah 27 reminds me of the complexity of God. Many times we think of Jesus meek and mild because He was born in the flesh to be the Lamb of God, a willing sacrifice taking the taunts, the humiliation and torture in order to pay the debt of our sin. But when He returns, He will come as conqueror, a fierce and loving protector of His people. Jesus is the tender tough guy. Isaiah begins, “In that day, the LORD will punish with His sword His fierce, great and powerful sword“. No longer is the glory of God restrained by human flesh. This is God the Creator putting His creation back into subjection. Although Satan is crafty and clever and more powerful than man, he was created by God. In pride and rebellion Satan desired to be worshiped, but God alone is worthy of our praise. Isaiah continues, “Leviathan the gliding serpent… the coiling serpent; He will slay the monster of the sea“. Today is the day of man, but the Day of the Lord is coming. With one hand He strikes and with the other hand He tenderly reestablishes the vine of Israel, “I, the LORD, watch over it; I water it continually. I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it. I am not angry… let them come to Me for refuge; let them make peace with Me… In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit“. Which hand do you want to deal with?
Through God’s discipline, Israel will be brought to full repentance. “Has the LORD struck her as He struck down those who struck her?” No, the correction of God always is balanced with mercy toward His people. Hebrews 12 reminds us, “Do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one He loves… No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it“. God’s patience is intended to lead you to repentance.
There is only one “once and for all” atonement for sin and that is the blood of Christ. I believe Isaiah observes the result in Israel once Jesus is embraced as Messiah, “By this, then, will Jacob’s guilt be atoned for, and this will be the full fruit of the removal of his sin: When he makes all the altar stones to be… crushed to pieces, no Asherah polesor incense altars will be left standing“. The most frightful thing of all is what happens to those that refuse to repent. Isaiah describes those who chose to remain enemies of God, “The fortified city stands desolate, an abandoned settlement, forsaken… For this is a people without understanding; so their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor“. Today you have free will, but when Christ returns, the patience of God will run out for all but the Jewish remnant. “Israel will be gathered up one by one… a great trumpet will sound. Those who were perishing… and those who were exiled… will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem“. Romans 11:25 makes it clear that God will restore Israel after the last Gentile accepts Christ as Lord, “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this wayall Israel will be saved“. Here is a simple question, is God calling you to repent? What are you waiting for?