A Woe And A Promise

Oh, rebellious children, says the Lord,
who carry out a plan, but not mine;
who make an alliance, but against my will,
    adding sin to sin;
² who set out to go down to Egypt
    without asking for my counsel,
to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh,
    and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt;
³ Therefore the protection of Pharaoh shall become 
    your shame,
    and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt your 
    humiliation.

                                           (Isa 30:1-3 NRSV)


Woe to those obstinate children who do not listen to the word of the LORD given through the prophet. Those who trust Pharaoh to protect them are going to be very sorry, indeed!

God tells Isaiah: 
For they are a rebellious people,
    faithless children,
children who will not hear
    the instruction of the Lord;
¹⁰ who say to the seers, “Do not see”;
    and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right;
speak to us smooth things,
    prophesy illusions,
¹¹ leave the way, turn aside from the path,
    let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.”
For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

In returning and rest you shall be saved;
    in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.
But you refused...  

                                                        (Isa 30:9-11,15)

They are in trouble. They are in fear for their futures; their lives. However; rather than turn to God, they turn to Egypt. They run, they flee, to Egypt when all it really would take to be helped is to repent and rest in the assurance of their salvation.

Isaiah 30 provides those who trust in the LORD a promise as well as a great woe for those obstinate children who won't and don't.

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you;
    therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
    blessed are all those who wait for him.

Truly, O people in Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you.

                                                                           (Isa 30:18-19)

Are you in trouble? When you are, what is it that you do? Do you turn (repent) to the LORD and follow in the Way or do you attempt to make a way out of the trouble for yourself? Do you lean on others who haven't figured a way out of the trouble they're in themselves? Maybe, they don't even realize how much trouble they're in? 

I find that often we attempt to do both; carve a path for ourselves while 

begging God to keep us safe. Isaiah reminds us that there is only one way to salvation... You cannot travel along both ways. May God keep you in His Way.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Your Children Will Return To The Lord

Persevere in faith for the Lord is with you and for you

through the rockiest of times.

But this is what the Lord says:

“Yes, captives will be taken from warriors,
    and plunder retrieved from the fierce;
I will contend with those who contend with you,
    and your children I will save. Isaiah 49:25 NIV

Do not doubt; but, believe. Believe that the evil one has no power over you or your children. I often hear the stories of parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles whose hearts are breaking as they wonder what will happen to the children that they love. Many parents heart break as their children go astray led captive by the ways of the world which the devil has made to look so alluring. What can be done to save your child?

You cannot save your child. But, God can. Pray to the One who can rip your child from the clutches from the enemy. Ask the One who is our Lord and Savior to open his ears and eyes and heart that he might see a better way. The child may be obstinate and refuse at first. But, do no lose hope. Persevere in faith, patiently. The Lord will not give up on your child, nor should you. This enemy of God may have attempted to steal your child; but, he will not prevail. The Lord, our God, prevails. He will retrieve your child from the clutches of the fierce warrior who would steal their lives from them.

Do not doubt; but, believe. Trust that God will contend with those who contend with His children; and your children He will save making them His own.

God's Peace - Pr. J