What do people often do when they don’t get their own way, when someone doesn’t respond to what they want done? One reaction is often to put that person down, saying things such as that they didn’t know how to do what we wanted them to do anyway, or weren’t smart enough, or strong enough. That is all done to deflect the idea that the real reason they didn’t get their way might lie within themselves. As we read from the Prophet Isaiah today, we see a scenario similar to this, and the Lord’s response.
As we open our Scripture passage, we read the Lord’s response to complaints that the nation of Israel has made against Him. When the people of Israel saw that the Lord God had not been favoring them as He used to in times past, when they saw that other foreign powers were threatening them, and their prayers went unanswered, they pondered the reason why. No one wanted to take a good, hard, and honest look at themselves. They didn’t want to admit that perhaps the reason was with themselves and their unrepentant sins. Instead, they started talking and stating that the fault really lay with God. They said that He must not be as strong and powerful as He once was, that He had grown deaf, and that the fault lay with Him, not with themselves.
Isaiah responded back with the Lord’s Words, that God was just as powerful and omnipotent as He always was, and that His ears had not gone deaf (vs 1-4). The real reason that He had not responded to them was because of their sins. God was not going to run to their rescue, nor show them His favor when they refused to obey His laws, and worship only Him.
We can often see the same thing today. Many people today want to live their lives the way they want to, ignoring God’s Word. Then when a problem arises and they cry out for His help, but don’t get the response they want, they blame God. They, like the Israelites in Isaiah’s day, say that He has no power, or doesn’t get involved in mankind, or that He doesn’t even exist. Sin offends our holy God, and separates us from Him. Because God is holy, He cannot ignore or tolerate sin, as though it doesn’t matter. Sin cuts people off from Him.
This holds not only for the unsaved world at large, but also for believers. God may refuse to respond to our prayers when we stubbornly refuse to abandon some sin or evil course of action. The Lord can “do” and the Lord can “hear”, and will do such, but only if His people follow His ways. The problem is not God’s inability to save, or that He cannot hear, but rather that people have sinned, which separates them from God.
Sin fills the vacuum left when God’s truth no longer fills our life. The few who are faithful to the doctrinal and moral teachings of God’s Word are a “prey” to the unbelievers (vs. 15). They are despised, derided, and persecuted by those who seemingly profess faith, but who really don’t, and to others in the world. We find a lack of true spiritual leadership (vs. 16).
What can we do, then? Our sins overwhelm us, and we can’t get out from underneath them. Our sins have put up a barrier between ourselves and God, hindering a true relationship. Who can help us? Because it is impossible for anyone to rescue themselves from sin, God Himself, in Jesus Christ, personally stepped in to help (vs. 16-17). Jesus became the Intercessor for all who accept Him as Savior. Through Him we find salvation.
As our Scripture passage closes, Isaiah tells us that the Lord will protect and defend those who fear Him (vs. 19). To fear the Lord is to reverence Him, to recognize Him for who He is. God’s presence covers and protects us on every side. He goes before us into every battle, and He is our rear guard. The standard that the Lord lifts against the enemy is the Blood-stained Cross of Calvary.
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