The Book Of Isaiah. Day 132, The Right Way Rejected

In our last study session we learned that a time would come when the people would reject godly wisdom; indeed, some are already doing so in Isaiah's day. We learned that a time would come when the people would reject the message of the true prophets in favor of listening to false prophets who will tell them what they want to hear. 

Because the people will refuse to listen to godly advice, the Lord states that their waywardness will be their downfall. "Therefore this is what the Holy One of Israel says: 'Because you have rejected this message, relied on oppression and depended on deceit; this sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant. It will break in pieces like pottery, shattered so mercilessly that among its pieces not a fragment will be found for taking coals from a hearth or taking water out of a cistern.'" (Isaiah 30:12-14)

There is no true security without the Lord. There is no sure foundation except the Lord. If Isaiah's nation of Judah puts its trust in anyone or in anything except the Lord, the help they hope for from that thing or person will be in vain. I want to stop here for a moment to point out that this is a good thing for any person who is placing their trust in anyone or in anything except the Lord. The Lord must tear down those false defenses in order to point us back to Himself for forgiveness, for mercy, for salvation. If He allowed us to persist in a sense of false security He would be doing us no favors. In fact, He would actually be hurting us if He allowed us to build our lives on unsafe foundations.

Where should the people of Judah have placed their trust? To whom should they have turned for help? To the God of Israel! The Lord clearly lays out the path to success for them. "This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: 'In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.'" (Isaiah 30:15) 

The solution to all of their spiritual problems and to all of their national security problems was simple: turn back to the Lord, repent of sins, trust in Him. But although the Lord makes the plan of salvation so simple that even very small children can understand it, some folks consider themselves too sophisticated and worldly to accept such a simple solution for the needs of their souls. Others reject the message because they do not want to submit to the Lord; they want to be the lords of their own lives. But rejection of the message brings certain disaster! It brings hardships in this life and, if the person never turns to the Lord, it brings eternal separation from His presence.

In our next study session we will take a look at what many of the people said in response to the message the Lord sent them through His prophets. We will find His heart yearning to be gracious to them and being unable to because they refuse His graciousness. Have you ever tried to help someone who didn't want your help? It was impossible to do anything for them, wasn't it? We can't force a human being to do what's right, not really, not from their hearts. The Lord also does not force human beings to do what's right. He has the power to do so but He is a gentleman and does not force Himself on anyone. He created us with the ability to make choices and He respects our human dignity and the free will with which He endowed us. That is why we can either accept or reject what He says to us but that is also why we must bear the consequences of making the wrong decision. We are free to reject Him---nobody is forcing us to bow to Him and give our hearts to Him---but there are consequences to deliberately refusing His offer of mercy, grace, hope, comfort, protection, provision, and salvation.