ISAIAH

Isaiah 9:18 - 10:4

quote:

"For wickedness burns like a fire; It consumes briars and thorns; It even sets the thickets of the forest aflame And they roll upward in a column of smoke. 19 By the fury of the LORD of hosts the land is burned up, And the people are like fuel for the fire; No man spares his brother. 20 They slice off what is on the right hand but still are hungry, And they eat what is on the left hand but they are not satisfied; Each of them eats the flesh of his own arm. 21 Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh, And together they are against Judah. In spite of all this, His anger does not turn away And His hand is still stretched out. 10:1 Woe to those who enact evil statutes And to those who constantly record unjust decisions, 2 So as to deprive the needy of justice And rob the poor of My people of their rights, So that widows may be their spoil And that they may plunder the orphans. 3 Now what will you do in the day of punishment, And in the devastation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your wealth? 4 Nothing remains but to crouch among the captives Or fall among the slain. In spite of all this, His anger does not turn away And His hand is still stretched out."

Sin without repentance is like a fire started by a tiny match. At first it doesn't appear to be serious, but as it leads to more sin, it erupts into a blazing fire. It consumes the individual first, then family members and friends and eventually extends to the nation as a whole.

It is a time of brother against brother. In their depravity, men would turn against his friends or neighbors both to the right and the left, destroying those who were the only help they had, since they had already turned on God. This civil war was so severe, they sought to devour one another. Members of one's own tribe or even family were described to be the arm, for they were its basis of protection and support. Manasseh and Ephraim, the two sons of Joseph adopted by Jacob as his own sons, were extreme rivals. There was such jealousy between the two, it seemed they could only unite in their mutual hatred of Judah. Throughout history and to this day, we see enemies unite in their mutual hatred for another. The nation had not repented and God's hand had not turned. His hand of judgment remained out-stretched.

Again, God reprimands Israel for their lack of care for those weak, helpless and defenseless, the widows and the orphans. The very justice system that was to protect them was the system used to defraud and plunder the little they had. A nation in which this could happen was ripe for destruction.

Isaiah poses three questions which are just as pertinent for us today.

1) What will you do?
2) To whom will you flee for help?
3) Where will you leave your wealth?

The Day of the Lord is a certainty. There will come a day of visitation when the Lord will visit His wrath upon the world in judgment. Though thought of as a storm brewing in the distance, that day is drawing near. Do we trust in ourselves or do we trust in God? Our refuge from this storm can only be found in the One who produces it, the One True and Living God, God of Heaven and Earth.

Paul quotes Isaiah 49:8 saying, "For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2). Do not delay in accepting His grace and salvation. Run to the only One who can save you from the wrath to come.

Jesus gives the answer to where our heart should be concerning our wealth in Matthew 6:19-21 –
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

And in 1 Timothy 6:17-19, "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."

Let's contemplate on these three questions and be ready for that day, which for us as Christians will be a great and glorious day saved from the wrath of our God, Who is both just and gracious!