I've been falling more and more in love with God's word from the book of Isaiah since I started it. I simply cannot get enough of it and it amazes me each time. Sometimes it makes me angry as it reveals to me the things that God's heart beats for and then shows me the difference between what the "world" is all about and how it has forsaken God.
It also shows me more of who God is - his justice, his jealousy for his name - and how he will one glorious day be fed up with all the wickedness in the world and set things right. That day will be very grim for those who don't know the Lord. But it is also a book full of hope where God promises restoration and mercy on those who would turn back to him, the Redeemer of broken lives and hearts. It's so exciting, and I am excited each time I am about to open the book because I know the Lord is going to take me on a wonderful journey through it!
Now. I think I've lost count of where in Isaiah I am at the minute, and in my excitement might have reread the same chapters several times. So there are some things that I remember better than others. YET, I always learn something new! Today for example.
Chapter 47 is a prophecy and warning about the fall of Babylon (Chapter 48 is more about the believer's stubbornness), who were enemies of God, and how futile their faith in magicians and diviners of sorts is. It talks about lots of other things but I want to focus on this particular point. It speaks to me especially as I used to trust in astrology and I know some people who are still into that kind of thing.
God is very clear about those. They are harmful, deceiving and only bring those who trust in them in error.
Hear God's anger and warning:
"Keep on, then, with your magic spells
and with your many sorceries,
which you have laboured at since childhood.
Perhaps you will succeed, [read: never!]
perhaps you will cause terror.
All the counsel you have received has only worn you out!
Let your astrologers come forward,
those stargazers who make predictions month by month,
let them save you from what is coming upon you.
Surely they are like stubble;
the fire will burn them up."
Like stubble.... they will be burned up! Fancy a trip to the barber Merlin?!!
More seriously, the last two verses are clearly about God's judgement and how he will judge those worthless mediums and the people who have chosen to believe and follow them. Yet in his great mercy, God takes the time to warn people to not follow them for:
"All of them go in their error;
there is not one that can save you."
See? God wants people to be saved. He wants people to choose HIM and not the wrong path that leads to destruction.
I believe this is also a warning to Christians. It's so easy for me to think that these things are harmless and even make fun of them because I know they're powerless compared to the power of Christ in me. But, God reminds me that I am stubborn and by nature inclined to oppose his will.
"Well I do know how treacherous you are;
you were called a rebel from birth."
So whether it's about reading today's astrology, making a self-help book my new bedside table bible, making plans of my own without consulting the Lord etc, I am in danger of giving Satan a foothold and allowing him to tempt and seduce me with all his rubbish. God hates that. And he promises to look after me and be with me even in the affliction and temptation. If only I sought him and his counsel on a more consistent basis! I lose sight of the big picture too often. My praise goes to other things and I need to be reminded that judgement will come, and that I should look forward to that day for it is the day when God's sceptre of justice will be the sceptre of his kingdom! (ps 45:6) My future is secure in him and I have nothing to fear. Every other teaching is worthless, cheap junk.
And for some reason that my little sinful mind will never fully understand until I see his face, God is patient. And he wants to give many the chance to repent. Had he chosen to send Christ to return about 7 years ago I would not know him. No one but him knows when that day will come but I suggest that if you have not come to know Jesus yet, seek him now. You will find him and he will given you life in its fullness. :)
"For my own name's sake I delay my wrath;
for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you,
so as not to destroy you completely.
See, I have refined you, though not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this.
How can I let myself be defamed?
I will not yield my glory to another one."
To whom else will we bring glory and praise today?
To whom will we dare compare Him?
xx
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