DAY 277

IT IS ABOUT MORE THAN ANCIENT HISTORY

Isaiah 17, 18 & 19 and Ephesians 5:17-33

There is global situation—There is a deeper issue—There is a larger purpose.

The global situation: From Philistia to the west of Judah, and Moab to her east, we now pass to Damascus, the capital of Syria, to the north. In chapters 18-19 the focus turns to Egypt in the south, thus completing the four points of the compass. “The arrangement is not chronological but schematic in a geographical sense. Whenever Judah looks to the west, east, north and south, she sees nations whose glory is only fleeting and whose fate is sealed. There is nowhere she can look for her own security but to the Lord, who is Lord and judge of them all.”*

The deeper issue: The issue is not merely that Judah is looking for alliances with the wrong people…the issue is deeper. Israel is pictured as a weakened, even emancipated man (vv.4-6) because of her failed alliances. Poor judgment with regards to who you become allies with is not the issue. Judah and Israel are weak because they worship false gods, and they have been for a long time. In 17:10 “For you have forgotten the God of your salvation, and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge.” At the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart…their hearts are cold and turned from God.

The larger purpose: Isaiah is not prophesying all this merely so God can say, “I told you so.” Isaiah is prophesying this with a much larger purpose…to turn those in his day, and in ours, back to God. Isaiah foresees a day when all people will forsake their manmade gods.

How then is the Book of Isaiah beginning to function for you? We have begun to gets hints of the Messiah and we have begun to gain prophetic insight about failed alliances. But is this more than a history lesson for us? Is this more than us figuring out what a complicated book such as Isaiah is all about? The answer in my mind is that it is about much more. It about seeing God’s hand in the world, and realizing how serious God is about us seeking him. Our faith is not to be some “handy thing we do on Sunday.” Nor is our faith to some sort of intellectual exercise. No, our faith and our union with God is to be so strong that our lives are ordered by it. Isaiah up this point offers us the image of those who choose to walk away from God…are we compelled enough to pay attention?

Regarding the wives submit to your husband’s thing, just read the next verse, husbands are to be willing to die…so who has the better deal?

*From The Bible Speaks Today: Isaiah by Barry G. Webb