PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Isaiah 9-10
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“By the wrath of the Lord Almighty the land will be scorched.” (Isaiah 9:19)
In this passage God is described like a raging wildfire scorching the land.
This and many other passages lead many to reject the God of the bible.
All they see is ‘God’s wrath and judgment’… and that is the problem.
“Surely wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns.” ((Isaiah 9:18)
God doesn’t start the fire, but uses fire to fight the fire of wickedness.
God is burning at those oppressors crush their victims heartlessly (Isaiah 10:1-2).
God is burning for the victims of evil, his zeal burns for the oppressed!
God’s fire sounds harsh to our ears, but hear them with the ears of the victims.
These words offer a glimmer of hope, an end to oppression, a better world.
God’s judgment is a ‘controlled burn’ to stop the wildfire of wickedness.
After the towering trees that block the light are gone (10:33-34), new life grows in the ashes.
Jesus overcomes the fire of wickedness and initiates new growth, a new forest.
The fire of his Spirit burns away evil, consuming the dross so that only pure gold remains!
The Lord is not the uncontrolled fire, we are; he is the refining fire!
PRAYER
Lord, give me eyes to see the victims of evil as you do. Give me eyes to see your zeal for justice and righteousness, and to join you in burning bright for this as well.
“Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.” In great indignation for the rejection by God’s people for Him – God’s anger is not easily quenched. God’s patience is amazing but there does come an end. We know that God’s anger for the disobedience and rejection by his people was not quenched – His hand is still upraised – and I believe will always be upraised when sin/disobedience stands in the way. The only way God’s anger was fully quenched was through Jesus – His own son bearing the wrath of God against sin – my disobedience within in that. Then his hand reaches out and is no longer upraised! Hallelujah – what a saviour! When God’s people turned back to God – He was there for them as He promised. God is there for me too!
He reigns.
The Light has come so that the people may see. Open my eyes Lord that I may see You and all that You do today. As you delivered Your people in the past, do so also this day. And may I see Your hand in the destruction that is happenings this day – that the people may return and worship You. Our world belongs to God.
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
To see You high and lifted up
Shinin’ in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy