Isaiah - Verse By Verse

Isaiah - Day 75

versebyverse | August 15, 2008 21:04

Scripture:  Isaiah 4:1 (NIV):  "In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, 'We will eat our own food and provide our own clothes; only let us be called by your name.  Take away our disgrace!' "

Thought:  To me, we would do well to recognize God "knocking" on the door of our reason.

Question:  Does disgrace or difficulty drive me to God or away from Him?

The need of these women is not financial provision.  They are willing, and apparently somehow able, to provide their own subsistance:  "we will eat our own food and provide our own clothes."  Their need is to have a husband, to take his name and be identified with him.  Their culture seems to demand this for acceptability.  The apparent shortage of men is probably the result of what we read in chapter 3 verse 25:  "your men will fall by the sword."

The Jewish cultural disgrace of an unmarried woman is used here to show how tragedies of all kinds will be magnified in the Lord's Day of Judgment.  One failing or shortcoming seems to incite a snowball effect:  many are the consequences of sin!  God will not bless, He will allow many uncomfortable circumstances.  He does so hoping to have Israel open their eyes to their need of Him.  A woman's desperation for security and belonging is here used by God to draw the women to Himself.  To me, the significance of seven women illustrates the level of desperation.  Seven is often a biblical statement of fullness or completeness.  

Will they respond?

Prayer:  Sovereign Lord, open my reasoning!  May I see You at work in times of disgrace, desperation, panic and uncertainty.  Help me to turn to You always.  Amen.

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