Isaiah - Verse By Verse

Isaiah - Day 120

versebyverse | October 09, 2008 17:38

Scripture:  Isaiah 6:12 (NIV):  " 'until the LORD has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken'."

Thought:  To me, God's longsuffering is often taken for granted.

Question:  Have I received God's forgiveness and thanked Him for it?

Isaiah's commission to preach the Jews' own dullness back at them must continue until "the land is utterly forsaken."  I am reminded of Noah who preached over 100 years to the people near him in his day.  (II Peter 2:5:  "if he (God) did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness...")  The people mocked and ridiculed him, I am sure, as he built this large ark on dry land and warned the people of impending doom.  How could a flood of water destroy them, they wondered, never experiencing it before and never experiencing rain before!  Similarly, these Israelites in Isaiah's day thought themselves invincible.  What enemy could defeat them?  The point, however, is not what flood or what enemy; the point is they did not believe God.

For Isaiah to foretell and warn until the land is "utterly forsaken" is a long time to stand in the face of rejection, preaching and offering love and forgiveness!  Keep on, Isaiah, until, (basically), the end of their "world." 

God never gives up.  His love never gives up.  (Even bringing the judgment of circumstances that cause the land to be "utterly forsaken" is God's merciful act of love!)

Prayer:  God of love, thank You for waiting so long to reach me.  Thank You that through Christ I am spared the punishments and condemnation of unconfessed sin.  Amen.

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