Isaiah 28-30

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 Up until now, Isaiah has been primarily prophesying warnings of impending judgement against the nation of Judah – one of the 12 tribes of Israel whom Israel broke away from after Solomon’s reign. After Israel broke away from Judah, Israel made Samaria its capitol city while Judah stayed in the region surrounding Jerusalem and made Jerusalem the capitol of the nation of Judah. These two brotherly nations carried on a feud, much like brothers and sisters do in families today. In dysfunctional families, you’ll often see a lifetime of anger, bitterness, and resentment between siblings. It’s so sad!

 That’s exactly what the situation is between the remaining 11 tribes (called Israel in the Bible) and Judah. Judah is an Israelite nation, but the remaining 11 tribes have excommunicated them from the clan.  In doing so, the nation of Israel set up new kings who brought them further and further into sinful activity. By this time, Israel was too far gone. Their sins were so grave in the sight of God and unredeemable that God’s impending judgement on their capitol city is about to happen!

 So, as chapter 28 opens up, we see Isaiah prophesying judgement on the capitol city of Israel – Samaria.  Notice what God calls them, “the drunks of Israel.”

 A Leadership Lesson:

 In fact, it’s been often said by leadership experts, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” And it’s true! The people who follow our leaders look to them to set the example, and if their example isn’t too go, the people will tend to follow that kind of example.

 That’s exactly what has happened to Samaria!  And God blames its leaders – who are its prophets and priests. Listen to what Isaiah says in 28:7, “Now, however, Israel is led by drunks who reel with wine and stagger with alcohol. The priests and prophets stagger with alcohol and lose themselves in wine.”

 God also sees the source of the problem – pride! Notice how God reveals the problem in 28:9 – “Who does the Lord think we are?” they ask. “Why does he speak to us like this? Are we little children, just recently weaned? He tells us everything over and over—one line at a time, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there!”

Tired Of Hearing From God!

 The Israelites were tired of God’s rules. They were tired of listening to what God wanted. They decided to do life without Him. Do you know anyone like this? Can you not see how many people in our world today feel the same way?  Many want to live life on their own terms, not on God’s terms. And even though the people admit that they’ve heard numerous warnings again and again, they’re tired of listening. As such, God sees no other way to get their attention but through the use of military attack from their oppressors!

 Notice 28:11, “So now God will have to speak to his people through foreign oppressors who speak a strange language!”  God had no other choice but to use wicked people to get the attention of those who were once righteous.  Can you see any evidence of that happening today? Can you see God using a boss, a neighbor, a creditor, the taxing authorities, or even the police or jail time to get someone’s attention?  Sure you have!  God loves His people and will use whatever it takes to get our attention.

 As of this writing, my daughter told me last week that one of the punishment’s she uses to get her daughter’s attention is to take away her cell phone. Even though my granddaughter hates it at the time, it does get her attention and corrects an bad action. We, like God, do the same type of things to our children.  Unfortunately for nations, God has to use other nations as a rod of correction.

 Another sin Israel commits is in setting up an alliance with some neighboring countries, hoping this will prevent God’s judgements from taking place. But as we read on through chapter 28, we see God telling them it will never work. How often do we do the same thing?  We may know that what we are doing is wrong, but we hope and pray and look for ways to avoid God’s punishment. Sadly, we can’t out-think God or out-maneuver Him. Regardless of what we do, He will always have the upper Hand!

 God Uses Different Forms Of Judgment:

 As we finish chapter 28, God reminds them of a very important truth through an interesting analogy…

 -          God uses different forms of judgment in order to bring out the best in His people.

 Notice how God refers to the different ways a farmer purifies and prepares his crops, “The farmer knows just what to do, for God has given him understanding. A heavy sledge is never used to thresh black cumin; rather, it is beaten with a light stick. A threshing wheel is never rolled on cumin; instead, it is beaten lightly with a flail.”  It’s in this analogy that God explains how He works to purify and prepare His people. He uses different forms of judgment for different people and for different circumstances.

 In chapter 29 and 30, God gives us some incredible insights into how He works, how He sees things, and how He wants to bless us instead of spank us.

4 Huge Sins:

1)  The people have turned a blind eye to God and His ways!  29:9-10 – “Are you amazed and incredulous? Don’t you believe it? Then go ahead and be blind. You are stupid, but not from wine! You stagger, but not from liquor! For the Lord has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has closed the eyes of your prophets and visionaries.”

2) Their worship is FAKE!  29:13 – “And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine.

They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.”

3) They think God can’t see their sinfulness!  29:16 – “What sorrow awaits those who try to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their evil deeds in the dark! “The Lord can’t see us,” they say.  “He doesn’t know what’s going on!”

4) They don’t like God’s work!  29:16 – “How foolish can you be? He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you, the clay! Should the created thing say of the one who made it, “He didn’t make me”? Does a jar ever say, “The potter who made me is stupid”?”

5) They would rather hear LIES!!  30:10 – “They tell the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” They tell the prophets, “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies. Forget all this gloom. Get off your narrow path. Stop telling us about your ‘Holy One of Israel.’”

God Provides Hope!

In a last-ditch effort to get the people of Judah to repent before it’s too late, God begs them to immediately repent of their sin and turn to Him. Notice what is said in the following verses:

30:15 – “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved.

30:18-19 – “So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help. O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.”

Hey…can you not see how our world today is becoming just like the people of Judah?  Our pastors are no longer teaching on the holiness of God or the dangers of sin. The people of the church no longer want to be challenged to walk in holiness or “be preached to.”  Many today would rather hear cute little devotionals and uplifting messages. They’d rather hear a lie than the truth!

Can you see that happening?