The other day we looked at some helpful verses from Isaiah and what God says about the way to be saved, Isaiah 30:11. The key here is, like Israel, we need to be willing. They wanted to do their own thing, instead of listening to God, so He let them. It shows us the danger of switching off from God, because when we do that things don’t work out as we plan.
Meanwhile God wanted and longed to be gracious, Isaiah 30:18. So often we too shut God out when He longs to be gracious to us. Yet when His people cry out He not only hears them, God answers. This is a promise, ’you will weep no longer. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears He will answer you,’ Isaiah 30:19. Simple isn’t it? All Israel had to do, and all we have to do is cry out to God and He will answer.
Although God disciplined Israel, and at times He has cause to discipline us, He is our teacher. That means he wants to guide and direct us just as He wanted to do this with Israel. When we are faced with a decision or choice and don’t know what to do we need to take the situation to God. He has promised to clearly direct us and show us the way to go. Just look at verse 21. What an encouragement that is. To know God will direct us and make it clear. On the day I read these verses, God clearly directed me regarding something I should do, thanks to prayer, reading His Word and timely circumstances which showed me clearly God was directing.
The thing Israel needed to do, and we do too, is get rid of the idols in our midst. Think we don’t have idols these day s of gold and silver. Sure we do. They are houses, cars, sport, education, pleasure, work – anything which takes our focus away from God is an idol. What idol do you need to remove from your life so God can bless you?
Bible verses from New American Standard Version.
Related articles
Practical Lessons from Hezekiah