Yesterday, we touched on one of the ways God dealt with His rebellious creatures. God shows His mercy more when His people do not keep the covenant. He loves them more, hoping that they will repent. Today, we read of more ways God deals with His people.
Yea, O people in Zion who dwell at Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you (Isaiah 30:19).
This week, we are attending a seminar to explore the relationship between religion and science. Both enterprises try to make sense of the world we live in. The universe we are living in is a sensible universe. There is law and order. It makes sense whether you believe in God or you believe in no God. If you happen to believe in God, you may subscribe to different conceptions of God. Even if you believe that the universe was created by God, you can still choose to believe in a God who deserts/lets loose His creation once He has set the laws of the nature in motion. You may also choose to believe in a God who is heavily involved in His creation. God retreats to the background, remains reticent and leaves no traces in the former model. The Jews and their spiritual inheritors believe in the latter model. Our God is so involved with the sinful world that He sent His Son to die for us. This is the essence of Christianity. The verse in Isaiah reassures us that God will answer us when we call.
This week, we are attending a seminar to explore the relationship between religion and science. Both enterprises try to make sense of the world we live in. The universe we are living in is a sensible universe. There is law and order. It makes sense whether you believe in God or you believe in no God. If you happen to believe in God, you may subscribe to different conceptions of God. Even if you believe that the universe was created by God, you can still choose to believe in a God who deserts/lets loose His creation once He has set the laws of the nature in motion. You may also choose to believe in a God who is heavily involved in His creation. God retreats to the background, remains reticent and leaves no traces in the former model. The Jews and their spiritual inheritors believe in the latter model. Our God is so involved with the sinful world that He sent His Son to die for us. This is the essence of Christianity. The verse in Isaiah reassures us that God will answer us when we call.
Yesterday, we read of how God loved the Israelites more when they had gone astray. Today, we read of His second major technique: punishment.
And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher (Isaiah 30:20).
God punishes in order to teach. God punishes because He loves His people. Even a mother will not spare the rod. She certainly loves her son, especially the youngest one. However, if she does not want her beloved son to suffer at the hands of the wicked in the future, she had better take some effective actions. Similarly, God also sends punishment to the people He has elected. But He will never leave them behind to suffer.
And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher (Isaiah 30:20).
God punishes in order to teach. God punishes because He loves His people. Even a mother will not spare the rod. She certainly loves her son, especially the youngest one. However, if she does not want her beloved son to suffer at the hands of the wicked in the future, she had better take some effective actions. Similarly, God also sends punishment to the people He has elected. But He will never leave them behind to suffer.
God also leaves us with a conscience in the depth of our hearts (or souls). The study of moral theology tells me that this "little voice" is in-born. It is part of human nature. We are born with this inclination to choose good. We make use of our rationality to reason a way out of a dilemma, to choose the maximum good and minimum bad. This conscience is also the magistrate passing judgment on the actions we have done. Sometimes we regret we have not chosen otherwise. This regret indicates that our conscience is still ticking. We come across this conscience in the following verse.
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left (Isaiah 30:21).
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left (Isaiah 30:21).
Dear Lord, You have worked so many different ways to guarantee our salvation. I pray that we may make good use of these opportunities. Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near (Isaiah 55:6). Amen.
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