a child of god
this is the way, run in it
![]() In Isaiah, chapter 30, God talks about when His people turn back to Him. I love this passage, because it talks about God's heart and lovingkindness for His people and it talks about His promises of blessing IF we follow His ways and allow Him to purify our lives and hearts. Verses 18-26 talk about this. In verse 18, Isaiah the prophet and servant of God says this, "Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you (longs - note the passion in God's heart and purposes for us), and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you." Isn't that interesting? The bible often talks about our waiting on God - that it is required, that is takes time and commitment and diligence, but that it also brings great reward. But here, God is waiting on us! Isaiah goes on to say "For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed/happy/favored are all those who long for Him." So here it's our turn to long (have passion for and desire deeply) for God! This relationship is a two way street. Verse 19 says this, "...at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you." How precious and beautiful is that? God, the LORD God Almighty, the Creator of the Universe, will be moved to answer us and respond to us at the sound of our cry! It's like a little baby, when it cries, the Father and the Mother hurry to see what the baby needs - to bring comfort, sustenance, ease, love, belonging, nurture, clean diapers/nappies!, to bring just what it needed. As that baby grows up, the parents bring teaching into the mix - just like God does. Verse 20-21, "Although the LORD has given you bread of privation and water of oppression (this is when the children of Israel were in trouble for sinning and turning away from the LORD, and the consequences of that sin/rebellion), He, your Teacher, will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. And your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left." I love this that God becomes our Teacher, and He reveals His face to our eyes, and His words of direction to our ears. God's intention towards His people is always for the good - whether it be correct and discipline we need, or love and care and direction. And what is the people of Israel's response to this attention from the LORD? They get rid of their idols - anything that they have put in their hearts and desires instead of God - see verse 22. They get rid of the things that they were worshiping instead of God, they cast them out and say, "Be gone!" God's response to this action of purification and re-dedication is to bless them. "Then He will give you rain for the seed which you will sow in the ground, and bread from the yield of the ground, and it will be rich and plenteous..." God brings all the blessings they have wanted and needed - when they turn to Him, cry out to Him, and respond by purifying their lives and dedicating themselves to Him again. And God "binds up the fracture of His people, and heals the bruise He has inflicted" (v.26b). A friend once had a picture and word for me during a prayer time. We had been waiting on God, and then praying for what He revealed to us. She had this picture, of a little baby, with two hands cupped either side of the baby's face. "...and you were being looked at intently with detail. The whites of your eyes were perfectly white and there was a real sense of love for you like the Lord's face was captivated by you. You were looking intently up, too, as though you were waiting to take your leading as tiny babies feed off their parents in order to know how to respond and feel. It was a beautiful image with such a sense of tenderness and love flowing both ways - to you and from you." May the love of God flow to us and through us so that all peoples of all tribes - everyone in the world - may know the love that God has for them which Jesus demonstrated in word, action and completion, and so they can respond to Him, too, and know Him.
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Lavish! I love it when God uses the word “lavish” in His Word. And when God uses the word “lavish” - watch out! Here in Isaiah, Chapter 25, He is foretelling when God will establish His kingdom on Mt Zion forever, and all people and all things will be sorted out. In verses 6-9, Isaiah says this, “And the LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; a banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow (I love cooking stews with a bit of bone marrow - yum!)...” This passage always makes me think of my friend Rosemary. She has quoted this passage before when praying for people, but what I can see her doing is saying with emphasis, “for all peoples!”, as she is passionate about people from every tribe and nation coming to know Jesus, the Son of God. She also likes good food and is always preparing gorgeous, tasting, hearty, sustaining, just what you needed, food for people who don’t have much, all out of her tiny pension. She always says, God provides! And I can see her, in my mind’s eye, bouncing up and down on her feet with joy as she says, echoing God, “for all peoples.” I saw her doing this just the other day, bouncing on her toes along to the old hymn, “Count Your Blessings - name them one by one.” Isaiah goes on to say, God will swallow up death for all time, and the LORD God will wipe tears away from all faces, and He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken. (If God says He will do it, you can count on that!) And it will be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” So count your blessings! Name them one by one. Wait on the LORD and see what He will do for you. He is so worth belonging to! Praise Him! |
Franci Ballwatching and working for the kingdom of God in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham - UK Archives
January 2019
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