Israel had rejected God’s plans and decided to follow their own way, Isaiah 28- 30:11. See Warnings in Isaiah blog. God here warns of the consequences of those actions
Judgment comes to those who reject God’s Holy One and rely on other means to guide them in life, Isaiah 30:12. What are you relying on? What have you put your trust in? Is it wealth, contacts, education, possessions, family? All of these will crumble and fall, verses 13-14. Israel put her trust in allies and idols rather than God and God promised judgment as a result.
Yet we see God’s love for his people too in verse 15. He longs to gather them and for them to repent and trust in Him but they were not willing verse 15. Are you willing to trust in God, despite circumstances which don’t seem to be going the way you would like?
Instead of trusting God, Israel chose to flee, verse 16. God allowed it, in spite of the fact that He longed to be gracious to them verse 18. But He waits till they are ready to turn to Him. When they do, He promises they will weep no more. He will hear and answer their prayers, verse 19. If God is not answering your prayers or mine, it could be because we have allowed sin to come between us and God.
God will reveal himself to Israel, verse 20. He will guide and direct them in their path, verse 21. These same promises can be ours too, if we follow God’s directions, if we repent and trust in the Lord God and cry out to Him. God promises Israel when this happens, she will no longer rely on her idols but will rid herself of them. Is there something in your life that has become an idol? Anything that takes preeminence over God is an idol. Will you ask God to help you rid yourself of it?
In place of worthless idols, God promises rain to grow seed and plenteous crops. In Australia, with our land suffering the effects of drought, our country needs to turn our eyes towards God. When it does rain, people need to be reminded God is the provider of this gift.
Recently on our local radio, one woman was quick to acknowledge God. The DJ asked her if it was raining where she was calling from. ‘Yes, it is, but then that’s what we’ve been praying for.’ Her few words were a poignant reminder to all that God is the giver of all good gifts.
God promises healing and blessing for His people, verse 26. God’s power and authority will be seen, verses 27, 28, 30,31,32,33. See also Isaiah 31. Is His power and authority being seen in your life?
Bible references taken from The New American Standard Version
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