SOAP Isaiah 30: It's All Real

It’s All Real

ISAIAH 30

”Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.

For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you. And though the Lord gives you The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers.

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.

Behold, the name of the Lord comes from afar, Burning with His anger, And His burden is heavy; His lips are full of indignation, And His tongue like a devouring fire. His breath is like an overflowing stream, Which reaches up to the neck, To sift the nations with the sieve of futility;

He has made it deep and large; Its pyre is fire with much wood; The breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, Kindles it.“

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭30‬:‭ 18‬-‭21‬, ‭27‬-‭28‬a, 33‬b NKJV‬‬

God's fury and judgment are real. Hell is real. It's all real. Bad things exist because sin exists.

Many of those around us bad or maybe “not really” are choosing to live life without acknowledging the One who created them- planted purpose within them- formed them in identity- and suffered and died on a cross for them. Fury and judgement are chosen.  They choose it for themselves.

It's awful to think about. It's easier to convince ourselves into other thoughts and things. I guess that's why people joke about it. Saying light things like “I guess I'm going to hell.” or “see you in hell.” All with laughter and mockery. It's heart-wrenching as I think about it.

All of it inevitably true and my inability to think of it, or entertain the imagery doesn't make it less true.

God is real. He is merciful and full of grace. His heart is bent toward forgiveness, no matter how despicable the failure or sin. Judgement reserved for those who do not acknowledge Him as Savior.  There's only one way. And it's through Jesus.

Jesus our judgement offering, given in lavish grace. His blood paying the sin debt we owed. We all owe-some will choose to pay themselves. It's a heavy debt. The price judgement and hell.

The others will simply choose to receive a gift so great, nothing short of the greatest miracle ever received. Could never be earned nor ever worthy to receive - the most extravagant gift we could ever receive, full of future and promise, a gift that Jesus’ blood pays all of our debts in full, leaving no balance for us to fulfill.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for paying my debt. I'm so grateful someone cared enough to share this miraculous gift with me. Lord, put people in my path that I can share this gift with too. Help me to be intentional in putting others first, seeing them, hearing them, serving them. Let your love and passion for people burn in me. It's all about You. Be glorified, in Jesus’ name amen.