A Cloud by Day

Then the Lord will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy. (Isaiah 4:5)

I think it’s hard for us to grasp the significance of the cloud and the fire described here.  I think first of the cloud and fire in Exodus, the signs the people had to follow so they always knew where to go.  I’ve sometimes wished for my own cloud or fire.  Could the Lord show me in such a clear, unmistakable way which direction to go?

I believe there’s another aspect to this cloud and fire that I miss because I’ve lived my entire life with immediate access to shelter and even air conditioning or heat as needed.  I’ve camped a couple of times where I’ve been cold for a few hours.  But even then if I was really desperate I could have crawled out of my tent, climbed into the vehicle a few feet away and cranked up the heat.

A couple of weeks ago, my family hiked over 5 miles in Palo Duro Canyon.  It was about 95 degrees that day. 

We cheered EVERY cloud that passed overhead! (There weren’t many.) We were just hiking for a few hours before heading back to our air conditioned car and an unlimited source of water, but we still stopped in every patch of shade and welcomed every shadow.

Israel is primarily a desert land, and for the people in this land a cloud is not just comfort but protection.  At night the temperature in the desert drops sharply, so fire is a necessary source of warmth as well as light to see and provides a measure of safety.  This cloud and fire aren’t just making the people more comfortable, they are a key to survival.

The Lord is reminding the people of something He repeats throughout scripture: I will be your shelter.  I will be your protection.  I will be your refuge from the storm. As true for us in our ‘storms’ and ‘deserts’ as it was for the people of Israel.

My Source of Support

“For behold, the Lord God of hosts is going to remove from Jerusalem and Jacob…” Isaiah 3:1

A list follows.  A list of things the people depended on.  To me it sounds like He’s stripping them of everything and turning things upside down.  “Capricious children will rule over them.” (v4)

Why?

Sometimes God humbles his people by removing sources of support, especially when we are not trusting in Him.  We are susceptible to looking to other people, other things for our support.  It’s easier to trust in our bank account balance than in daily provision from the Lord.  It’s easier to call a friend than to pray to the Lord. 

Some have called this process ‘a severe mercy.’ We might be more familiar with the term ‘tough love.’ Sometimes the Lord has to practice tough love with us.  Sometimes I’m depending on my street smarts to keep me safe, relying on my own wisdom to handle conflict, depending on my husband to make me feel loved and trusting in my financial smarts to guarantee we’re provided for in the future.  None of those things are wrong in and of themselves. It is wise of me to teach my daughter some safety principles as she begins driving more on her own.  It is obedient for my husband to do things daily to show his love for me.  It is right to strive to be good stewards of the resources God has given and to plan for the future.

But things happen.  The economy in this country could fall apart due to war, computer hackers or irresponsible leadership – all things VERY beyond my control.  When a crisis happens, my response reveals what I’m really trusting in.  If I fall apart when the economy falls apart, my confidence has been in my bank account not in my Lord. 

The key is for me to insure that I am not relying on these other supports INSTEAD OF relying on the Lord.  What am I looking to for protection and safety? What am I relying on and depending on? What am I proud of? What am I trusting in? 

If I answer honestly from my heart, does the Lord make the list?

The Light of the Lord

“Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” Isaiah 2:5

I’m a pretty practical person, so abstract image like this can frustrate me.  I want to know what this looks like TODAY, for me.  Clearly this is an invitation, but what is the Lord inviting me to do?  How do I walk in the light? 

Light can only be understood in terms of darkness.  The word used here is the same word used in Genesis 1 when God said, “Let there be light.”  It is translated light, morning, day, or my personal favorite, illumination.

If the Lord desires for me to walk in the light, I should AVOID walking in the darkness.  Throughout scripture, light and darkness are used as illustrations or analogies for good and evil.  In John paints a vivid picture for us in his gospel:

“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:4-5

“There was the true light which, coming into the work, enlightens every man.” V 9

“And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil.  For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”  John 3:19-21

“I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

Light is grouped with life, truth, and deeds ‘wrought in God.’ Darkness is associated with evil.  I still wanted a little ‘light’ shed on this for me ;-), so I went to The Message.

^19-21 “This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.”

Oh, how this resonates!! Living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so I can see God at work!  Walking in the light is very much walking in the truth.  It is not always easy or pleasant to seek the truth.  Many times our natural response is to hide, to avoid exposure especially of things that are painful.  But the longer I follow Jesus, the more convinced I am that Satan is the one who is behind hiding and secrets.  I think the Lord is always for bringing things into the light, for in the light is LIFE.

What am I offering?

"Bring your worthless offerings to me no longer." Isaiah 1:13

All the things listed in verses 11-15 are things God asked of His people. He specifically prescribed the sacrifices and the offerings that He here calls worthless, an abomination and a burden.  What changed?

Leviticus describes in detail all the sacrifices and ceremonies God laid out for His people as part of the old covenant.  I think a clue to what the people of Isaiah's time missed can be found in Lev. 16:31, following the instructions for the day of atonement:  "It is to be a sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls."

I think it is possible that the people were just going through the motions.  Maybe they were the Pharisees of that day.  They were bringing offerings, sacrificing animals, burning incense, celebrating the feasts, but their hearts were not in it.  Their souls were not humble.

What is that today?  Where am I going through the motions, but my heart is not in it? Sunday mornings, worship, tithes, offerings, teaching, serving and prayer are all GOOD things, but Psalm 51:17 reminds us what comes FIRST.  "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart"

One of the things the book of Isaiah shouts loudly to me is that God's heart is for the hearts of His people.  His warnings plead with His people to look to the state of their hearts.  Am I too focused on WHAT I'm doing or WHAT I'm offering?  Have I forgotten that He wants my heart?

Not Knowing

“Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. An ox knows it’s owner, and a donkey it’s master’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Isaiah 1:2-3

Isaiah dives right in with warnings, with chastisement.  This is not cheery reading.  Why is it here?  What does this teach me about the heart of God?

God is desperately worried about His children, here the children of Israel.  He’s calling them out in very strong terms. I’m no farm animal expert, but my understanding is that donkeys and oxen aren’t the brightest crayons in the box.  In essence He’s saying even the donkey and ox know better than His people.

He’s addressing their rebellion by saying they do not know and they do not understand.

Do all sins begin with the not knowing?  In our times, not knowing might be the greatest rebellion.  Not knowing means I choose to know something else.

“Inconsideration of what we do know is as great an enemy to us in religion as ignorance of what we should know.”  Matthew Henry

I am frequently guilty of not considering what I know.  In other words, I choose to ignore what I know when it’s inconvenient to my pursuit of what I want.

The beginning of Isiah has more questions than answers for me.  But questions have the potential to reveal my heart.  And the passion and concern expressed in Isaiah 1 convinces me that my heart is of great concern to my God.

Verse 4 challenges me to assess my personal discipleship. Is there anything I have abandoned, despised or forsaken, relinquished or turned away from?

-Have I abandoned fellowship with God?

-Have I forsaken time with God? (I can try to pretend that forsaken time with God does not mean I’ve forsaken God, but really in any relationship if I give up spending time with a person, I’ve given up the person.)

-Have I relinquished reading my Bible? Prayer?

-Have I left spiritual practices behind?

-Have I scorned or despised anything of God?

-Have I turned my back in the act of turning to something else?  How frequently have I ignored God and my spiritual life?

-Have I turned away or aside from God? Have I chosen another (person or thing) to pour my time, energy and love into? Who or what am I following?

I think God is  trying to convey to me in the strongest possible way that rebellion is serious.  Sin is serious.

In the Old Testament, in Isaiah, we read of judgment for iniquity but also of the promise of forgiveness. (v18) I live under that the new covenant where my sin is forgiven and wiped away!  Hallelujah! However, I still need to remember my sin is serious primarily because my sin is an obstacle to knowing God. And oh how I want to know God!! 

Walking with Isaiah

Starting this week, our Ladies Bible study will begin studying the book of Isaiah.  I'm thrilled, but I suspect others may be asking, "What are you thinking?"

Isaiah is intimidating.  66 chapters.  Numerous unfamiliar allusions and names and places.  Additionally, the first chapters are all about sins, warnings, consequences.  It’s not your feel-good Bible reading. 

So why Isaiah? 

Because I think Isaiah has a lot to teach us about the heart of God.

As we journey through Isaiah, we will read and ask, “What does this passage teach me about the heart of God? What does this passage teach me about God?”  Discipleship is knowing God and walking with God.  As we walk together through the book of Isaiah, if we read with eyes to see what God is passionately for and against, with ears to hear what He’s communicating to His people, and with a heart that’s is attending to what God feels for His people, we will walk away with a greater understanding of the Holy One.

(For some background on the time of Isaiah, read II Chron 26-32)