When we’re wondering what’s wrong, we may look in the wrong place
By Dean Collins
Israel’s tendencies seem awfully familiar. If things aren’t working out the way you think they should, then it’s easy to start wondering if it’s a failure on God’s part. We often look to place the blame on someone else instead of considering our role in the situation. Isaiah 59 described this familiar pattern.
Not a God problem
Those in exile may have heard the prophet declare that they would be rescued and restored. But there wasn’t yet much evidence. Even if God’s people had some realization that their sins and their refusal to repent had put them in their current situation, they hadn’t come to grips with their ongoing sin problem. Some began to assume there was a deficiency with God. Maybe God’s arms just aren’t long enough or strong enough to reach them. Or maybe he has developed a hearing problem. Our hearing gets worse as we age, and God had been around awhile. Maybe he couldn’t hear their desperate prayers for help?
The prophet quickly corrected this line of thought. It’s wasn’t a God problem, it was a sin problem. Man’s sin is what keeps the distance and separation from God. God is fully able to save, forgive, redeem, and restore.
A permanent solution
When tackling a tough problem, it’s a good idea to identify the barriers that prevent success. In the case of Israel, the barriers were injustice, lack of truthfulness, problems of fairness, following crooked paths, and violence. These were the bigger issues. Basically, Israel’s problem was a sin problem. No one was able to step forward and solve that problem. There is only One who can do that.
Isaiah’s words predicted that a Redeemer would come. God would rescue in the short term but he was planning for a permanent solution. The world needed a savior. One who was strong enough to take the weight of mankind’s sin on himself in order to provide redemption.
There is a healthy side to trying to figure things out for yourself. God created us in his image, which would suggest that with this likeness comes creative power and imagination. We can think, feel, and take action. But we cannot save ourselves from our biggest challenge, our sin. Only our Redeemer can handle this problem.
John reminded us that when we confess our sin God is faithful to forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9). This is good news. And there’s more. When we come to Christ, not only do we receive forgiveness, but we also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit who fills us and guides us to live and walk a new life.
Doing our part
The love of God and the wisdom of God made it possible for Jesus to die once for all people and all time. His kingdom has been launched, and he is in the process of renewing all things. He will finish his work when he comes again. However, on our side we must daily choose to follow him. Yes, our sins are forgiven, yet the enemy will continue to tempt us to distraction from the things of God. As ambassadors of the King, we have a responsibility to live the King’s life. And we know from the example of Jesus this isn’t a life of entitlement. It is a life of service. It is a life that seeks righteousness and fights against injustice. We are to reflect the light and love of God in every situation and to every person.
Our current pandemic reminds us both of how selfish we can be and how short life is. Let’s respond to our current moment with the love of Christ and reach out to others as extensions of the hands of God. Let’s listen for the needs of others and respond in ways that allow all to see God’s love in this difficult season.
Your time with God’s Word
Isaiah 59:1-2, 8, 16-17, 19-21 ESV
Photo by Marten Newhall on Unsplash
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