Day 203: Isaiah 28-30

I know that reading the OT can be tough at times and the book of Isaiah has a lot of great stuff in it but it is also a challenge for me to read and put it all together. I am trying to change my focus and apply the principles and ideas from back then into our lives today and it is making it a little easier to follow. These passage in particular I saw in a new light as I was reading and continuing to see how much God cares and longs for His people but they keep doing their own thing and thinking they know best.

Twice the people respond that God is only telling them "Do this and do that. Do that and do this." I can hear the attitude and resentment. The people don't recognize that it is for their own good and protection that God has given them these rules and think back to the time of coming into the promised land how many times we read about the prophets and leaders reminding the people to keep the laws in their hearts and obey the commands God had given them. The people want to keep all the prophets now and those who are trying to rebuke and correct quiet. They aren't listening to the warning of those around them. They are drinking too much and again we see the pride of the heart surface where they focus on their abilities and strengthes, not on God.

In 29:13, we hear again about the worship of the people and how it isn't genuine. They just do the motions, say the words, but it isn't in their hearts. We all need to be more aware of our tendency to just say the right words and not live it out or believe it in our hearts. God makes it very clear in these passages that he does know the peoples' hearts and they can't hide their deeds from Him.

Also I like in 30:13, where the visual is very clear about sin being like cracks in a high wall and eventually it makes the wall fall down into little peices that are useless. Think about your sins in this way, it challenged me.

But ending on a positive note in 30:19, God reminds the people that as soon as they cry out to Him for help, He will answer. God always answers our cries for help.