I want to make a case for our God who is sometimes viewed as a strict disciplinarian. One who does not budge from His seat of judgement, especially in the Old Testament. The book of Isaiah is often described in the following words:
“The first 39 chapters of Isaiah primarily focus on God’s judgment upon Israel and the surrounding nations, while the final 27 chapters (40-66) transition to a message of comfort, hope, and salvation, often highlighting the coming Messiah and the future restoration of God’s people.”
If we slow down to analyze how God’s wrath works in the Old Testament, we will notice that His anger is always against evil, dross, alloy, against impurity.
“… I will rid Myself of My adversaries,
-Isaiah 1:24-26
And take vengeance on My enemies.
I will turn My hand against you,
And thoroughly purge away your dross,
And take away all your alloy.
I will restore your judges as at the first,
And your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.”
While this sounds ominous, I often stop to wonder why He does not just wipe us out with all our propensity to veer away from goodness and run towards evil. He could have easily burned Judah to smithereens and build a Judah 2.0 with the just and trusted few. But that is how I would fix the issues not how our loving, kind God abounding in tender-mercies would.
His expectations for us are simple. If the commandments do not spell it out clearly, here is the translation in Isaiah’s words:
“Learn to do good;
-Isaiah 1:17
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.”
He wants us to win, He is our biggest cheerleader in this race of life. He set us up for success by dying on the cross. I think all we have to do now is bask in His love and protection knowing that the finish line is going to be beautiful.
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
-Hebrews 12:1-2
Dear God,
Sorry for all the times that I stray away from your goodness and embrace evil ways. Thank You for steering me back to the safety of Your loving embrace. Please guide me to hang onto You while I learn to be good. Amen.