Isaiah 30:15 (ESV)
For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling,
(MSG)
God, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel: ” Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me – The very thing you’ve been unwilling to do.
The voice of the Spirit of God is loud and clear in Isaiah 30 to beckon us to look to God at all times. Even so, now. Not relying on self nor others, nor kings and authorities nor any other power. This is not suggesting we should rebel against authorities, nor be proud to receive any help from people or exercising our spiritual judgement.
The world has evolved at an unprecedented rate. Life is harried and hurried.The intended norms are abnormal to society. The simplicity of life had to make way for the sophisticated lifestyle and individualism. These result from postmodernism, marked by a great evidence of fragmentation and loss of the value and meaning in life. Truth is misplaced. Perhaps some desire to return but these efforts to return is affected largely by the global changes. We stepped into a default mode which just keep accelerating. We lost control of and being siphoned into the vicious cycle. Now – like never before in our lifetime, the pandemic serves to bring the ill reality right to the face of mankind irrespective of race, creed, cultures and status. It penetrates international borders in a flash of time, to redefine life.
In returning, it requires repentance. It demands we be radical and intentional to heed the solemn counsel of God. Isaiah 30 addresses an obstinate nation. The call to return and repent. It begins with each one. You and I. To enter into the rest. Rest is placing our faith and dependence in God. To subdue ourselves and quieten down to be strengthen. To allow the spirit of God rises within us. For God is our strength (Psalm 18:1).
Where is your confidence?
What is your confidence?
Who is your confidence?
The verse ended with – but, you were unwilling…
Ponder. And ask, “Am I willing?”
“Heavenly Father, we bow down and submit to your sovereignty. As we wait and pray for this wave to pass, we reexamine our hearts, our motives, our life. Enable us to command our inner man to be quiet and surrender to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
© Pr Selina Khoo Lim, Gateway City Church, Penang. 23 March 2020