Isaiah 5:18-24

Isaiah 5:18-24 Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:

¹⁹ That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!

²⁰ Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

²¹ Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

²² Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:

²³ Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

²⁴ Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

Times haven’t changed much.  This is exactly where the world is today.  Much of it could be describing the headlines in every paper or the lead story on the television.  The world’s lust for sin is incredible.  American seems to be leading the way in much of the corruption. 

We look at the starvation of people, the diseases that run rampant in third world countries, the violence in America, the destruction of families, the intrusion of governments all over the world wreaking havoc on people and their relationship with God, and yet we continue to try and improve our condition without acknowledging our sins.  The World refuses to accept direction from God; refuses to even recognize His existence.

The more man tries to remedy the situation, the worse it gets. Yes, there are some areas that they have succeeded in slowing down the results of their sinful behavior, but it just substitutes for something else and satan works in another. Without proclaiming sin as sin, without asking for forgiveness of God, accepting His precepts and following His mandates all we do is doomed to failure, it may seem to stem the tide of our woeful spiritual position, but it only prolongs the inevitable.

We indeed are fortunate that He is such a patient God.  That will not always be so, however, and if we don’t start coming around He will do with America as He did with Israel.  He expects more of Americans, I think, we have a closer connection with Him than many nations – it is probably the closest of any to what Israel has with Him.  We based much of our Constitution on His principles.  At one time many Americans strived to follow Him, they believed in Him, they accepted His Son; while not perfect, the country, as a whole, wanted to do right by God.  But because we are allowing the government, the media, the news, the sinful behavior of the majority to take over the wanton upheaval of Christian beliefs and rights we are quickly losing favor with God.   We seem to be going farther and farther from the mind-set of respect for God – and growing in the disparaging of God and His rightful place in our lives and hearts expedite the problems.  

When God’s people in Israel prayed, when they humbled themselves and admitted that they had sinned, Israel was covered by His hand.   They were often free of war and when war did come about by jealous or angry neighbors they were triumphant.  The people prospered, their cattle grew fat, their crops were ripe and full up to harvest.  There was peace in their land and they followed God and His laws.  Their heart was full of Him and His Goodness and the country reflected that.

It is amazing how often they would fall away from Him and worship other gods, but He was always there for them, all they had to do was come to Him.  The world and particularly America is in that same place.  If we heed the warnings of the Old Testament, understand that the humility of even a few of His chosen people, their prayers that go up for our country can make a difference in the direction we are heading.

I have no idea how close God is to sending Christ back to bring us home.  It doesn’t matter.  While we are here on earth we have an obligation to pray for our country, pray for its leaders, proclaim salvation through Christ and the Love and Grace He gives to us.  While we may be discouraged by what we see happening around us, God is still in control.  God can still save people – and He wants to, and He can turn this country around.  As long as there are Christians serving Him, praising Him, loving Him and praying to Him, there is always hope.

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous