December 15, 2018: Day 14 – Isaiah 10

It is clear that the Lord was not happy with the way that the most vulnerable of society were being treated.   The orphan was being trampled, and that was not to God’s liking.  The widow was being taken advantage of, and there was no one to defend her.  I can think of a similar situation today where we have orphans and widows on our borders and our backs are turned for the sake of seeking security.  There is quite a bit in these verses that have to cause us to pause and wonder: what are we doing and are there any similarities to what Isaiah has to say here?  The question is asked by God, should I not treat Israel the same way that I treated other nations that were acting in this way?  Look at vs.11 and you can see the reasoning in the verses leading up to it.

He then continues and gives us some insight into Providence and our inability to see who really is in charge.  We think we are the ax, and maybe we are, but the ax has no ability to dictate its future or its actions without the person who wields it.  The same is true of us.  We are people who are absolutely unable to predict our future and can only be on course as a result of the our Creator who puts us to work and on course.

But this chapter is especially known for vss.20ff.  We read about a remnant that will be preserved even in the midst of all of this disobedience.  A remnant will come out of the nation who is not defiled, but has obeyed.  This remnant will return back to Jerusalem and Zion and reestablish God’s kingdom.  When this happens then God’s anger will be appeased and the burden will be lifted from the shoulders of the people.  Yes, we are looking forward to that day.  Advent is all about the coming of the Lord and an anticipation of when that burden will be lifted.

We know that in the coming of our Savior the burden was lifted, but we still wait for when Jesus comes back again.  Maranatha!