Isaiah 40:1-11 Everybody loves the “rags to riches” stories, like the one about the woman who sat in an Edinburgh coffee shop scribbling some thoughts on her napkin after spending her very last bit of change on a cup of coffee. As it turns out, those scribbles on the napkin become the basic concept for a children’s novel that swept the world selling millions and millions of copies. Imagine, a person without a dime to her name becoming an overnight success! But what about when the story goes the other way? You know what I’m talking about…the riches to rags story, like the one about the major league pitcher who went from millionaire to homelessness man in a few short years. Or what about the numerous stories of people who won the lottery only to find themselves in even greater poverty? The rags to riches stories bring excitement, but the riches to rags stories are deeply saddening. The Book of Isaiah spends the better part of the first 39 chapters describing a riches to rags story. The nation of Israel had everything going for them. They were God’s special people. Blessed beyond measure. Rich in wealth and in faith. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough. They became so jealous of the nations around them that they emulated them and forgot their covenant with God. Israel continued to envy the other nations until their lack of covenant faithfulness led to the exile in Babylon. While in exile Isaiah envisioned a time when Israel’s punishment would end and allow them to return to their land. But the text surprises the reader. It’s not a message we were expecting. In Isaiah 40 God is speaking! And God is telling His prophet, Isaiah, to go to these people in exile and report a message from the Almighty. Here is what God says to His rebellious people in exile: “Comfort, comfort my people. Speak tenderly [literally, speak to their heart] to Jerusalem. Her warfare has ended.” In fact, the prophet says the people should clear a path for God, because the Lord is on the way to meet them! “A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare a way for the Lord.’” The message of the prophet is not that God is going to set His people free because they deserve it. Nor is it that God is setting them free because they’ve earned it. This might even surprise you, but the message of the prophet is not even that God is going to release Israel because they’ve changed. Isaiah’s message is that God is coming to set His people free because God loves His people. And when God comes, He will save His people! The thing that strikes me is that God comes to the people so that the people can come to God. God takes the first step. God takes the initiative! And in Jesus Christ we see that God becomes what we are so that we might become what He is. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 16:36:05 +0000
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