Messages of Rebuke and Promises – Isaiah 4-6

Bible Passage:  Isaiah 4-6

The Promise – If We Know What To Focus On

After the harsh judgments upon Judah in the last few chapters, Chapter 4 of Isaiah begins with some promises.

And these promises were not in the place of judgment but through it.  The survivors or remnant left were those who passed through the fire of judgment.  There would be three results of the work of the fire:

1. The people would be holy.  They would belong to God and reflect His character.
2. The people would be cleansed.
3. The people would experience God’s presence as a blessing instead of viewing it as a threat,

When we face difficulties, it is easy for us to think that God has abandoned us.  It helps us to recognize that comfort, pleasure and security – the things that we constantly seek for – are there if we learn that we must first seek God and His kingdom and righteousness (Matt 6:33).

If we make the seeking of these things as primary pursuits in our lives, then we are like the idolators.  But if we focus on God – His presence and His character, then all these things will come upon us without us even realizing it.  It would be like the shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and the rain (Isa 4:6).

“Whom Shall I Send?  And Who will go for us?

I have been tired a lot recently.  And this tiredness has caused me to consider my involvement with church activities… none more so then what was supposed to have happened yesterday for me.  In the morning there was a visiting, followed by Door to Door preaching, and then our home fellowship.  The thought of doing all 3 at the same day on a Sunday (after a week of work plus travelling) did not appeal to me and I hesitated to confirm doing any of it…

Then I found out the cause of my tiredness over the weekend.  Most abruptly.

And as I rested at home the whole day, I could not help but read these words of Isaiah and weep inside…

“Here am I! Send me.”

~ Isaiah 6:8

We have heard this many times.  And have been encouraged to respond many times.

But … many a times we do not respond to the call.

Yes, there are faithful ones in church like Isaiah who are always there when there is work to be done… but there are many more who are like me, picking and choosing things to get involved in – only when it suits us and not whether it suits God’s plans and timings.

When the grace of service is taken away from you – no matter how much you want to serve, you cannot.

So let us treasure when we have the health, the energy and the vitality to take the extra effort to do what we can for the house of God.  Actually, it should not be called an “extra effort” but our “reasonable service” (Rom 12:1) to God.

We can serve only because He allows us to… not because we want to.

May God have mercy on us.