This month I have chosen to study the book of Isaiah. The introduction tells me that Isaiah is like a miniature Bible. It has 66 verses as the Bible has 66 books. The first 27 verses tells of God’s judgement to come. The whole world has sinned and God cannot allow it to go unpunished. The last 27 verses, as the New Testament does, gives a message of hope, telling of the coming of our Savior.
For years the people had brought sacrifices for the sins they committed and the Lord had honored these sacrifices, but still their sins grew worse. Isaiah says in chapter 1: 9 Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom and Gomorrah… 11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats… 13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me… 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
What good were all the sacrifices and services if the people did not change and their sins only grew worse? In verse 16 God admonishes them to: Wash YOU, make YOU clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
He told them of one to come who could wash their sins as white as snow. In chapter 9: 6 we read: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
As I was reading of all the judgment to come, one phrase stood out… and was repeated five times. 5:25, 9:12 , 9:17, 9:21 and 10:4 For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still…the same message was there in the book of Isaiah as we find in the New Testament. What ever happens to us, whatever we go through, His hand is stretched out still, offering us hope and salvation found only in Him. Even in the midst of His anger at sin He offers us forgiveness if only we choose to believe.
Isaiah 12 And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away and thou comfortedst me. 2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord, Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
His hand is stretched out still, the invitation to come to Him is always available, why not come to Him now?