July 17th~Enough is Enough

Isaiah 24:1-27:13

Isaiah 29:1-24

As heavy as yesterday’s passage was, today’s prophecies from Isaiah were even weightier. In fact, the heading for Isaiah 24 was, “Destruction of the Earth!” That’s encouraging, isn’t it? But, before we get too depressed, we must take note that Isaiah has, for a brief time, skipped over prophesying about contemporary Judah and, instead, prophesied about future Judah, distant future, like at the end of time.

Isaiah was privileged to get a glimpse of the last days, when Jesus will return, when Satan and his followers will be defeated and destroyed, when the evil of the world will be purged, and when the enemies of God’s people will finally be defeated. Though the earth will be ruined in the process and things will look grim around the world, these are all good signs, for the Lord is about to set things right.

Note these words, “Look! The Lord is about to destroy the earth and make it a vast wasteland... The earth suffers for the sins of the people, for they have twisted the instructions of God, violated His laws, and broken His covenant. Therefore, a curse consumes the earth and its people. They are left desolate, destroyed by fire...” (24:1, 5, 6).

“In that day, the Lord will punish the fallen angels in the heavens and the proud rulers of the nations on earth... In that day, the Lord will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth. He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery of His people...” (24:21; 25:8).

“In an instant, the Lord Almighty will come against the enemy with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and storm and consuming fire. All the nations fighting against Jerusalem will vanish like a dream! Your enemies will dream of a victorious conquest over Jerusalem but to no avail...“ (29:6-8).

Daily Reflection

As I have said before, while God is extremely patient, His patience gives way, at some point, to His justice. He cannot allow evil to prevail forever. “For only when He comes to judge the earth will people turn from their wickedness and do what is right. The Lord’s kindness does not make them do good. They do not listen when He threatens. They do not see His upraised fist...” (26:9-11).

We have all witnessed parents who threaten their children with consequences but who never follow through with them. This type of parenting only encourages their children to defy their authority and do what they please. Ultimately, it ruins the child, dishonors the parents, and adds another deviant citizen to society. In the same way, the Lord must follow through with His warnings or they are but empty threats.

How do these prophecies contradict the notion that God is love and that He would never do such things as destroy the people of the earth?

Can love, discipline, punishment, and judgment coexist? Should they coexist?

BiAY.org |Day 198 — 167 Days to Go