In our bad days, we can remember evil will not ultimately win
By Dean Collins
Living between the now and then with purpose and on mission includes days and even seasons where the foolish, the arrogant, the betrayers, and the liars do have moments of prosperity. When this happens, we must cling to the promises of a future where righteousness is the norm and evil does not have power to harm.
Isaiah is a book that weaves in and out of Israel’s pending judgment, her temporary restoration, and the ultimate restoration of all things. You and I will also experience moments when the brokenness of the world and the practice of ungodliness seem to have the upper hand.
In Isaiah 32 and 33, we experience this tension between the now and the future moment where all is good forever. Isaiah reminds us that the unrighteous fool has a heart issue. His ways are ungodly and filled with error. Isaiah continues his description this way:
“As for the scoundrel—his devices are evil; he plans wicked schemes to ruin the poor with lying words, even when the plea of the needy is right.”
Sadly, we will encounter people like the ones Isaiah described as we seek to fulfill the purposes of the Lord and the mission he has given us. Sometimes these moments are brief and we barely notice them. And other times the unrighteous are so set on their agendas and their prosperity that we encounter prolonged attack, grief, and pain. There have been a few times in my life that had that kind of intensity.
Isaiah reminds us that when the Spirit is poured upon us we will see the wilderness become a fruitful field, so fruitful it appears to be a forest. Isaiah described the ultimate day of renewal and restoration looking just like that.
The prophet closes his thoughts in chapter 32 telling the faithful servants of God that they are blessed when they sow beside the waters. When we throw our seed on fertile ground, life will spring forth. Even when the enemy seeks to destroy through the evil work of others, God says we can still experience an abundance.
As chapter 33, opens, we learn that those who seek to destroy will eventually receive their reward. They will reap destruction based on the lies and harm they created. And until that time of great harvest for God’s servants, we are told to wait on the Lord. And then Isaiah offers a prayer that would be good for us to remember and pray:
“O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble. “
I don’t like waiting. Waiting implies that the outcome is unknown. And it is to us from a human perspective. No one knows or can predict the future. None of us can see the breakthrough ahead or the ultimate end of a situation, and so we pray that God would be gracious to us as we wait. We’ve already learned that by God’s grace and the power of his Holy Spirit we can experience peace even in the waiting.
God promises through the words of his prophet that there will be a tumultuous moment. When it happens, whether soon or later or both, the noise will be so loud that people won’t know what happened. But then we will see the Lord exalted:
“The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness, and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure.”
God will bring stability in our times of distress and ultimately when he returns. God is the one who offers salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. But in order to experience all that he has for us, we must wait on his perfect timing. Then and only then do we experience all the treasure he has waiting for us.
Lord, we have seen the destruction of the enemy in many places. We sometimes have experienced the unrighteous behavior of those who seek selfishly instead of living humbly. We trust you to get us through these times. Be gracious to us as we wait for you. Be our strong arm each day as we surrender our will to you and trust you to meet every need and fight every enemy. We do not rely on self but rest fully in your hands. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Isaiah 32:6-8, 15-20; 33:1-6 ESV
Photo by Lena_Zajchikova at istockphoto.com
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