LENT 2011, Day 6

Isaiah 48 is my scheduled reading for today. Isaiah is the scribe - but God is the speaker. One of the first things that strikes me is His identification of His people - 'those who are called by the name Israel,' and His assessment of them: 'who swear by the name of the LORD and confess the God of Israel, but not in truth or right.'

That is precisely what we witnessed conspicuously on our recent trip to Israel, particularly in our visit to the Western Wall where Jewish faithful come to pray. They are faithful to the God of their Fathers - but they do not worship in TRUTH OR RIGHT,because they rejected God's Son - their long-awaited Messiah - when He came to live among them.

In Isaiah 48 God takes His chosen people to task for their bullheadedness. He tells them what their lives could have been like had they only listened - lives of true peace. He reminds them of His provision in the wilderness. And He lets them know they will not be completely cut off - for His Name's sake.

The prophecies of old are meshing and being fulfilled with incredible speed. My heart aches for the pain of the groaning of the earth and all the people who are so tragically affected. Even though this is what has been foretold, living through it - seeing the tragic events of prophecy unfold before our eyes - is painful. And it should be. It reflects Jesus' sorrow for Jerusalem when He looked out over the city with an aching heart and proclaimed, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing." Jesus' statement is recorded in Matthew 23:37 and in Luke 13:34.

An old, old song comes to mind:
In times like these we need an anchor. In times like these we need a Savior
Be very sure, be very sure, your anchor holds and grips the solid Rock.
This Rock is Jesus, yes, He's the One. This Rock is Jesus, the only One
Be very sure, be very sure, your anchor holds and grips the solid Rock.

We can learn a lesson from the boats that were saved when the tsunami hit Hawaii. Those that were offshore were safe. They rose with the tide, and experienced no harm. Those that were supposedly 'safe' in the harbor were destroyed as the waves and the surf pounded against them. God knows the 'safe place' for us spiritually is in the center of His will - and He is with us in the boat, no matter how stormy it gets.

Lord, help me hear Your voice clearly, and follow where You lead - even in the storm.