His Hand Is Stretched Out Still

Isaiah 9:10 - "The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will replace them with cedars." 

Our pastor has decided to show two DVDs on Wednesday nights. They revolve around Isaiah 9:10 which shows what happened to Israel before the time of Christ. The words spoken in the scripture were the heart of Israel which had been attacked and badly beaten down by their enemy. As Isaiah 9:9 states, the words came out of pride and arrogance. They would show their enemy just how strong a nation they were and that they would rebuild, bigger and better.

As Pastor stated, he is dismayed by how government will quote scripture, often without truly understanding what it means, out of context, just because it sounds good.

I'm writing about a subject I posted a blog on previously. You might read it before finishing this post. At the beginning of Isaiah 9 are words we so often hear at Christmas:

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

You see, what Israel missed, we also as a nation, have missed. Isaiah prophesied that there would come a King, described above. We know that King to be Jesus Christ. If you notice the names He is ascribed, they fit all our needs. He is wonderful, can be our counselor if we learn His statutes. He is our mighty God and everlasting Father. He is also our Prince of Peace. His kingdom, His judgment and justice is just a heartbeat away. And once it comes it is eternal. What He says He will do, He will accomplish, as I mentioned yesterday (Isaiah 55:11).

Oh, how this is all so interconnected. God's Word is so powerful. Nothing was written that has no meaning. Nothing was written idly. Everything was written that we might KNOW. Know Him, know His truth, know His Word. So why are so many not getting it? Is the Church not preaching it? Are we not talking it up? Might it have to do with the same pride and arrogance Isaiah spoke about? That man often believes they are stronger and wiser than God, the Creator of this world, and can live without Him?

So let's see if I can put this into words! Isaiah prophesied about a soon coming King. He would be Israel's all in all. He would lead with His government and there would be peace. But Israel missed the point even though it was right there in those words that they heard in their temples. They missed it because they were looking for that political figure, a mere man, as I mentioned yesterday.

Why did Israel's enemy defeat them? They had turned their backs on God and He allowed their enemy to strike, hoping upon hope they would turn once again turn to Him. Verse 13 shows us this: For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them, nor do they seek the LORD of hosts. When Israel's enemy not only destroyed their buildings but also their land, they became proud and arrogant and decided to rebuild on their own, again, bigger and better. They chose not to seek God in their time of disaster. They did not look to Him for their strength and refuge. They looked only to themselves.

September 11, 2001 was a bit like Israel being destroyed, bricks falling and trees cut down (yes, there was A tree, one of significance). And our nation chose Isaiah 9:10 as their mantra, if you will, to show the people of the world that we would come out of this bigger and better; we would build a new building, maybe make it taller than before. These words were spoken by John Edwards, Tom Daschle, Rudy Guiliani, George Pataki, even President Obama. It was embedded into the very pages of American history. I remember hearing these words eleven years ago and thinking, that's pretty arrogant of us to say. I kept those words pretty much to myself at the time because I thought I would be looked upon as being unpatriotic, as anti-America.

Look at this: …We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense. And for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken -- you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you…  Who might have said these words? Words of defiance, pride and arrogance. Might you be surprised to know it was our President? Not apologize for our way of life?

Like Israel, we have shunned God. We are pushing Him out of schools, removing prayer in public, wanting to remove the name of God from government institutions, and crosses, Christmas trees and Merry Christmas from just about everything. And that doesn't include the societal issues we "embrace." So, was God trying to show us something on September 11, 2001? Was it a warning? Did we hear?

I really don't care anymore who thinks I'm nuts. God is able to do whatever He desires to get our attention. And He has promised judgment upon those who do not seek Him. This is not just a nation but all people.

Are we ready to turn back to God? Are we ready to make Jesus as our only hope? Are we ready to look to Him as Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Are we ready to let Him rule and reign as the King over our lives, to be our Peace?

God loves us so much…He sent His Son to be born, which birth we will celebrate (hopefully not so much with Santa Claus and endless presents) soon. When are we going to fully understand just exactly what Christ's birth was all about? When are we going to really get it? When are we going to seek God for these answers and seek Him for what He also gave His live for…that we might have eternal life.

God tells us that His anger will not be turned away, but His hand will be stretched out still (Isaiah 9:17c). Do you hear that? His anger will continue, but God…still loves us so much and will relent if we, as people and a nation, will turn our hearts to Him for the first time or return to Him. He loves us that much that He will forgive if we repent of our sins as individuals and as a nation.

Those words are repeated for extra measure. Can we get this?

For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still. (Isaiah 9:21, 10:4)