As a leader I was presented with a no-win situation that was above my pay grade. I inquired of my authorities for a correct response and then did my best to follow their guidance. When the situation turned worse, I again called those over me, and I felt they moved the goalpost on me. I felt betrayed after how hard I had tried to handle the situation correctly. Instead of accepting their judgment and moving on, I withdrew. My trust in my authority withered leaving me feeling ashamed of my response. Is that how God wants us to respond to Him when He exercises His sovereignty over us?
The Bible records God frequently expressing His love for the Hebrews (Jews) and Jerusalem. God repeatedly promised Abraham that He would bless his seed in various ways. The main storyline is about a love story between God and Abraham’s offspring. David captured Jerusalem and called the city Zion. Later David wrote, As for me, I have set my King on Zion [NTL2 Jerusalem], my holy hill. (Psalm 2:6, ESV) and For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell there and possess it (Psalm 69:35, ESV). These verses and many others express God’s strong love for His people and His city, Jerusalem. However, He didn’t just say it. He spent a lot of grace over several millennia showing His love towards them.
It helps to understand that true love isn’t always tender. There is what is called tough love. Out of authentic love, the Holy Spirit inspired Isaiah to call out the Hebrews for their empty religious behavior and words. Isaiah continues to prophesy warning for them to change the attitude of their heart towards God. Here is what really messed with my thinking! God comes to the point where, through Isaiah His prophet, He calls His beloved city Ariel. The Hebrew word Ariel may mean “lion of God” or it may also mean “altar hearth”, the top of the altar where fire continually consumed the sacrifices. The next verse interprets it as the latter meaning by speaking of heavy disaster coming upon God’s chosen people living in Ariel (Jerusalem). The people will experience weeping and sorrow. The striking part is in chapter 29 is who He says will bring this disaster! While He used the Assyrians as His instrument, He said I will besiege…I will surround Jerusalem and attack its walls. Imagine Isaiah’s inner feelings having to prophesy such harsh things to God’s chosen people and city. What has become of our gracious, loving, longsuffering God?
Here, confusion deepens. The Spirit then abruptly shifts from speaking destructive words to speaking redemptive words—perhaps in the next breath! In veiled language Isaiah tells them (Is. 29:5) how God will remove the Assyrian army “suddenly, in an instant” which is precisely what happened to Sennacherib’s army (Isaiah 37:36).
Try to imagine what was going through Isaiah’s head when said these things. I highly suspect he himself was confused with God as He radically and rapidly reversed Himself. I wonder if Isaiah might have felt like Jonah who sternly warned the people of Nineveh only to have God suddenly turn and be gracious to them. Consider this, God knew of the deliverance He was going to bring to His people and the city while He was inspiring Isaiah to prophesy harsh judgment!
What might this tell us about God’s sovereignty? His thoughts are not like ours and He can and will do what He wants when He wants and has good reason for doing it even when we do not understand. As I was praying through these thoughts, it became clear how God wants me to respond to Him when He exercises His sovereignty over me. I must choose to be a tool in God’s hand to say and do whatever I am told because I love Him and believe He knows what He is doing even if it is totally insane to me. It made me very aware that I cannot predict what my Sovereign King will say or do. Have you come to that level of love and trust in the King of Kings? If not, that is the level of love and trust that will please Him.
Very good. Especially the last paragraph!
Thank you so much for your encouragement. You are such a blessing.