What Happened When Israel Reasoned With God | Devotional

“‘Come now, let us reason together’, says the LORD.” —ISAIAH 1:18

“Let us reason together” is an incredible picture of the grace of God. His people had worshipped other gods, engaged in sinful ways, and repeatedly neglected and rejected Him, but God is willing to reason. He then says, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land…”

We outsource many things in our lives: lawyers for legal issues, accountants for finances, doctors for medical issues and the church for our spiritual needs, but sadly, our spiritual needs are often outsourced without dealing with God directly. God is saying, “Come back to Me. Reconnect with Me, and I’ll tell you what I will do. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow.” That doesn’t happen in a washing machine. It’s a miracle of God that can only take place within the context of a loving, committed relationship with Him. All the promises God gives us in His word trip over that. They don’t come to fruition unless we first come humbly to Christ. 

Isaiah 30:19-20, says, “O people of Zion who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer us. Although the LORD gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.” The bread of adversity and water of affliction are the very instruments God uses to bring Israel and surrounding nations back to Him. 

One of the remarkable highpoints in the prophecies of Isaiah says, “The LORD Almighty will bless them saying, ‘Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance’.” (Isaiah 19:25) Having suffered the consequences of their disobedience, they realize the remedy lies in the one true God, and they cry out to Him. God hears them, answers them and rescues them. They are brought into relationship with Him and both Jew and Gentile are worshipping God together. 

Again and again, adversity and affliction are the means of accomplishing a much bigger picture. We need to embrace those tough situations where adversity and affliction have been our teachers. The remedy – cry out to God; He hears, He answers and He rescues. The end result, “our sins will be white as snow”, and God welcomes us back into a loving relationship with Him.

Dear Lord, help me to always see the hidden treasure there is in adversity and affliction. May they be the means that steer me back to You and with a deeper revelation of You. Thank You, Lord.

Has adversity been the catalyst that has brought me back to God and closer to Him because of it?