As much as my head has been spinning from all the prophecies of doom given through Isaiah, today I recognized something a bit different. Much is said about God's character...
You [God] do such wonderful things... [Isaiah 25.1b]
You [God] are a tower of refuge to the poor... [Isaiah 25.4a]
...will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. [Isaiah 25.6a]
These are just a few examples of things said about God in Isaiah. In the midst of all the doom and gloom, it is easy to overlook these declarations of God's true character.
One other statement that particularly stood out to me today was Isaiah 26.7: But for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough. You are a God Who does what is right, and You smooth out the path ahead of them.
Really? I know there are many scriptures that attest to the fact that the way of the believer will not be easy... But was Isaiah not hearing God here? Did Isaiah misrepresent God here? Why don't we hear teachings on this scripture? Could it be because we are afraid of losing face? Could it be that we are afraid good things will NOT happen to the righteous and we would therefore be seen as fruitcakes? Or, could it be that we rarely see anything good and so we must avoid this scripture because it would lead us to conclude that we are indeed NOT righteous (because of all the "steep and rough" we face)?
Naawww...
Father, help me to reconcile the "steep and rough" in my life with unrighteousness. Far too long, I have consoled myself that "steep and rough" was the destiny of true believers... I have even prided myself that, according to the difficulties I have faced, I must be doing something right... But today, I am choosing to believe that "steep and rough" is the result of sin according to Isaiah. God forgive me. Open my eyes. I know my righteousness is found ONLY in Jesus - let His righteousness "smooth out the path before me."
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