But can the ax boast greater power than the person who uses it? Is the saw greater than the person who saws? Can a rod strike unless a hand moves it? Can a wooden cane walk by itself? [Isaiah 10.15]
God uses wicked people, and in some cases Satan himself, to accomplish judgement in the earth. It is necessary that this be so because God is holy.
Justice is not an option for holiness. Holiness carries with it the reality of absolute purity.
Although the Bible repeatedly indicates that God "punishes" or "executes justice" it should be understood that when you are "God" everything that happens is your doing. Of course all the blessings are God's doing, but also all the curses.
How can blessings and curses both be God's doing if God is truly good and holy? Easy! God simply opens the way for Satan and all under his control to "do their thing" (evil - killing, stealing, destroying). How does God "open the way"? By simply turning His head away. God can destroy even the entire universe He has created by simply looking away from it.
The Bible is consistent that God's eye - His glance - is His blessing. Consider the following passage from Numbers:
“The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’ [Numbers 6.24-26 NKJV]
In other places, the Bible indicates that for God to "look away" brings disaster.
So, in this way, God uses the wicked to accomplish justice. It is ironic really. By God "looking away," He is allowing all manner of curses to "do their thing" (killing, stealing, and destroying). Those curses are upon both the executor (in context of Isaiah 10.15, Assyria and its king) and the executed (rebellious Israel).
As we consider all that is going on in the world right now, we should remain mindful that we are either serving God and all that is good, or we are serving evil and all its associates. God's "look" upon us is blessing and His "looking away" is cursing upon our lives. God will not look upon sin.
It is here we must determine what our moral obligation is as Christians. Jesus was adamant that holiness is the goal. Jesus alone makes that possible - for God to look upon us through His blood. And, even though our holiness depends entirely upon Jesus, there remains one caveat: repentance. All the work of Jesus on the cross on our behalf is of no avail to the unrepentant. In other words, the only mountain faith cannot move is the mountain of pride in our refusal to repent. Pride is at the top of the list of things that cause God to "look away."
And, when God looks away from us, we become instruments (tools) of all unrighteousness. And thus, Isaiah 10.15 applies to us...
Now, contrast all this with Isaiah 11.1-5:
Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment. [Isaiah 11.1-5]
Clearly, this describes the works of Jesus Christ. But, you know what? Isaiah 11.1-5 is a job description for every believer in Christ as well!
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]
Bob Dylan once wrote a song, "Gotta Serve Somebody." It was a moment of profundity for the songwriter. It's truth is eternal, every person is going to serve somebody - going to be someone's tool. Will it be God's or will it be the devil's?
Father, I want to serve You and Your purpose in the earth. Help me to consider my ways every moment of every day. May You find my deceptive heart broken and my strong-willed spirit contrite. I want to please You.
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