Wisdom in Disaster
One Year Bible (Sep. 19)
Isaiah 30:12-33:9
WISDOM IN DISASTER
“In HIS WISDOM the LORD will send great disaster…”
(Isaiah 31:2)
What would cause the sovereign God over the entire universe to bring Disaster, Discipline, and even Destruction to HIS OWN BELOVED children? That is a hard concept for us to wrap our heads around.
Yet, Isaiah pronounces these mind-bending words, “In HIS WISDOM the LORD will send great disaster…” (31:2) Have you ever experienced disaster, discipline, or a form of destruction and prayed, “Oh thank you LORD for your GREAT WISDOM today?”
We may say the word “God” in those instances but use it in a profane manner!
In Isaiah 28-33, there are SIX WOES that are being declared by Isaiah from the LORD to the leaders of Israel. The final woe is to their enemies. Today, we are going to take a peek at each of these woes and also look at another scripture that explains to us what the LORD despises and why HE hates these things…
WOE ONE: Drunken Mockery (28:1-29)
WOE TWO: Religious Hypocrisy (29:1-14)
WOE THREE: Attempting to Deceive God (29: 15-24)
WOE FOUR: Stubborn Rebellion (30: 1-33)
WOE FIVE: Failure to Trust (31: 1-32:20)
WOE SIX: Destructive Opposition (33:1-24; Written to Israel’s enemies)
Let’s look at the things that God despises or hates. When we use the word “HATE” it means that it is contrary and in opposition to HIS HOLY character. Because of HIS perfect Holiness and Justice, He can not associate with this kind of character as it is “anti-God”.
“There are SIX things the LORD hates-no, seven things He detests:
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.” (Proverbs 6:16-19)
Do you see the very same theme running through this verse in Proverbs as in the SIX WOES given to the people through Israel?
Let’s look at the concept of MOCKERY. The older definition of this word is, “ludicrously futile action”. It is “making light of a person or other thing.”
Have you ever noticed how this trait is propelled by the state of “inebriation”?
In Isaiah, not only were the people doing all of the six--and even the seventh things that God HATES or DETESTS. But, they added fuel to the fire because they were doing these things in conjunction with idol worship, cultic celebration, and drunkenness.
They had literally sanctioned sin and turned it into “A PARTAY”…. We call that an Audacious Orgy! This was SIN on STEROIDS! Still, how is it the WISDOM of God to send a GREAT DISASTER?
“Though the LORD is very great and lives in heaven, he will make Jerusalem his home of justice and righteousness. IN THAT DAY, He will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of SALVATION, WISDOM, and KNOWLEDGE. The fear of the LORD will be your TREASURE.” (Isaiah 33:5-6)
The stage is being set for their SALVATION, but before that new foundation can come all the EVIL PROPS that hold them up must be stripped away. They don’t begin to know their need for rescue… just yet! Life for them is both COMFORTABLE and CORRUPT. They will be SOBER and experiencing SORROW soon enough.
Their Sin will turn to sorrow and their sorrow will lead them to a need for a savior…
You see, God is not interested in our momentary comfort or supportive of the corruption that leads us to eternal decay… He is working on a greater plan, and so…
“In HIS WISDOM the LORD will send great disaster…” (31:2)
