God Promises to Guide

January 15, 2023 Background Scripture: Isaiah 48:1 - 22 Lesson Passage: Isaiah 48:3 - 8a, 17 Today's Background Scripture takes on the tone of a parent chastising a child. God draws a clear distinction between His knowledge and Israel's pretention. God purposely revealed information in a way to prevent Israel from claiming to be knowledgeable about it beforehand. He did not cause some situations to occur sooner to prevent Israel from insinuating they were already aware of it. God would not allow them the opportunity to claim that an idol had done it. God only made them aware of some things by way of revelation to remind them of the limitations of their knowledge. As God's chosen people, Israel had to be brought to the awareness of their need for repentance, submission to God, and the reception of God's work that He would do in them. God clearly addressed what we can describe as Israel's humanity. Israel missed the mark in terms of holiness. They attempted to compensate by using self-righteousness that only they could judge. They wanted to be independent and in control of their own destiny. Their disposition and actions contrasted with the promises God made to their ancestors. God would not allow Israel to continue to live contrary to His will for them. God informed them that His plan for redeeming them existed from the beginning. God's plan of redemption included sending His Servant to them. God's Servant would clearly acknowledge to Israel that He was sent to them by God. The Servant of God would teach them to live prosperous lives in this world. He would lead them along a safe route. Following His commandments would ensure peace m their midst. Their obedience would cause righteousness to flow from them with the power of the waves of the sea. Their population would continue to explode on the earth as numerous as grains of sand. They would continuously reflect the glory of God in this world. Therefore, God would be pleased to multiply them endlessly. Whenever they erred from the path of righteousness, God chastised them with other nations. It was temporary, and God called them from those places of chastisement that He might again delight in them. They rejoiced in their deliverance. They witnessed an abundance of miracles as God gave them endless amounts of water to quench their thirst in dry places. Rocks became fountains and deserts became oases. That was God's response to their repentance. Those responses reflected God's promise to guide them in the way they should go. Haughtiness and self-determination would cause them to lose the peace God was offering them. God's guidance would bring forth praise from them that would be pleasing to God. This is the true sacrifice God desires. God does not delight in the death of bulls and calves as a form of worship. True worship comes from a heart that is made right with God. People do not have the capacity to make themselves holy. Self-righteousness constantly leads to turmoil and confusion. This is all that wickedness will ever produce. Pleasing God will only come from following God. This is the example demonstrated by the Servant of God, God's Servant lived what He taught. He taught as He followed God's guidance. That is God's offer to His people: Allow Me to guide you into paths of righteousness for My name's sake. Now, back to the analogy of a parent chastising a child. Human parents demonstrate our love when we guide our children by the example we live before them. When they are disobedient, we chastise them to put them back on track. We remind them of who they are and what they mean to us. Israel could be sure of God's love for them because He promised to guide them by sending His Servant to them. Robert C. Hudson December 30, 2022