207 - "Redeeming Dark Places in My Heart" Isaiah 50-53

                                                           

God's Hand is not too short. Isaiah 50:2 If he sends really hard things our way, do we complain that He is too harsh? He turns life into wilderness. And we argue that it is too much. Who does the argument start with? Not God. Our own desires. His hand is His Strength. Can he dry up the Red Sea? Of course. Can he make a wilderness of our story? Absolutely. Can we argue with the Mighty Hand of God on our lives? Can we set limits on Omnipotence? Can the Almighty hand deliver us from what we face? Will He? Can He silence our questions, our doubts of His Hand in our lives? Here is unquestionable proof: He dried up the sea. He made the rivers into wilderness. And He redeemed His children out of all of it. Redeemed Israel out of Egypt. Redeemed me out of my worldly coveted land. And He can redeem those places in my heart that still need redemption.Every day is marked.

All our days. Our good ones.  Our bad ones.

For those days when we walk in the dark,

where there is no light for our path,

may we trust in the Name of the Lord,

our God.  Isaiah 50:10

May we lay down our strategies, our crutch,

and not try to illuminate our path

through analysis and maneuvers and spotlights.

If we walk by the light of our own fires,

God puts in Isa 50:11 that it won't turn out well for us.

Torment is the word God usesAwake the dead! God has comforted his people. He has tenderly nursed his beaten-up, beaten-down people. Has God forgotten me? "Can a mother forget the infant at her breast, walk away from the baby she bore? But even if mothers forget, I'd never forget you—never. Look, I've written your names on the backs of my hands. 

Isaiah 50:5-  SET FACE LIKE FLINT
He wakes me up in the morning, Wakes me up, opens my ears to listen as one ready to take orders. The Master, God, opened my ears, and the Master, God, stays right there and helps me, so I'm not disgraced. Therefore I set my face like flint, confident that I'll never regret this. My champion is right here. Let's take our stand together! Who dares bring suit against me? ... Lean on your God! 

Isaiah 51: 1-4 - GOD'S WORK IN ME IS RIGHT ON TIME
"Listen to me, all you who are serious about right living and committed to seeking God. Ponder the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were dug. Yes, ponder Abraham and Sarah. I'll transform you to a place of exuberance, laughter, gratitude, and song"...Revelation flows from Me; my salvation right on time. I'll bring justice...You made the bottom of the ocean a road for the redeemed to walk across? In the same way God's ransomed will come back, cheering, shouting. Joy eternal wreathing their heads, exuberant ecstasies transporting them— and not a sign of moans or groans. 

Isaiah 51:12  I WATCH OVER YOUR DOUBLE DOSE OF TROUBLE
I'm the One comforting you. What are you afraid of? Man who dies? You've forgotten Me Who made you. 51:16 I teach you how to talk, word by word, and personally watch over you, Even while I'm unfurling the skies, setting earth on solid foundations 51:20 -You've been hit with a double dose of trouble—does anyone care? Assault and battery, hunger and death—will anyone comfort? "Look, I've taken back the drink that sent you reeling. God has something to say: "No more drinking from that jug of my anger! I've passed it over to your abusers to drink, those who ordered you, 'Down on the ground so we can walk all over you!"

Isaiah 52:7 PURIFY YOURSELVES/ YOU'RE NOT RUNNING....GOD IS LEADING YOU OUT OF HERE.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger bringing good news, Breaking the news that all's well, proclaiming good times, announcing salvation, telling Zion, "Your God reigns!"...52:11 - Purify yourselves.  You're not running from anybody! God is leading you out of here, and the God of Israel is also your rear guard. 

Isaiah 53:6 EVERYTHING WE HAVE DONE WRONG IS ON HIM
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried— our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us, and that made us whole. We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost. We've all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins on Himself.

PHOTO:  35,000 feet in the air on the way to Kansas City. What happened just now is so indicative of the dark places in my heart. I lost it. Found out someone had been deceiving me for a while. Brought up past lack of trust. The offense was small but my response loomed large. God, help me.