RSS Feed |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
God teaches through fatherly anger
What is different about God's anger, though, is that like everything else about God, it is perfect. God's anger is always just, for he is never angry at anyone who does not deserve it. And God's anger is particularly redemptive, leading to the discovery that, yes, God still has a wonderful plan for your life. Isaiah would call this the "fatherly anger of God," and he gives us a great glimpse of it in Isaiah 1:16-20. In fatherly anger, God commands us to do what we do not want to do. When I was a child, there were at least two things I would not have done if my father had not commanded me to do them. I never wanted to take a bath and I never wanted to go to school. It is our nature to sin against God and play by our own rules. Frankly, this makes God angry. So, in fatherly anger, God issues nine commandments in verses 16-17 prefaced by the verbs "wash" and "learn." It is natural to sin and enjoy it, but God says "wash." It is natural to ignore God's word and skip out on biblical preaching and training for godly living, but God says "learn." God is commanding us to do something that is not natural, not easy, not the typical thing that typical humans do. And while obeying God cannot earn salvation, those who are saved have experienced something that gives an overwhelming desire to obey God. In fatherly anger, God gives us the reason we need to do it. Bad fathers get mad at their kids, punish them and never tell them why. Our heavenly father gets mad, too. He holds chastisement and punishment in his right and left hands. But before he gives out either one, God invites us to a conversation about reasons and remedies. "Reason" in verse 18 literally means to have a discussion about what pleases and displeases the lord. What God is speaking about in verse 18 is really a summary of the whole biblical message. Sin is a reality and salvation is a possibility. Sin is the deep, "scarlet," "crimson," stain that cannot be hidden from God the father. You can sweep away and hide immorality, dishonesty and unfulfilled vows from most people, but you cannot hide anything from God. God, in his fatherly anger, offers pardon, not punishment. God can remove what you cannot. God has provided a sacrifice that can turn the bad stain of sin into the brilliant "white," "snow," "wool" of absolute forgiveness and perfect righteousness. In fatherly anger, God shows us the benefits of doing what we need to do. The language of the text tells us that our reward will be to eat, drink and be merry. Does this mean that those who do what God requires will have an abundance of food and material blessings? Wait a minute. Lottie Moon, the patron saint of Southern Baptists, starved to death. And aren't many ungodly people among the most materially prosperous on earth? The text also tells us that the curse for God's unrequited anger will be "off with your head." But wait a minute. Isaiah was no rebel, yet he was "devoured by the sword." So was John the Baptist. Jesus had swordlike nails to pierce his hands and feet. And ungodly people throughout the ages have died, in their sleep, at a ripe, old age. Please turn off those TV preachers and turn on to some sound, biblical interpretation. While there are some obvious benefits to obeying God, God's language and God's promises are always spiritual and eternal, not merely practical and temporal. God's promise is that there is a great, lasting, infinitely glorious reward for those who come to him, listen to him, and do what they need to do. So, what must we do? The sad fact about Isaiah's ministry is that hardly anyone asked or articulated that question. But step forward about 700 years ahead of Isaiah. There you will find specific people asking this specific question and getting specific answers. Beside the Jordan River, men asked an Isaiah-like prophet named John the Baptist the question. John's answer? Quit being selfish and share, quit lying and stealing and live with integrity, quit complaining and give an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. What do you call it when you change from an evil, ungodly way of life to an obedient, godly way of life? You call it repentance. One day in Galilee a crowd asked Jesus Christ the question. His answer? Believe in the one God sent, the one Isaiah promised, believe in the lord Jesus Christ. What do you call it when one is transformed by accepting the message of the person and work of Jesus Christ? You call it faith. Christ's first followers were asked the same question. They gave the same answers. Peter told the crowd to repent and Paul told the Philippian jailer to believe. Both took the right responders and followed up with believer's baptism. Baptism is for believers who repent and repenters who believe. Those who are sincere will prove their faith with responsible church membership and obedient discipleship.
If you are living in some rebellion against your father, your father is angry but has a wonderful plan for your life. Confession is like washing and commitment to biblical worship and Bible study is the learning that leads to the pleasure of God. Repent and renew your faith today.
|
for larger version       |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
