Learning to Listen Part 5

The Book of Isaiah begins with God’s frustration over Israel; for instance:

“Children have I reared and brought up,
but they have rebelled against me . . . .
Ah, sinful nation,
a people laden with iniquity,
offspring of evil doers,
children who deal corruptly!
They have forsaken the LORD,
they have despised the Holy One of Israel,
they are utterly estranged” (Isa. 1:2-4)

Then in chapter 6, Isaiah tells the story of his call from God to be a prophet
- at first, he continues in the same stream as the opening
• but a little further on, he is given messages of hope
◦ God always provides a way back
◦ his radiant love always breaks through the dark clouds
• by chapter 30, his promises to Israel are fantastic
“For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”
- God promises his people he will always be speaking to them
• they will always hear him nearby, and he will guide them
• as long as they were willing to listen to him, and accept his direction,
◦ he was willing to constantly communicate with them