Month: February 2025

An oracle concerning Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz saw. Isaiah 13:1 (Isaiah 13-17, 34:1-4)

Not an especially inspiring verse, but stick with me as I give a little history. Judah has become subject to Assyriah. Ahaz’s sinful and perverse behavior has weakened the kingdom of God’s chosen people and now they must pay tribute to a foreign entity. The invasions Judah is vulnerable to are part of God’s plan of punishment, but these nations are not Holy! God is not endorsing them, but allowing them to proceed. They are acting out of their own imperialistic motivations and power. Isaiah knows that God will exact judgement on these nations too, in His time. 

Past sins haunt us. God can forget when we ask Him to, but we lack this super natural power, and so forgetting is piled on top of all our other free will choices. We must chose to NOT remember and move forward in faith. Ugh! I thought it got easier! Trust God with everything?! All the dynamics of family, things far beyond my control that directly effect my daily life, the things I hoped to accomplish in my time on earth……all this must be relinquished and I must be still and know…..that He is God, and I am not?!?! Yes!

100 years before Babylon became a world power, Isaiah knew of its collapse and the return of the exiled Jewish people to their homeland in very specific detail. That is significant! YOUR God, MY God, Our God, The One True God HAS GOT THIS! You long to know the end of your story? You think it would make things so much easier? Well, you do know the final chapter if you diligently live in faith. God doesn’t make random stuff up. He knows the plan He has for you and it ends in Glory! 

Have a Great Day!

Gretchen

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together, and the little child will lead them. Isaiah 11:6 In time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD. II Chronicles 28:22 (Isaiah 10-12, II Chronicles 28)

The behavior of Ahaz was beyond deplorable! He chased after every pagan god associated with any king that showed possible greatness. Under his leadership the poor were subject to exploitation and his government became more and more corrupt. This brought Judah near complete destruction, but there were a few, a remnant, that remained faithful to God.

Even though Assyria was the instrument of Israel’s destruction and strong punishment against Judah, they would soon suffer God’s judgement too.

Isaiah brings to life two very important facts/hopes: 1. God’s anger brings judgement and consequence, but His works become comfort. 2. The coming King will be from David’s family, will reign with righteous justice and establish a new world order free of evil and enmity. The natural world will be transformed, i.e. predators will no longer prey. Isaiah, who saw Heaven, knows that someday everything will be obedient to God’s will.

The constant cycle of man’s impulsive self will pushing against God’s loving gift of free will is exhausting! Sin has no happily ever after and complete submission to God brings peace of mind and heart. As simple as this sounds, when it gets woven into every variable packed moment of our day, the responsibility of holding the standard of Holiness becomes overwhelming. Return to Isaiah’s truths. God’s correction becomes our security, so cling to it, and this life is not your forever life. Give your struggles to the LORD and He will set you free to love Him and others. That’s His original creative plan and it has not changed.

Love,

Gretchen

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2 (Isaiah 6-9)

Isaiah saw the LORD. He witnessed the Holiness and glory of Heaven’s Throne and the future plan of salvation. Then, he was called to preach this message of Hope. It was destined to be rejected, but the receiver doesn’t determine the promise, the Giver does, and so, Isaiah kept going until the bitter end.

Hundreds of years before Jesus, Isaiah tells of a Messiah, called Immanuel at His birth, a descendant of David, son of Jesse, who will establish a Kingdom, and draw all those who believe and love God to Himself. This Child, the Prince of Peace, Savior, would humble Himself and become flesh, to wash the feet of His friends, cry with two sisters as they grieve for their brother, take dusty rowdy children onto His lap, shake hands and dine with the socially outcast and touch the diseased to make them whole. And He kept on until the very end.

Oh! How very loved we are. God didn’t give up then and He’s not throwing in the towel today. There will be no bitter end for those who believe, for Light has dawned and cast away all shadows and we will live forever.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Gretchen

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 (Micah1-7)

Micah was a contemporary of Amos and Hosea who prophesied against the morally and ethically bankrupt behavior of God’s covenant people, Israel. Fellow prophet Isaiah was thought to be of royal blood. Micah was a small town man, but he took a strong stand against Judah’s powerful leaders. He is the only prophet to mention Bethlehem (5:2) as the birth place of the coming Messiah.

Assyria carried the people of Israel into exile and soon their magnificent and luxurious capitol city, Samaria, was a ruined heap. The consequences for unconfessed sin from arrogant people will soon doom Judah too. Micah preaches against corrupt judges, sham religious practices and false prophets that condone sinful behavior in trade for earthly comfort. They refused and the future was bleak…..but wait! There’s more!

Mercy is the compassionate forbearance given to an offender. In other words, you don’t get what you’ve got coming! The concept that God is slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness is as mind boggling as infinity! If you think you are unloved, or a passive thought in God’s vast universe, ponder this: With extreme clarity God has provided, through His exclusive covenant keeping, a means for every man to become Holy and exist in perfect relationship with Him. He planned and prepared to give His Son so that your sin didn’t condemn you to what you deserve.

A humble sacrifice fought death’s grip and won. Long before the cross, God was making a way for you to live, because He loves mercy and He loves YOU!

Love,

Gretchen

It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain. Isaiah 4:6 (Isaiah 1-5)

Isaiah’s book of prophecy is called the fifth Gospel and is quoted in the New Testament more than any other Old Testament writing.  It speaks extensively of a Messiah and rests all hope in the coming of a Savior that will bring an everlasting peace.  As for Isaiah’s reality, he lived in Judah after the Assyrian empire annihilated Israel, took its population into exile/slavery and gave the land to its own citizens. The shadow of Assyrian power was ever present as Isaiah watched all but Jerusalem fall.

In the opening chapters of his book, Isaiah brings the equivalent of an indictment down on Judah. They were charged as hypocrites that relish their greed, debauchery, injustice and exploitation of the poor.  Willing to make a great show of religious practices and customs with superficial piety, these covenant people chose to remain hard hearted and arrogant.

The verse above is taken from Isaiah’s first mention of the coming Messiah, a branch reviving out of the stump of David’s fallen family tree. God keeps his promises and is going to extreme measures to assure that all people, of all nations, receive the blessing of mercy and grace.

Love,

Gretchen

But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! Amos 5:24 (Amos)

Amos, a simple breeder of livestock, was called, from Judah, to take a message to Israel. Israel’s capitol was the beautiful city of Samaria, who’s palatial residences were built on the backs of the poor. These Jewish people held themselves in great esteem as they publicly marched themselves to the temples, made their sacrifices and paid their tithes, all while cheating and oppressing their fellow man.

At the height of Israel’s military and economic prosperity under king Jeroboam, the marginalized became more so. The rich considered the less fortunate, dispensable commodities and harshly exploited them through a corrupt justice system. There was an increased interest in worship, but these people did not make the connection between their relationship with God, their behavior toward humankind and Godliness in everyday life. These attitudes spelled doom, for the individual and the nation. Within 30 years, those who were so proud became the lowest of exiled slaves.

Even though Amos speaks God’s words of warning, he ends his short career with words of hope. Our love for God is reflected in our love for fellow man and there is life beyond judgement for those who humble themselves.

Love,

Gretchen

I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. Hosea 11:4 (Hosea)

This is one of the saddest, filthiest stories in the Bible. God calls Hosea to marry a woman that will not be faithful to him. Hosea honors his wife Gomer, but he cannot love her enough to hold her to his heart and home. She repeatedly chases after men that satisfy her lust for luxury. Eventually she becomes captive to prostitution and Hosea goes and redeems her from bondage.

Like Gomer, the children of Israel refuse to put away their adulterous love of Baal and their desire to seek wealth and power from the land. God’s people, His Bride, refuse to remain faithful to the covenant they made. Within the sanctity of Holy matrimony, or covenant relationship, there is safety and security, a haven from the world. This is God’s design for man and woman and Himself and humanity.

Nothing grieves God more than watching the children He created worship and adore idols made of sticks and stones, inanimate objects created by His hand, and void of any supernatural power. Hosea’s life story parallels Israel’s idolatry, wickedness, captivity and restoration. Our sins pain our loving, Heavenly Father, but we are not loved on our merit, rather on His choice and character. No matter what you have done or where you are coming from, you are, and always will be, loved and cherished!

Have a lovely day,

Gretchen

From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. He said: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry. Jonah 2:1-2

The kingdoms of Israel and Judah continued their spiritual decline.  They enjoyed their affair with Baal and other idols and refused to halt their headlong rush into disaster. God sent three prophets during this time, Jonah, with a special message of mercy to the Assyrians, Hosea, who  speaks out against idolatry, and Amos teaches against religious formalism and social injustice.

Nineveh was a super city established by Nimrod, following the flood. It was the capitol of the Assyrian empire, a world power that began growing after Solomon’s reign when the Hebrew kingdom divided. God called Jonah to go and preach the Good News of the One True God to these pagan people. But! They were the hated enemy and Jonah refused to prolong their life span through salvation and redemption. He headed in the opposite direction, to the far side of the known world, Spain. Jonah attempted to confine God’s love and mercy exclusively to Israel.

If you wonder whether Jonah is fact or fiction, remember Jesus compared His death and resurrection to Jonah’s three days in the belly of the fish, (Matthew 12:40) and likens the Ninevite’s repentance to his own listeners who refuse to hear, (Matthew 12:41) This story is an amazing display of God’s universal grace and divine concern for all men. Never forget, you are among the ALL! He excludes no one from His love.

Love,

Gretchen

Rend you heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity. Joel 2:13 (Joel 1-3)

Judah had a child king, Joash.  Athaliah, Jehoram’s widow and the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, desired to rule Judah. She killed her own offspring to assure her undisputed throne. However, one child was hidden in the temple under sanctuary until he is six years old. When Joash comes of age he repairs the once beautiful temple, but still accepts paganism and later has to use the wealth of the temple to pay off his enemies. The prophet Joel speaks to this time.

Famine, caused by a swarm of locust and a prolonged drought, was foretold by Joel and meant to humble the men of Judah. Joel warned of the coming punishment, but also begins to speak of a Christian era in which the Holy Spirit will come to all mankind and will be the sickle in a great harvest of souls.

Joel called the nation to repentance because God still loves His people and longs to rescue and restore them.  In contrast, the Day of the Lord, God’s judgement, will be worse than this day of locust/judgement for those who refuse to repent. 

God does not want grand gestures. He seeks a broken and contrite heart that brings a newness of life. God is a jealous God, but He equips His children with all they need for victory.

Happy Friday!

Gretchen

“Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD. Obadiah verse 4

The Edomites were descendants of Esau, the older twin brother Jacob cheated out of his birthright. Even though these estranged grandsons of Abraham reconciled their differences, Esau’s people continued to seize every opportunity to wrong the Jews. From Moses to Solomon, Edom stirred unrest, but when they liberated themselves from Judah, they began aiding foreign enemies, finally giving assistance to Babylon in the annihilation of Judah, and luting Jerusalem after its destruction.

Little is known of Obadiah, other than his name means, “Servant of God,” and he is credited with a prophecy that is recorded as the shortest book in the Old Testament.  Obadiah delivered the word that Edom would be wiped off the face of the earth and history would know them no more. The last knowledge of their existence was in 70 AD.

These people thought they were invincible, but their unchecked anger, bitterness and a stubborn refusal to forgive was their complete destruction. God is good, loving and compassionate and calls us, regardless of our back story, to be like Him. In the unfairness of life, God is still and always will be good. Don’t get lost in your self pity and lose what God has in store.

Love,

Gretchen