March 3 - Take refuge!

March 3 - Take refuge! - Isaiah 2:1-22

Take a few minutes to compare Isaiah 2:2-4 and Micah 4:1-3. Interesting, eh? Scholars have debated whether there was a third source for these words, if Micah copied this from Isaiah or the other way around, or did God actually give the same words to both prophets. Any of these could be a possibility, but what stands is that this is a profound Word of God that describes the last days.

Isaiah 2:6-9 should scare each of us as we read them. It is readily apparent that Isaiah's words fit our time as well as any other. Superstitions from the east, divination, prosperity, machines of war, self-preservation and idolizing the work that we do. All of these things lead to Isaiah 2:9 "So man will be brought low and mankind humbled." I know of no one (including myself) that can avoid the shame that will be brought by our focus on at least one of these things. It is much, much too easy to be caught up in the belief structure that the world teaches.

And please, do not fool yourself by judging someone else ... I know that I dare not. All I can do is ask forgiveness and look for repentance! Because as Isaiah continues, arrogance and pride will be brought low.

The Lord alone will be exalted in that day. (Isaiah 2:11b, 17b). Isaiah repeats those words. He also repeats the words, "...from dread of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty!" (Isaiah 2:10, 21b).

The mountain of the Lord ... lifted high above any other. The Lord alone will be exalted. We will hide from the dread of the Lord and the splendor of His majesty! We have raised ourselves above all else. We allow God a little bit of our time. What are we thinking?!?! This is the Creator! You should hear that name spoken in your mind with a loud, booming, thunderous voice. He is above all things. He is above your schedules and your fears, your plans and even your family! All things.

And yet ... we place all things in front of Him ... not before Him. All of the things that we worship instead of God. Is it no wonder that these prophecies still ring throughout the ages?

Flee! Hide! Take refuge!

Jesus said that we would say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!" in Luke 23:30 as he was quoting from this chapter.

In Revelation 6:12-14, John watched as the sixth seal was opened. Earthquakes, blackened sun, bloodred moon, stars falling from the sky, mountains and islands removed from their places all heralded the end of days.

Read these words from Revelation 6:15-17, "Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?'"

Isaiah prophesied about the last days. John saw the revelation of Jesus Christ. Jesus himself, spoke of these days. Whether they happen tomorrow, in several years, or in several hundred years ... we have to answer for our own actions. The people of Judah faced certain doom because of their refusal to obey their God ... can we expect any less?