Tag: Isaiah 55

The Angry God?

As I read through Isaiah today, I was struck by the profound transformation in the relationship between God and His people. The manifestation of God’s anger is pivotal in this shift. Throughout the Old Testament, we see God’s anger depicted as wrath and judgement, yet still aiming to guide His people back to righteousness. However, these chapters of Isaiah reveal a promise of change: God’s wrath will no longer be as it once was, thanks to the redemptive work of the Suffering Servant — Jesus Christ.

God’s oft-maligned anger — on display throughout the Old Testament — represents His holy and just reaction to humanity’s sinfulness and rebellion. In Isaiah 54:7-8, His anger is portrayed as a necessary response to Israel’s relentless unfaithfulness… but the thing so often missed (or misunderstood by the Lord many critics) is that this anger was not an end in itself but a means to restore a broken relationship but demonstrating the consequences of rebellion and lack of trust.

Now, back to the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 who bears the sins of many and intercedes for transgressors. This Servant takes upon Himself the punishment for sin, satisfying the requirements of God’s justice. “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). This sacrificial act — in which Jesus has absorbed the wrath due for sin — dramatically changes our relationship with God. In Isaiah 54:9-10, He promises that His anger will not be directed toward His people anymore, much like the promise He made after the great flood.

God’s wrath is now reserved for the final judgment at the end of the age, rather than being meted out in the sort of ad-hoc fashion of the Old Testament. The discipline and correction of God remain, guiding believers towards righteousness via the indwelling Holy Spirit because we have moved from the rule of law to the rule of grace.

Reflection Questions:

  1. How do you understand God’s discipline in the context of His holiness and justice?
  2. In what ways does the promise of God’s grace change your perspective on sin and forgiveness?
  3. How can you live out the reality of God’s grace in your daily life?

Why Do Good Things Happen to Bad People?

When people propose the oft-asked question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” there are several assumptions. That bad things exist (who decides what events go into each category), that there are good people (same question as before), and that the aforementioned ‘bad things’ should happen to the assumed ‘bad people’.

We have this sense of fairness that runs through us and the assumption is that “good things” ought to happen to “good people” and “bad things” ought to happen to “bad people”. But that’s not really what happens. The secular world points to this phenomenon and says, “Clearly there cannot be a God (because there is no cosmic justice)!”

There is also an assumption built into this statement: that God has the same goals and values that we do. This is false. Somehow we got it in our heads that God’s desire is NOT to see as many as possible saved from their own sin and destruction, but rather to make a comfortable home for his human pets here on earth.

Job likely had no idea that his experience would be recorded for all time and that people suffering grief and loss would find solace in it’s pages for millennia to come. In fact, I know one young man who found faith by reading the book of Job. When God confronts Job later in the book says, “were you there when I laid the foundations of the world?” this young man was convicted by the Lord and submitted his life to God after recognizing His power and authority, and lack of answerability to His creation.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. — Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

Job 15-18 | 023/365