God Pleads with Sinners to be Reasonable
The prophet Isaiah was called by God to warn God’s people of the coming judgment for their sin. He was to call them to repentance, even though they would not listen. God was tired of their going through the religious motions of Temple worship, while their lives were immersed in sin and evil. Their hypocrisy made God sick (Isaiah 1:10-15).
The Merciful Promise
God called His errant people to repent and turn from their sin. He called them to clean up their lives. They were to put away their evil deeds, and stop their wicked ways. They were to learn to do well, and help those in need instead. (Isaiah 1:16-17)
God called them to be reasonable and repent. If they obeyed, God promised to wash away their sins and bless them. He would turn away His judgment and allow them to live peacefully in the Promised Land. (Isaiah 1:18-19)
But if they rebelled and refused to repent, God proclaimed judgment and destruction to purge away their wickedness (Isaiah 1:20-25).
The Dire Warning
The passage ends with a dire warning for those who reject God and cling to their sin. “The mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the fire.” (Isaiah 1:31 / NIV)
- The sinful man is “the tinder,” which fuels the fire – That which actually burns
- His works are “the spark” that ignites the fire and causes the fuel to burn
- The sinful man and his wicked works will burn together for eternity
- In a fire that will not be quenched
This paints a very vivid picture of judgement in hell, and brings to mind several of Christ’s warnings (Matt. 3:12; 13:38-42; Mark 9:43-48; John 15:6).
God declared, “The destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.”
Isaiah 1:28
- The people were “transgressors and sinners” who had forsaken the LORD (the self-existent God, Who created them)
- Their works were the idolatry of “desiring” and “choosing” other gods, rather than The Living GOD Who called them as a people.
- Those who forsake the One True God have no one to save them from their fiery fate!
God promised destruction to transgressors who forsake the LORD. Through Isaiah God pleaded with them to repent and forsake their sin instead.
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.”
Isaiah 1:18 / NKJV
Be Reasonable, Fear God and Repent of your sin!
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