Good morning!
Text: Job 16-18; Isaiah 1
Isaiah opens with a volley of indictment against Judah for their rebellion and injustice. Recall that Judah is the family that is carrying the promise of the King to come. God always protects and preserves the children of His promise, even when they have rejected Him. The Lord is calling the people of Judah to turn to Him in repentance (1:16-17), and then He promises that they will be cleansed. The Lord says (1:18),
“Come now, 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 become like wool.”
Sounds a lot like the promises of Jesus and our healing from the cross, doesn’t it? “Scarlet” and “crimson” are both glaringly bright and indelible. Their stain could not be removed by any known cleanser or bleach. Just like our sin, they could never be completely erased by any human effort. Yet, when God washes us in the blood of Jesus, our sins are wiped completely away. No stain, no blemish, no memory or guilt left over. Absolutely gone! Wonderful!
God’s plan has been in motion from before the foundation of the world. Isaiah wrote eight centuries before Jesus, yet we will see the Lord Christ appear over and over again in this precious book. Isaiah is also some of the most beautiful Hebrew poetry to be found. We have a lot to look forward to as we read through Isaiah together.
in Him, Mike