God’s love never fails

This is what the Lord says: “Was your mother sent away because I divorced her? Did I sell you as slaves to my creditors? No, you were sold because of your sins. And your mother, too, was taken because of your sins. Why was no one there when I came? Why didn’t anyone answer when I called? Is it because I have no power to rescue? No, that is not the reason! For I can speak to the sea and make it dry up! I can turn rivers into deserts covered with dying fish. I dress the skies in darkness, covering them with clothes of mourning.” Isaiah 50:1-3 NLT

While in exile in Babylon, the Israelites felt that they were abandoned and forsaken by God (see Isaiah 49:14). But as Isaiah declared, they were not abandoned but disciplined because of their continued disobedience. From the text, God is challenging the Israelites to provide a proof that they were neglected by Him and that their captivity was because God failed them. They accused God that their being exiled in Babylon was God’s payment to His creditors. God does not owe anyone. They were taken captives because of their sins; “you were sold because of your sins.” What the Israelites felt towards God when they were disciplined by Him for their sins is also how we react; we find fault in Him. But His disciplining His children should not be perceived that way. He wants His children to stay on the path of obedience and once we disobey, He will not allow it to continue on for it will be detrimental to us. “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way” (Hebrews 12:11). When we disobey, God will reach out to us so we will return to Him. The problem is that we are the ones not answering His call. “Why was no one there when I came? Why didn’t anyone answer when I called?” (Isaiah 50:2). Our God is the powerful Lord and He is able to rescue us in the midst of our difficulties. Yet, it is not because He is reluctant to act. The truth is God loves us so much that He does not want us to continue on living in disobedience. All He wants from us is to recognize our sins, repent and trust Him instead of trusting others. He wants us to have a childlike faith that is simple and not filled with doubts. God is faithful that He will discipline us when we disobey and He is faithful to forgive when we acknowledge our sin and repent. “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:9).

Blessings,