The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Isaiah 21:2-4,
"A dire vision has been shown to me... At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor; I am staggered by what I hear, I am bewildered by what I see. My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me."
To be a prophet of God was at times a very painful experience. Isaiah speaks of pain and pangs that seized him like a woman in labor. He staggered from what he saw and heard from the Lord. He trembled from fear and his heart faltered. The solace and rest he longed for at night eluded him as he was horrified. Not a fun occupation.
What strikes me, as I read of what Isaiah suffered in his reaction to the visions of the judgment God was going to bring on Babylon, is the terrifying reality of what God can and will do in his judgment of peoples.
Where some see God in only pastel colors, of a serene disposition and predisposed to only acts of kindness toward everyone, this simply is not how God reveals himself. He tells us in Jeremiah 9:24 that he not only exercises kindness, but also justice. His exercise of each can be overwhelming.
Listen to what Jesus told us, "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." Luke 12:4-5. The writer of Hebrews reminds us, "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:31.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"A dire vision has been shown to me... At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor; I am staggered by what I hear, I am bewildered by what I see. My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me."
To be a prophet of God was at times a very painful experience. Isaiah speaks of pain and pangs that seized him like a woman in labor. He staggered from what he saw and heard from the Lord. He trembled from fear and his heart faltered. The solace and rest he longed for at night eluded him as he was horrified. Not a fun occupation.
What strikes me, as I read of what Isaiah suffered in his reaction to the visions of the judgment God was going to bring on Babylon, is the terrifying reality of what God can and will do in his judgment of peoples.
Where some see God in only pastel colors, of a serene disposition and predisposed to only acts of kindness toward everyone, this simply is not how God reveals himself. He tells us in Jeremiah 9:24 that he not only exercises kindness, but also justice. His exercise of each can be overwhelming.
Listen to what Jesus told us, "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." Luke 12:4-5. The writer of Hebrews reminds us, "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:31.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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