“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:7-9) [emphasis mine, JM]
While the Lord continues to speak well past these three verses, please consider with me the impact of what God is saying. First of all, the Lord sets up a contrast between the way and thought of humanity and the thoughts and ways of God. In fact, that contrast is repeated several times in these verses. Initially, the Lord God invites the children of Israel to “come” (v. 1), “listen carefully” and partake of what God provides (v.2, 3), “Seek the Lord while He may be found” (v. 6), and God “will abundantly pardon” (v. 7). The emphasis of it makes a very strong contrast indeed. While it may be difficult for people to understand, spiritually speaking, that apart from God they “spend money for what is not bread” or work for something which “does not satisfy” (v. 1), God desires to only give to us what is good (vs. 2-5).
In the second place, I believe the principles of listening, seeking, and following God’s ways rather than our own extend far beyond what is found in this chapter in Isaiah, showing up in a variety of situations throughout God’s word. Scripture abounds with stories of individuals who, in the words of a modern-day familiar song “did it my way” only to find that, even though well intentioned, their way was often terribly flawed. The early Christians, while growing tremendously in numbers in Jerusalem (Acts 2-7) were not fulfilling the Lords commission to take the Gospel to the world (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). It took persecution to get them to travel beyond their comfort zone. The Apostle Paul had great intentions on preaching the Gospel of Christ throughout Asia Minor, but was prohibited in doing so (Acts 16:6-10). What was accomplished by Paul being pointed, by God, in a different direction?
“Once he arrived in Macedonia, Paul stayed on the main road: the Via Egnatia, the major land route that crossed Macedonia, connecting the Aegean and the Adriatic seas. Next to the Appian Way, this was the most traveled road in the entire Roman Empire Several major cities were strung along this highway – about a day’s walk apart – giving Paul and his companions plenty of opportunity for work and ministry.
“Besides possessing level roads and major urban centers, Macedonia was a more established province, run by proconsuls of the praetorian rank and populated predominately by Greeks. The women of these cities played more significant roles in society, many owning property and businesses. Paul encountered a much more progressive, robust economy, since these free cities on the Egnation road were also strategically located along the coastline, benefiting from maritime travel and trade.” (from Rediscovering PAUL: An Introduction to His World, Letters and Theology. by David B. Capes, Rodney Reeves & E. Randolph Richards. Downers Grove: Illinois, IVP Academic, 2007), pages 124-126.) A vital point we need to glean from this and many other examples from scripture is the need to always be aware that in the wisdom and plans of God there are often opportunities which we may not see if we are blinded by either the way things have always been or the way we have determined they ought to be done. The Word of God is and will continue to be our authority in all things pertaining to faith and practice in serving and worshiping the One who created us and the One who died for our sins. Have a blessed week as you look for new and exciting opportunities to serve God! (Jim)