Isaiah 59

The Explanation

Imagine you are calling for help. You shout as loud as you can. But nobody comes.

That is how the people of Israel felt. They prayed to God, and it seemed like nothing happened. So they began to grumble: "Maybe God's arm is too short to reach us. Maybe his ears have gone deaf."

Then God sent his prophet Isaiah with a message. And listen well, because it is surprising. God said: my hand is not too short. My ear is not dull. I hear everything.

So what was wrong?

There was a wall in the way. Not a wall of stones. A wall the people had built themselves, out of all the wrong things they did. Their hands had hurt other people. Their mouths had told lies. Their feet ran fast when there was something bad to do, but slowly when someone needed help. In the courtroom, where people should tell the truth, they told lies.

Isaiah says something strange about them. It is like they are weaving a spider's web, he says, and hatching snake eggs. Have you ever seen a spider's web? Thin and shiny, but you cannot make a coat out of it. You would still be cold. That is what the people's good excuses were like. Thin. Useless. They could not cover up what they had done.

And so, said the people themselves, everything went dark. "We look for light, but see darkness." They walked around like blind people, feeling along a wall with their hands, stumbling in the middle of the day. They cried like bears growling and doves moaning. And they knew, deep down, exactly why. They said it out loud: our sins are many, and we know them.

Now comes the moment when everything turns.

God looked at that whole dark mess. He looked for someone, anyone, who would stand up and help. And there was no one. Not one person.

So God said: then I will do it myself.

And now Isaiah shows us a picture you can almost see. God gets dressed like a warrior going into battle. Not with a spider's web. He straps on a breastplate, and the name of that breastplate is Righteousness, which means doing everything exactly right. He puts a helmet on his head, and the name of that helmet is Salvation, which means rescue. He wraps a cloak around his shoulders, and he goes out to make everything good again.

He comes like a rushing river, Isaiah says. Wild water that nothing can stop.

And then God makes a promise: "A Redeemer will come." A Redeemer is a rescuer who pays to set someone free. He will come to the people who turn away from their wrong ways and come back to God. And God promises more: my words will stay in your mouth. Not just yours, but your children's, and your children's children's, forever.

What Does This Mean?

It means God is never too far away to hear you. Never. His arm always reaches.

But it also means something honest and a bit uncomfortable: the wrong things we do build walls. When you lie to your mum, something goes cold between you. It is like that with God too.

And the best news is this: we cannot break that wall down ourselves. Our excuses are spider's webs. So God came himself.

The Common Thread

Who is that Redeemer? Hundreds of years later, a baby was born in Bethlehem. Jesus. He is the one who came to break down the wall. He did everything right, and then he took the punishment we deserved.

God said, "there was no man." So he sent his own Son.

For You

Here is something small you can do today. Think of one thing you have hidden. Something you said or did that you would not want anyone to know about. Tell God about it, out loud, in your own words. He is listening. His ear is not dull.

Then, if you can, say sorry to the person too.

Talk About It

Have you ever felt like God was not listening? What was that like?

If God's armour is called Righteousness and Salvation, what do you think he is fighting against?

Praying Together

Lord, your ear is not dull and your arm is not short. Thank you. I am sorry for the things I hide. Thank you that you came yourself to rescue me. Amen.