“Because I know that you are obstinate.”

Isaiah 48:1-11, “HEAR this, O house of Jacob, who are named Israel and who came forth from the loins of Judah, who swear by the name of the LORD and invoke the God of Israel, but not in truth nor in righteousness. For they call themselves after the holy city, and lean on the God of Israel; the LORD of hosts is His name. I declared the former things long ago and they went forth from My mouth, and I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. Because I know that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew, and your forehead bronze, therefore I declared them to you long ago, before they took place I proclaimed them to you, lest you should say, ‘My idol has done them, and my graven image and my molten image have commanded them.’ You have heard; look at all this. And you, will you not declare it? I proclaim to you new things from this time, even hidden things which you have not known. They are created now and not long ago; and before today you have not heard them, lest you should say, ‘Behold, I knew them.’ You have not heard, you have not known. Even from long ago your ear has not been open, because I knew that you would deal very treacherously; and you have been called a rebel from birth. For the sake of My name I delay My wrath, and for My praise I restrain it for you, in order not to cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; for how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another.”

We are all obstinate spiritually, like it or not. Even the most compliant amongst us; all are included. God in His sovereign way calls to us, to Abram bringing him out of a dark, idolatrous culture into the promise; Moses out of isolation caused by his own murderous actions into reluctant leadership of a nation; Joshua as a bold, courageous, faith-filled leader of the nation. Even so, when given the choice His chosen nation failed to keep Joshua’s challenge: “Choose this day whom You will serve, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” When we come to Christ, we are not made perfect; we stumble and fall down as we seek to walk in His way. He is always ready to give us His hand, to encourage us as does a parent seeing his child walk for the very first time!

Thank You that You are well aware of our failures; thank You that we can always turn quickly to You, and that You are not surprised when we slip and fall. Give me Your hand today; reveal those good works that You have appointed for me from before the foundation of the world that I may walk in them!