“I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me.”

Isaiah 65:1-12, ”I PERMITTED Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Here am I, here am I,’ to a nation which did not call on My name. AlI have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts, a people who continually provoke Me to My face, offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on bricks; who sit among graves, and spend the night in secret places; who eat swine’s flesh, and the broth of unclean meat is in their pots. Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all the day. Behold, it is written before Me, I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will even repay into their bosom, both their own iniquities and the iniquities of their fathers together,” says the LORD. “Because they have burned incense on the mountains, and scorned Me on the hills, therefore I will measure their former work into their bosom.” thus says the LORD, “As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one says, ‘Do not destroy it, for there is benefit in it,’ so I will act on behalf of My servants in order not to destroy all of them. And I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and an heir of My mountains from Judah; even My chosen ones shall inherit it, and My servants shall dwell there. And Sharon shall be a pasture land for flocks, and the valley of Achor a resting place for herds, for My people who seek Me. But you who forsake the LORD, who forget My holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune, and who fill cups with mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you for the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter. Because I called, but you did not answer; I spoke, but you did not hear. and you did evil in My sight, and chose that in which I did not delight.”

God speaks of His sovereign grace and mercy in choosing one man Abraham, called out of a pagan culture, to be a blessing to all nations. He responded in faith and we know that his faith was credited to him as righteousness. He speaks also of the repeated failures of the nation Israel that came from Abraham; they were called to be priests to the nations of the world but instead pursued their own foolish idols. Even so, He demonstrated His great mercy many times even in the trials that they brought down upon themselves. Paul compares the nation to the breaking off of a native olive branch; and the gentiles who are in Christ being grafted in to the tree. This is no cause for pride, for as Paul says we must not be arrogant toward the broken branches; we must be sure that we are connected to the root! “Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.” We must continue in His amazing kindness today! What does He ask of us? The prophet Micah tells us: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

We hear Your call that we are to be Your priests to the nations; to bring Your light that others may see You and bring glory to Your name.