Orchestrated Confusion

October 4
Daily Reading – Isa. 5-7 / Eph. 3

GOD SAID:

Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

“Woe unto them…” Even the phrase sounds bad. In it’s original context it means to point out, or bring attention to these people with lamentations or tears. In our English language, the word woe is used for great sorrow or distress. What is it that God shares through Isaiah that brings about such great sorrow? It begins back in Isaiah 5:8 with people who are selfish and consume everything around them so no one else might have anything. Then twice in verses 11 and 22 it speaks of those who run to consume alcohol, until alcohol consumes them. Verses 18 and 19 points to, “them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity.” The implication is that they are so tied to their sinfulness, that their pride and stubbornness causes them to question if Gods is even in control. Finally verses 20 & 21 speaks of their pride and insincerity. Calling; “evil good, and good evil,” and being “wise in their own eyes.” Suggesting that they want God to rescue them in their sin, not out of it. Woe unto them who are so engrafted and confused in their sinfulness that they want God to endorse it as ok and join them in it. Woe indeed.

It takes no great leaps of imagination to see that society in general is very close to living this same way today world wide. Global consumerism has cheered on a world filled with selfish, addicted, stubborn, insincere, prideful people. Then we wonder why there is woe all around us.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

In the English language there’s another word that sounds similar to woe. We hear it in western shows when the cowboy wants his horse to stop he says “Whoa.” Maybe this is the whoa we ought exercise in life today, before God pronounces woe on us.

Which will it be for you, woe or Whoa?