First published: December 7, 2016 Solomon Armstrong
You and I both have heard this verse, Isaiah 55:8, quoted over and over in various Sunday services to reinforce the belief that there is no way a “mere human” can know why God does what He does. When we can’t seem to figure out the why and the how of things, this verse is preached to us in an effort to clearly explain God’s actions. And for most of us, we accept without a doubt what the Man of God says, for after all, he is God’s voice to the congregation, right?
But then, we read other verses in the Bible that directly contradict that knowledge of that quote. We can actually start with the sixth day in Genesis where God created and gave man dominion and instructions what to do in Chapter 1:26-30. Therefore, the man knew his role and was expected to carry out God’s plans.
I could bring up the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17, but I would rather point you in the direction of another passage of the Old Testament that is often quoted. God clearly points out in Deuteronomy 28, the Blessings “if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, observe and to do all his commandments,” and Curses “if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes.”
In another verse, God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 29:11) saying, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord,” and then tells the people what He is thinking, “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Therefore, You Know!
Lastly, in Malachi 3:7-12, the Word of God tells us the “who,” “what,” “when,” “why,” and the “where.” It is all laid out for the reader! You Know!
If we would read verse 8 in the full context of Isaiah 55:6-9, (or even if you start at verse one), perhaps a better understanding is possible. I say possible because some may still accept only the word of someone they admire and respect over the truth.
First, this is actually an exhortation to repentance and reformation, with great encouragement given to hope for pardon thereupon (Matthew Henry). And the key verse is in verse 7, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
Question 1: Let the “who” forsake his “what?” Answer: Wicked, Way;
Question 2: Let the “who” his “what?” Answer: Unrighteous, Thoughts;
Question 3: Who is this directed to? Answer: The Wicked and the Unrighteous.
Thought: If anybody identifies with the answer in Question 3, then you are being targeted by Isaiah 55:6-9. That’s who it was meant for back then, and it is still in effect now!
1 John 1:5 tells us, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
My brothers and sisters, would you agree that wickedness and unrighteousness are forms of darkness, and that they originate from the evil one, which is the devil? If we carry on in this behavior, then we are under the influence of the “fallen one,” once known as Lucifer, but is now know as Satan. But, You Know that already.
One can clearly understand what verse Isaiah 55:6-9 means when it says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” There is no way possible to be evil and have God’s thoughts and ways. The fruit one bears indicates who you are following. And verse 9 seals it, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Here, Isaiah is not referencing physical heights. He is speaking about dimensional heights. The “heavens” exist in the Spiritual dimension, and the terra firma (solid earth) is where the human species physically inhabit. And now, You Know!
1 John 2:20 says, “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.” Now this is the “why” we know!
Remember, this Word was, and is meant for the wicked and the unrighteousness people of God. “And let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
You know God’s ways and thoughts, if you are truly “Born Again!“
You Know!!!
You are Blessed!!!
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