Isaiah 63 Devotions by Stephen Taylor

Isaiah 63:8-10

He said, "Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me"; and so He became their Savior. In all their distress He too was distressed, and the angel of His presence saved them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Yet they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy and He himself fought against them.

These verses speak of the beautiful heart of the Father and the rebellious heart of man. He is so kind and generous with His love and mercy. He is so gracious to shower it down upon us, carrying us through the desert places and even sharing in our troubles. An empathetic God who did not abandon us to our fate but saw our distress and met our need for a Savior through Himself. Yet they, like us, went astray, and we see that our God turned and became their enemy, but our God does not change like shifting shadows, so how can this God so full of love now be so full of hate?

The answer is He's not. This, too is an act of love; you see, no man, no one, no thing can stand against our God or fight Him and hope to prevail. So the mere fact that He did not destroy them completely in an instant but instead gave them time to repent and return speaks to the heart of our God. He had every right to wipe them as one wipes a dish, forever forsaking them and leaving them dead in their sins, but that's not what He did, is it?

The entire Bible is focused on the redemptive work of our God. Yes, at times, He hands His people over to be punished, but the punishment isn't meant to destroy and drive them or us away from Him but rather to wake us from our sin and draw us back to Him. It can be hard for us to grasp and understand this truth, but we need not look any farther than the cross to see that our God's plan was always for redemption over destruction.

There will come a day when the option for mercy is removed, and all that remains is wrath, but by the grace of God, that day hasn't come yet, so will you come back to Him?

2 Corinthians 6:1,2- As God's co-workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For He says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

God bless! I love you all, but His love is patient, wishing none shall perish. Will you return? Praise, glory, and honor both now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!