A Contradiction
Several weeks ago, the M’Cheyne Bible reading plan brought us through the book of Isaiah (if you don’t know what the M’Cheyne Bible reading plan is - ask one of the pastors/elders about it – New Life has been reading through the Bible together and we’d love to have you reading with us). Regardless, if you haven’t read through Isaiah recently, allow me to invite you to do so - but if you do, take your time. Often while reading through the prophets, it can be tempting to rush. After all, their language is strange and can sound rather harsh. But, let me tell you, even the obscure Old Testament prophets have much to teach each one of us (yes, even you, dear reader). As you read through the text, ask questions. Allow your mind to ponder the pictures that God is painting. He is a masterful artist.
One of these artistic pictures recently came alive to me in Isaiah 21. If you have a moment, please grab your Bible and read Isaiah 21 (indeed, your time will be far better spent reading that chapter than even the rest of this article). Go ahead and take up and read. I’ll wait.
For those who were unable to peel away from this riveting article, allow me to summarize the chapter for you. Isaiah spends his time describing (in rather colorful language) the coming destruction of Babylon. The Lord will use the different peoples of the world to bring Babylon to their knees. For example, God declares, “Go up Elam; lay siege” (verse 2). Elam was an ancient civilization on the border of Babylon. Similarly, God calls upon the Medes to “lay siege.”
As the nations of the world “lay siege” to Babylon, the oracle culminates with, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the carved images of her gods has shattered to the ground” (verse 9). Babylon had been a world-power of the likes of Ancient Egypt. There had scarcely been a more powerful nation in all of history. Nevertheless, their end was at hand.
What is most interesting to me is how this oracle begins. The chapter opens with an artistic image that only God could paint. He declares, “The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea." If you read too quickly, you will miss the image. Slow down and read that again. “The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea.” How can a wilderness be the sea. Or, how can the sea be wilderness? It seems to be a contradiction. An impossible picture. But this is precisely the point. Babylon believed it was impenetrable. Babylon was as secure as the wilderness is from the threat of the torrents of the sea. Likewise, we could say, Babylon believed that they were as secure as the sea is from the threat of the ground of the wilderness. If the nations feared the sea - Babylon did not because it was a wilderness! But God can even make the dead wilderness a sea. Or, if you prefer, God can even make the wilderness a dead sea. Even the greatest foes will be brought to their knees.
God will take the very pride of a people and strip it all away. The contradiction becomes a reality.
As Christians, we should recognize that the ultimate contradiction of destruction was when the One who controls the sea was covered in the dirt and filth of the wilderness of death.
The great and awesome God was brought low – the one who knew no sin, became sin. The perfect spotless one bore the weight of the sin of the world. The greatest act of injustice that man could inflict – was God’s greatest act of justice – there at the cross. This is the greatest true contradiction the world has known. Indeed, the wilderness has been baptized into the vast ocean of the mercy and grace of our great God.
If you are thinking that there is no hope for you – if you believe that you are too far gone – you’ve done too much – you believe that the contradiction of grace is far too great – that you’ve fallen too far from the Lord…take heart, He can take death and make it give birth to life. Turn to the one who can do what you could never do. In our hands, it remains an impossible contradiction. In Him, all is new.
In every way God fulfills His promises and His words in Christ Jesus. Praise the Lord for the
wilderness of the sea.
Pastor Tony
One of these artistic pictures recently came alive to me in Isaiah 21. If you have a moment, please grab your Bible and read Isaiah 21 (indeed, your time will be far better spent reading that chapter than even the rest of this article). Go ahead and take up and read. I’ll wait.
For those who were unable to peel away from this riveting article, allow me to summarize the chapter for you. Isaiah spends his time describing (in rather colorful language) the coming destruction of Babylon. The Lord will use the different peoples of the world to bring Babylon to their knees. For example, God declares, “Go up Elam; lay siege” (verse 2). Elam was an ancient civilization on the border of Babylon. Similarly, God calls upon the Medes to “lay siege.”
As the nations of the world “lay siege” to Babylon, the oracle culminates with, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the carved images of her gods has shattered to the ground” (verse 9). Babylon had been a world-power of the likes of Ancient Egypt. There had scarcely been a more powerful nation in all of history. Nevertheless, their end was at hand.
What is most interesting to me is how this oracle begins. The chapter opens with an artistic image that only God could paint. He declares, “The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea." If you read too quickly, you will miss the image. Slow down and read that again. “The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea.” How can a wilderness be the sea. Or, how can the sea be wilderness? It seems to be a contradiction. An impossible picture. But this is precisely the point. Babylon believed it was impenetrable. Babylon was as secure as the wilderness is from the threat of the torrents of the sea. Likewise, we could say, Babylon believed that they were as secure as the sea is from the threat of the ground of the wilderness. If the nations feared the sea - Babylon did not because it was a wilderness! But God can even make the dead wilderness a sea. Or, if you prefer, God can even make the wilderness a dead sea. Even the greatest foes will be brought to their knees.
God will take the very pride of a people and strip it all away. The contradiction becomes a reality.
As Christians, we should recognize that the ultimate contradiction of destruction was when the One who controls the sea was covered in the dirt and filth of the wilderness of death.
The great and awesome God was brought low – the one who knew no sin, became sin. The perfect spotless one bore the weight of the sin of the world. The greatest act of injustice that man could inflict – was God’s greatest act of justice – there at the cross. This is the greatest true contradiction the world has known. Indeed, the wilderness has been baptized into the vast ocean of the mercy and grace of our great God.
If you are thinking that there is no hope for you – if you believe that you are too far gone – you’ve done too much – you believe that the contradiction of grace is far too great – that you’ve fallen too far from the Lord…take heart, He can take death and make it give birth to life. Turn to the one who can do what you could never do. In our hands, it remains an impossible contradiction. In Him, all is new.
In every way God fulfills His promises and His words in Christ Jesus. Praise the Lord for the
wilderness of the sea.
Pastor Tony
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