This Is the Way

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This is a message that was presented by Pastor Les on August 21, 2016 and it is based on Isaiah 30:21.

Written Excerpts:

Isaiah 30:21 (KJV) And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Introduction:

If you’re a parent, maybe you remember those times when your child was very young and perhaps had just learned to walk. As your toddler used his new-found freedom to explore new territory, you may have followed closely behind giving guidance and watching to make sure he didn’t roam into dangerous areas.

What about your teenagers when they were learning to drive? Which parent in your household primarily assumed the task of teaching your child to drive a car? (I assume it was the parent with the least anxiety issues!) Remember giving all-important directions – use your turn signal; don’t follow so closely; slow down on the curves; turn right… no not that right, the other right! This is the right way; don’t turn there, that’s the wrong way.

Our kids used to joke and even complain about Kris and I and some of our driving instructions. When I was riding with them I kept saying, “Don’t drive so close to the center line.” When Kris was riding with them she’d say, “Don’t drive so close to the white sideline!” It’s no wonder our kids are confused!

What about the rest of us? We all may remember those times in our own lives when we were in the process of making some monumental decisions and someone, whether a parent or trusted friend, gave us some very critical advice just when we needed it the most.

For the rest of our time this morning I want to speak to you about the voice of God saying, “This is the way.” Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the voice of God giving us such guidance and instruction? The Scripture lesson before us today is about the people of Israel & Judah and God’s desire to do exactly as I said… give them instructions and directions for the path of life.

However there were some serious barriers that hindered the Lord from leading His people. Sadly, it appears that some of these same barriers prevent the Lord from being able to provide much-needed direction for His people today.

I believe that this passage has some important lessons for us to learn and understand if we likewise hope to receive the sweet voice of the Spirit of God guiding us and instructing us about the path we walk each day. Let us examine this passage to discover some of the barriers that prevented God’s leadership and guidance. And then discover God’s remedy to remove the barriers.

I.    The barriers that prevent God’s constant guidance.

There are two basic barriers that are mentioned in our text today. There are other barriers that could be mentioned, but these are the two that are described here.

A. Wrong Attitudes

Rebellious

Isaiah 30:1-2 (NKJV) “Woe to the rebellious children," says the Lord…

Isaiah 30:9 (NKJV) That this is a rebellious people…

Unfaithful/lying

Isaiah 30:9 (NKJV) … Lying children, Children who will not hear the law of the LORD; (Interpret in light of vv. 10-11)

(Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary) No man, professedly, wished to be deceived; but many seek a kind of teaching which is deceit; and which, if they would examine, they might know to be such (1Ki 22:13). The Jews desired success to be foretold as the issue of their league with Egypt, though ill had been announced by God's prophet as the result; this constituted the "deceits."

The people of Judah had acquired some of the same attitudes of the pagans all around them. They had reached the point where they were just as opposed to God’s will and God’s purposes as the surrounding enemies. Yet, they continued to assume that God was going to bless them and everything would be fine because, after all, they were the Lord’s chosen people. They had privileges!

Far too many Christians have the same attitudes today.

B. Wrong Choices

Isaiah 30:1-2 (NKJV) “Woe to the rebellious children," says the LORD, "Who take counsel, but not of Me, And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, That they may add sin to sin; ² Who walk to go down to Egypt, And have not asked My advice, To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

Not only did the leaders of Judah have the wrong attitudes, but they made really bad choices. They sought and entered into unholy alliances with pagans, which God specifically forbid way back in Exodus. They made plans that were not ordained by God nor were blessed by God.

These choices can also be applied to the people of God today. Far too many Christians have made unholy alliances with every imaginable source, and we go on living our lives according to the standards of the rest of the world and Hollywood without seeking the will of God. While we do that, God is patiently waiting and desires to guide us and bless us if we will only seek Him.

II.  God’s remedy for removing barriers.

Even though the people of God erect barriers that prevent the blessing of God, God has a way of getting through.

Calamity and judgment

Isaiah 30:12-14 (NLT) ¹² This is the reply of the Holy One of Israel: “Because you despise what I tell you and trust instead in oppression and lies, ¹³ calamity will come upon you suddenly— like a bulging wall that bursts and falls. In an instant it will collapse and come crashing down. ¹⁴ You will be smashed like a piece of pottery— shattered so completely that there won’t be a piece big enough to carry coals from a fireplace or a little water from the well.”

Conquered by enemies

Isaiah 30:16-17 (NLT) ¹⁶ You said, ‘No, we will get our help from Egypt. They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.’ But the only swiftness you are going to see is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you! ¹⁷ One of them will chase a thousand of you. Five of them will make all of you flee. You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop.”

Isaiah 30:3 (NASB) ³ “Therefore the safety of Pharaoh will be your shame And the shelter in the shadow of Egypt, your humiliation.

The safety and security they sought will turn into shame and humiliation. God doesn’t always deliver His people from calamity and from the oppression of their enemies. When His people have forsaken His Word and His ways and have continued to seek their own sinful passions and desires rather than obey Him, then He allows them to go on until they suffer the consequences of their choices.

There is no argument that is more convincing than the misery of consequences from my own choices. The sad thing is, many people who suffer the miserable consequences of their choices never see the connection with their own actions, so they get angry at God and blame Him for all their pain.

III. God’s incredible assistance

Yes, God does allow calamity. God does allow judgment to fall and the enemies to prevail. But it’s only for the purpose of turning His people back to Him again. He stands waiting for them with outstretched arms. When they return to Him in sorrow and repentance He begins to offer what they’ve been seeking all along.

Isaiah 30:18-23 (NLT) ¹⁸ So the LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help. ¹⁹ O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will surely respond to the sound of your cries. ²⁰ Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. ²¹ Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. ²² Then you will destroy all your silver idols and your precious gold images. You will throw them out like filthy rags, saying to them, “Good riddance!” ²³ Then the LORD will bless you with rain at planting time. There will be wonderful harvests and plenty of pastureland for your livestock.

God will be…

      Gracious – v. 19; Teacher – v. 20; Guide – v. 21 (Who wouldn’t want God looking over their shoulder and whispering in their ear, “This is the right way…”?) Blesser – v. 23; Defender – vv. 27-28, 30-33 (esp. 31)

When God’s people truly repent and return to Him with loyalty, then God will defend them against their enemies. God will provide for them the very thing they sought from Egypt – safety and security from threatening enemies.

All the things they sought in Egypt and from Egypt will be provided for them if they will abandon their own stubbornness; and if they will only return in faithfulness to God’s Word and God’s will.

Conclusion:

Do you desire to have guidance from the Lord in your daily decisions and your major choices?

Do you desire the grace of God and His blessing on your life?

Do you wish for God to defend you against all enemies that threaten to ruin and destroy your faith?

God longs to be all of that and more for each one of us.

He delights in being our faithful guide and instructor.

But, we must be totally devoted to His Word and His Ways. We cannot be clamoring after the worldly “alliances” that will dilute our loyalty to the Lord and lead us further away from Him. We can’t listen to all the heathen voices and still expect His guidance.

Let us purpose to be loyal and to listen for His still small voice.

Hymn: I Need Thee Every Hour

Before we leave this morning, I wonder if there is anyone who desperately needs the guidance of the Holy Spirit for critical issues you’re facing right now? I’d like to invite you to come to the front and join me in a special prayer for God’s guidance and instruction for these issues that are troubling you so much. Whatever it is, come on and let’s pray together.