Sinful choices, predictable ends

Xanthe Galanis

This is what the Lord says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of my creditors did I sell you? Because of your sins you were sold; because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.  When I came, why was there no one?  When I called, why was there no one to answer? Was my arm too short to ransom you?  Isaiah 50:1-2

To understand what is going on in today’s verse, we need to understand something of Jewish law. Here the prophet uses Mosaic Law associated with divorce and debtors’ slavery as an analogy to show that Judah is separated from God and in slavery as a consequence of her own sin. 

If a husband wanted to divorce his wife, he had to give her a certificate of divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1-4).  Here in Isaiah the Lord speaks to Judah and says "I did not officially divorce you." He implies that there was a temporary separation between "husband and wife" because of Judah's sins. The Lord does not have any creditors, but he did sell his "children" because of their sins. It was their actions, not his, that caused them to be sold into slavery in Babylon.

We also read here that the Lord tried to rescue his people, but they did not answer his call. It was Judah that rejected the Lord, not the Lord who rejected Judah. When he comes to take her back, to rescue her, no one comes forward to greet him. They chose not to believe prophets who told them that their exile in Babylon was only temporary. They did not think that the Lord was capable of rescuing them.

The more time we spend with God, the less likely we are to make sinful choices. A bit later in this chapter we read, “The Sovereign Lord … wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.”  (Isaiah 50:4). Set aside at least 5 minutes each morning this week in reading Scripture and listen to what God wants to teach you.

Prayer: Father, often I’m blinded my pride and arrogance and I cannot see the disastrous consequences of my sinful choices. Help to listen to you, to make godly choices, and to believe that you are strong enough to rescue me from my sin. Amen