God is not your Grandfather

Isaiah 34

The fool has no fear of God, and the Bible addresses this in many places, but being the first day of the month, I’m reading in Proverbs 1 and in verse 22, we see God giving us a picture of a foolish person.  “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?  How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?"  God makes clear “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)  If you have ears and eyes and seek wisdom you cannot help but hear the tenderness in the words spoken in verse 22 to you and me and all who will be still and listen. 

In the following verses, we have a road map on how to turn from foolish living to a life and a 

walk that is pleasing to God.  You will also see God in a way that may not be taught in your 

local church.  Verse 23 gives us the wonderful news of forgiveness and the grace of God.   

“If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known 

to you.”  Many of you have sought priest and preachers who tell you what the God you want 

is like, a grandfather God who looks the other way; only one big problem, he does not exist.   

For God is Holy, He is Just, Merciful, a Warrior, and much more, but He’s not looking the other 

way while you live your sinful, self-filled life, and do it your way.  

As we read verses 24-27, we see God’s judgment on foolish people!  “Because I have 

called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, 

because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will 

laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a 

storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon 

you.”  Now for you who are looking for a grandfather god, does that sound like a grandfather?

With that information of both grace and judgment, Isaiah is telling how God is going to judge 

the nations.  Chapter 34:1-2, “Draw near, O nations, to hear, and give attention, O peoples! 

Let the earth hear, and all that fills it; the world, and all that comes from it. For the LORD is 

enraged against all the nations,    and furious against all their host; he has devoted them 

to destruction, has given them over for slaughter.”  Isaiah is proclaiming the God of Israel 

is the God of all nations and that He uses the armies for His will, but they and their leaders 

become arrogant and fall under His judgment.  He also tells us that the actions of “doing it 

our way” has cosmic implications.  Much of what the people worshipped in Isaiah’s time 

was found in the heavens, items like the stars, and the false gods will be brought down.

The nation of Edom had a history of taking advantage of Israel whenever Israel was weak, 

and in that Israel, much like the United States of America, often turned from God and sought 

little gods, gods with no power, God allowed Edom to be a tool to bring them back to Him.  

 As you read verses eight and the rest of the chapter you will see God’s judgment on Edom.   

Could what we see happening in the USA be the beginning of God’s judgment?

From The Back Porch,

Bob Rice