Provision and Protection Pulled Back

What God has offered us through the only Mediator, Jesus Christ, is stunning. Just look at what we find in His Presence according to Psalm 16:11,

“You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Though He offers entrance to His presence, some will reject it. As we continue in Isaiah, we see the horror that comes from rejecting God’s presence. Once rejected, God mercifully pulls back His provision and protection, lest we imagine they could come from another source, including our own hands. Let’s listen in and ask the Lord to speak to us from Isaiah 3:1-5,

“For behold, the Lord GOD of hosts

is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah

support and supply,

all support of bread,

and all support of water;

the mighty man and the soldier,

the judge and the prophet,

the diviner and the elder,

the captain of fifty

and the man of rank,

the counselor and the skillful magician

and the expert in charms.

And I will make boys their princes,

and infants shall rule over them.

And the people will oppress one another,

every one his fellow

and every one his neighbor;

the youth will be insolent to the elder,

and the despised to the honorable.”

Let’s not imagine that we can reject God, and remain in protection and provision. Those things are not found apart from Him. Instead we find lack, oppression, disrespect, and hearts growing cold. When leaders act like children, it’s not good for anyone. We need to pray for our leaders, and ask God for mercy and wisdom. We need the Lord.