Devotionals

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"For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. In a surge of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you, says the Lord your Redeemer. Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you."
Isaiah 54:7,8,10 NIV

In verses one through six of this chapter, we read of God's relationship with His people of Israel. Suddenly the tone changes, and verse seven and eight reveal a shocking truth. God does have limited patience!

Imagine God admitting, "In a surge of anger, I hid my face from you, for a moment." God hid His face from His people, "for a moment." A little scary is it not?

Maybe, we need to reconsider the trust, we have previously placed in a God who says, He is a compassionate God and His kindness is everlasting. We may wonder could He, would He ever hide His face again, even for a moment?

My answer is yes if we who profess to love Him above all else, continue pushing the envelope to see how far, is too far. What would you answer if someone asked you the above question?

God's anger overcame God's love for a moment and then He promised, "Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed...with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you."

Believing this promise, most of us move through life striving to care for families, sharing our good fruits with others, praying for self and others, and worshiping God faithfully. Sometimes we fail and most of the time we quickly turn back to God seeking His forgiveness; trusting His promise made to Noah, to Israel and to we His people, living in today's world.

We can rejoice in God's promise and we can trust God if we choose to believe, and to accept His love. God loves us so much He sent His only Son, Jesus as proof of His love. God asks us to live as Jesus lived, and to love as Jesus loves and to trust Him as Jesus trusted Him.

Jesus told us to follow His Way, which is the only way to the Father. He gave us the road-map and if we choose to follow the directions, we do not need to be concerned about God hiding His face from us. However, we do need to concern our self with those times we try to hide our face from God, because we turned to sin and refused to accept His love.

Perhaps we can look into our own hearts and ask Has my anger ever overcome my love for a moment, an hour, a day, longer? Did I resolve my anger or am I holding onto it? Is someone in need of my apology and or my forgiveness? What should I do?

-Prayer for all who sometimes turn away from God and all who need to turn back.-

God of compassionate love forgive those times I turn my face from You. As your people Israel, I forget Your love at times and seek You only when my life turns upside down. Keep Your promise before my eyes and as You dwell in the depths of my heart make your presence known in good times and in not so good times.

Nudge me Father in those moments I am tempted to glance away. Withhold Your anger, be patient with me and guide me along the path Jesus mapped out for me. Give me the desire to believe You, the courage to trust You and the will to accept Your love. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Your Son and my Brother. Amen

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