Inauthentic Lives - Refusing and Rebelling (Isaiah 1:20)

Isaiah 1:20

“If you refuse and rebel”- God’s actions towards His people do not come without warning. He is clearly telling His people it is time to repent, change, and become who they are intended to be instead of clinging to sin.

What causes someone who hears the word of God to refuse to listen? It is the same problem as always, we think we know better than God. The supreme selfishness of sin is found in thinking we know best.  This inward turn for pleasure, self-satisfaction, and momentary gain is found at the root of all sin, but it is especially depressing when people who have known God refuse to listen. In some ways, it is not that different than the child who refuses to listen when their loving parent offers correction. In the case of a child, the parent forces the child to listen even when they refuse to do so. However, with the case of an adult child, the parent no longer forces their offspring. In this case, even though the parent may be offering advice which is solid, truthful, and helpful the son or daughter still chooses to act contrary to the parent.

One of the things setting apart the parent-offspring relationship with the people of Israel is that our modern understanding of familial relationships is very different (at least for most people) than the type of relationship adult children would have with their parents in the Ancient Near East. In the ANE, parents would continue to have a relationship with their children which demanded respect and obedience. Family times were often much stronger and determined career, marriage, and attitudes towards other people. The rebellion referenced in this passage would have been abhorrent to an ANE family in a way that would be unusual today. Most people today do not have the type of respect for their father or mother that an ANE person would have held.

We might think that independence and an ability to make our own decisions is central to our identity, but the ANE person would have described their identity more in terms of family, city, and tribe. If God were trying to call our attention today, the scripture might speak more about inauthenticity, disconnected, or pointless. We tend to value authenticity, connection, and meaningfulness in our work and relationships.  However, God would say that our faithlessness only leads to a life full of disconnect, fakery, and pointless pursuits. In order to regain true fulfillment in these areas, we must seek the Lord first. We think we gain identity by being true to self, but this is far from the truth. I recently watched the documentary, Struggle:The Life and Lost Art of Szukalski on Netflix. Repeatedly in the movie, the protagonist urged people to throw off other people’s ideas and develop their own. This was compared, arguably rightfully, to the punk mentality. At points, this radical individualism appeared outright silly and pointless. At others, it was dangerous and harmful. Personally, I came away from the movie feeling the man’s, and his followers', insistence on radical individualism only led to a life devoid of ultimate meaning and connection to something greater, despite attempts to the contrary. It seems all life wants to meaning, but on our own this quest will be fraught with mishaps and misdirection.

What would the devouring sword be for our generation? In the ANE, this was a common enough trope that people understand how a sword stood for war and devastation of an entire land (cf. Is. 66:16; Jer. 12:12; Nah. 3:15; Ez. 21:18, and many others. See also, Rev. 1:16 for a contrasting use). While prosperity is shown as a land full of fertility, the sword is the antithetical symbol of destruction, often accompanied by fire. Remembering this is a metaphor which is used throughout the Bible, it is hard to say which modern weapon would convey the same meaning to a contemporary audience. Part of the difficulty comes from the fact that the sword was equally used as a weapon of judgment. God is saying retribution will be fierce and bloody.

Is God cruel, vengeful, and spiteful? If we are to look solely at all the passages dealing with the sword and effects (e.g. animals gouging on those who have received the swords or arrows judgment), then we might think the Lord is petty, spiteful, and not much different than a Kali like figure in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom- only interested in death and destruction. However, we must keep in mind the Bible is using language which made sense to its audience. Second, the destruction which comes on people is currently part of the natural order. Even if we were to remove God from the mix and claim that there is no God, death is still regular and messy. People certainly don’t make the picture better. Finally, assuming that God is using this type of language metaphorically for a purpose, the purpose is to use the present realities of death and destruction to bring them back to repentance. Sin only further separates us from the possibility of restoration.

“For the Lord has spoken” is a sentiment sprinkled throughout the book (24:3; 40:5; 58:14). It recalls to the hearer we are in a courtroom setting (vs.2) where God is making the case against His people. The type of authority and truthfulness which God addresses the people is only circumstantially up for debate. They may try to make a case they have not forgotten the commands of God and cared for those who are vulnerable, but their record will be weak. The reality will speak against. Additionally, the lives of those who have been mistreated will be witnesses against them. There is only one-way helpful way forward- to repent and change.

At the same time we think about radical individualism, in terms of sin, we must remember going with the crowd and collectivism is not the answer either. The individual must make the choice in terms of response to God. Isaiah himself, hiding in the background of this text implies this choice. As the prophet, standing alone, he reveals the word of God to his community. The idol of community must not stand, but neither must the idol of radical individualism which finds its identity in self. The new self comes in relation to the revelatory nature of God (compare vs. 1 – this is the vision of Isaiah). The truth which Isaiah professes is not his own, yet he alone experiences it individually as he shares the message God has called him to share. This is not so different than our own experience, even in community. We are called to be the body of Christ (e.g. 1 Cor. 12:12-27) and yet we each must respond individually to the collective call for repentance and change. We enter individually into the kingdom. The push and pull of individual vs. community will always be present as we struggle with scripture. How will we respond is not a thought for “them” or “the crowd” it is a question first for each person as they react in faith.

Final thoughts:

1.      How does my culture shape my thinking in helpful ways?

2.      How does my culture shape my thinking in unhelpful ways?

3.      What would God’s case against my culture be today?

4.      Would I be a defendant or witness in God’s case today?

5.      How do I treat the authority of God? Do I treat God like a father who deserves respect and obedience, or do I value my own independence more?

6.      How can I use contemporary language and symbols to better communicate God’s truth in a way people will hear and connect with today?