Amidst Pain & Transitions, God Often Comes
Have you ever noticed that some of the best encounters with God occur when we least expect them? They seem to happen when we have come to the end or ourselves and are depleted. And, God often shows up when we are not particularly expectant, but are simply doing the right things – based on a general call to faithfulness.
This was true for Isaiah. He was a tremendous prophet of God for the southern tribe of Judah. He served as a prophet to the nation for approximately 45 years! In the early stages of his ministry Uzziah was king of Israel – in his last few years of his reign. Uzziah was a king who had a long and powerful term of some 52 years. But, he grew proud. He started to offer incense on the altar in the temple of the Lord, a ministry that was set aside for only the sons of Aaron.
Uzziah apparently assumed that since God’s hand was upon him to be an effective king that he could do whatever he wanted with God’s blessing. Offering incense was not necessarily a “bad” thing, but it was not what God had prescribed for him. When he was confronted with his sin, he went into a rage, and was immediately struck with leprosy. His disease caused him to live separately from the people for the last 11 years of his life and excluded him from the temple. (2 Chronicles 26:16-21) This was a very sad ending for a man who had been a great king for a number of years.
In the year king Uzziah died, in the year the king “emeritus” of 52 years died, God showed up in a big way for Isaiah. Though the people were continuing in some of their corrupt practices, Isaiah continued to minister to the Lord. And one day, Isaiah was able to see God on His throne, exalted. There were angels calling out to each other in the worship of God, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty.” The doorposts and threshold shook, and the temple filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:1-5) It was an incredible sight! Isaiah was undone, aware of his sinfulness and weakness.
But, it was in that moment that the Lord called Isaiah to stand up on a new level and give himself to God’s purposes. Isaiah was commissioned by God to serve as one of the greatest prophets in all history – a prophet who saw into the future of Israel and Judah, who saw and described the coming of the Messiah and spoke of the salvation of God.
Are you living through transitions, or seeing others live corrupt lives – as if nothing really matters morally or spiritually? Are you ever gripped with the sadness of what has happened to some of the people around you, those who started well, but seem to have lost their way – or become very isolated (for one reason or another)? These are some of the difficult realities of life that all those who seek to live for God face.
Let’s be reminded amidst these sometimes prolonged seasons to “Not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:8) Isaiah kept doing the right things – the things God had created him for and the things he was called to do. His steadfast service opened the door to a wonderful, life-changing encounter with God, an encounter that propelled him into the next 40 years of adventure and ministry with a purpose. May God miraculously reveal Himself to you – at just the right time – and lead you into a powerful life of purpose and effectiveness!
Seeking God’s face with you,
Pastor Tom
tgriffith@rolcboston.org
