When [the Egyptians] cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, He will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them. So the LORD will make Himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the LORD. They will worship … they will make vows to the LORD and keep them. The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; He will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the LORD, and He will respond to their pleas and heal them. — Isaiah 19:20-22
There is a pattern in human history. Sin and rebellion followed by judgment and pain. Pain ends arrogance and awakens humility and dependence. Then God sends repentance. But notice the path it takes: God makes Himself known.
We need to stop here. If God doesn’t make Himself known, then nothing good will follow. You cannot worship One you do not know. You will not serve One you do not worship.
We want sinners to repent, and we sometimes think that means they must stop sinning and start doing good. Sorry, folks, that isn’t going to happen. Repentance comes when God is revealed to us in a way we can experience. (Taste and see that the LORD is good.) Our hearts are purified by the truth of who God is and who we are. When we encounter Him who is Truth, sin doesn’t make sense any more. It loses its luster because we have embraced far better.
Abraham Lincoln said, "If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend seven sharpening my axe." The discovery of God sharpens the axe. After that, the impossible becomes easy.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
Dwight Clough is the author of four Christian books and is an active member of Lake City Church in Madison. This devotional is also available via email and you may review the archives back to 2002. To contact Dwight or Kim, use their contact form. You may also support their ministry.