Tell Me What To Do, Lord
Isaiah 5:19 " Who say, Let Him make speed, let Him hasten His work, that we may see it; and let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come to pass, that we may know it!"
We studied this passage last Wednesday evening. There are several observations that we can make about it. The context comes in the section of verses from verse eight to verse twenty-three. The pronouncement of woes upon the wicked is the general theme. One of these woes is upon a certain class of people that should be very familiar to us today.
We have a group of people who speak in a mocking sort of way saying that God needs to hurry up and show us what He wants. Never mind that they have the Holy Scriptures available to them already. Never mind that the Law was written many years before and that following the teachings of the Law would bring blessings from God. Never mind that God hath spoken. These people have already made up their minds that they are not interested in following God's laws. These are the type of people that even if God did do some great thing in their viewing, they would still find any excuse to not be submissive to God's laws.
This reminds us of the conversation between the rich man and Abraham found in Luke 16. The rich man wanted to warn his brothers about coming to the place of torment, and pleaded to send Lazarus back from the dead to warn them. Abraham said "they have Moses and the Law, let them hear him". The rich man begged and pleaded because he knew that his brothers could care less about the Law, and they needed to see a miracle before they would obey. Abraham rightly observed that this attitude would not turn any from their sins, even if one were to return from the dead.
All of this asking for the signs or miracles to convince them is nothing more than a ruse. People today are waiting for the voice from heaven to tell them how to live. People are waiting for the oceans to part or some great mountain appear out of thin air. They speak in a mocking way that if God would appear before them, they would do what God wants. But once again, we realize and must tell them that God has already spoken. It is as if they want a different message to come forth, because they did not like the previous message.
It seems like most people in the world is doing the same thing. They do not like the commandments of God, so they are asking for a do over, to see if God can get it right (this time). They do not want to read it in a book, they want something grand. They are waiting for a voice from the sky, or some emotional gushing of feelings to sense the presence of God to come over them.
The only thing wrong with this picture is that God has already spoken to them. Why do we keep emphasizing this point? Because things have not changed and people today are in the same spiritual condition. They chose to reject God's word in the first place, but in their arrogance they are asking God to show them what they need to do. The idea of just reading a book does not excite them. The fact that the Lord requires something of them is rejected. They want to be entertained and pampered. They want the Lord Himself to appear before them and tell them to do something unique. Some want to be able to impress others that they have a special revelation from God in some way that nobody else can understand. Like a custom made package for them only to bring about salvation.
It is just that some seem to be screaming at God to teach us something, anything, but please, don't make us read from your Bible
God's word is truth (John 17:17) and all of God's word is inspired (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and God's word provides us everything we need for our salvation (2 Peter 1:3). But people don't want to have to read the book that is already given to us. They want something different. Something with a little pizzazz or accompanied by whistles and bells. Why?
They despise the word of God. Because God tells them in the Bible that they are accountable to Him for the Laws God has commanded them to do. God tells them that transgression of the Law is sin (1 John 3:4). These people hate anyone (including God) who tells them they are a sinner, and on the pathway to hell. Hell scares them, but God does not. They arrogantly declare that" God is here for me", and not the other way around.
Now, here is another thing to consider. If God ever decided to speak to humans again, He would simply tell them to "Go read My book". That is all God would need to do. But many people are not willing to accept such. So they look for preachers who will give them what they want (2 Timothy 4:3-4). One thing we are aware of is that every time someone gives a new revelation, it is contradicting what God has already revealed. What that indicates is that the supposed message is not from God, but from the desire of the human heart.
The lesson you should learn is that once someone claims to have new revelation, get away from them; because they are not speaking for God. God told Jeremiah that the false prophets were speaking on their own. God said "I spake not unto them, yet they speaketh". The only people you can trust your soul to are those who direct you to the Bible as the sole source of authority in religious things. The authority of the Bible comes from God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
So humble yourself before God, and submit to His will that He has already given you.
By Carey Scott

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