Isaiah 34:1-10, 13-14, 16-17

Isaiah 34:1-10, 13-14, 16-17 NIV

Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it! The Lord is angry with all nations; his wrath is on all their armies. He will totally destroy them, he will give them over to slaughter. Their slain will be thrown out, their dead bodies will stink; the mountains will be soaked with their blood. All the stars in the sky will be dissolved and the heavens rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree.

My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; see, it descends in judgment on Edom, the people I have totally destroyed. The sword of the Lord is bathed in blood, it is covered with fat— the blood of lambs and goats, fat from the kidneys of rams. For the Lord has a sacrifice in Bozrah and a great slaughter in the land of Edom. And the wild oxen will fall with them, the bull calves and the great bulls. Their land will be drenched with blood, and the dust will be soaked with fat.

For the Lord has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion’s cause. Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch, her dust into burning sulfur; her land will become blazing pitch! It will not be quenched night or day; its smoke will rise forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever pass through it again. Thorns will overrun her citadels, nettles and brambles her strongholds. She will become a haunt for jackals, a home for owls. Desert creatures will meet with hyenas, and wild goats will bleat to each other; there the night creatures will also lie down and find for themselves places of rest.

Look in the scroll of the Lord and read: None of these will be missing, not one will lack her mate. For it is his mouth that has given the order, and his Spirit will gather them together. He allots their portions; his hand distributes them by measure. They will possess it forever and dwell there from generation to generation.

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More unpleasant tidings from Isaiah as he announces God's wrath on the warring nations of the world and destruction for Edom. Isaiah has already mentioned Edom earlier. I have to remember that Isaiah is a collection of oracles. Even though Edom is mentioned earlier in this collection, it does not mean that this oracle is part of a long continuous speech. Rather it is a separate prophecy delivered at a different time than the previous one in this book.

I am making an assumption that the reason God is angry is because of war. I might also interpret that God is angry because of idolatry. Not only do the pagan nations worship idols, but even God's own chosen people are worshiping idols. It is God's mission to be known through His holy nation who keep his covenant. Their failure means God must step in to resume his holy mission to spread the knowledge of God. Therefore the Israelites understand that God is using the armies of the day to carry out His will.

Isaiah uses graphic imagery of blood and fat and stench as he describes God's wrath executed upon the armies of the world. Not only will the earth suffer God's wrath, but also the heavenly powers will be shaken. Isaiah speaks of the heavens rolling up like a scroll and the stars dropping from the heavens like a leaves from a tree. And once God is done with his battle in heaven, He turns his attention to the enemies of Israel, Edom, Jacob's brother.

Edom will be destroyed. Their cities will be left desolate, a haunt for jackals and other wild animals. Isaiah, with great irony, speaks of God portioning out allotments of land to the wild animals to possess, as if these beasts and birds were heirs to the covenant with Abraham.

Esau, the progenitor of the people of Edom, was grandson to Abraham and therefore a recipient of God's favor. Chapter 36 of Genesis is proof of this as there is a lengthy lineage recording the descendants of Esau and the rulers of Edom. Jacob/Israel was the one to carry on the spiritual leadership of Abraham's descendants. Esau and the Edomites lived apart in Seir and eventually become enemies to the Hebrews.

Is there a message to apply? God does not like idolatry. God promises peace and plenty to those who keep the covenant faithfully, but war and famine, sickness and barrenness to the unfaithful. Israel is experiencing the results of their failure. Edom is experiencing the results of their cursing Israel. For the Lord curses those who curse His chosen. God uses the circumstances of war and politics sometimes to chastise, punish and correct. This is how Israel understood God. Do I believe God still behaves this way?

The New Testament uses similar language with a mighty battle to finally bring all opponents of God into submission. Isaiah uses hyperbole to make his points. Sometimes his language is over the top and not to be taken literally. For instance Edom, according to Isaiah, will be deserted forever. Clearly that did not happen. I interpret his prediction to be colorful, bold, and over the top, not to be taken literally.

I do believe God holds the world accountable. I do also believe God works all things, including war, into His plan to bless the world with the knowledge of God. (See Romans 8:28) Great conflict sometimes turns hearts to the living God. Will yours?

Questions I ask myself are what sort of idolatry am I in to? Star Wars? Rock 'N' Roll? Family? My own comfort and pleasure? I also want to know how God is using the current conflict with Islamic terrorists in His mission to bless the world. Is America being chastised for unfaithfulness? Is God using Islam, as these fanatics believe, to punish the infidel sinners of the world? Will the world's people look to God in this time of trouble? Will I trust God as the world grows more violent and dangerous? Will I give the prophet a serious listen?

Isaiah 34:1 NIV

Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it!