Isaiah 21:11-17 - Cleaning House

Isaiah 21:11-17 NIV

A prophecy against Dumah:

Someone calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?” The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but also the night. If you would ask, then ask; and come back yet again.”

A prophecy against Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia, bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives. They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle.

This is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a servant bound by contract would count it, all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end. The survivors of the archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.

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Isaiah continues his prophecies against neighboring nations to Judah. This time he predicts the destruction of the Edomites and Kedarites. The Edomites are descendants of Esau, brother of Jacob. Jacob and Esau were twins from Rebekah and Isaac. Isaac was the miracle child born to Sarah and Abraham in their old age. Ishmael preceded Isaac as the firstborn of Abraham, but from a different mother Hagar the Egyptian handmaiden. The Kedarites are the descendants of one of Ishmael's twelve sons.

Both the Edomites and Kedarites have on and off conflict with the Hebrews. The conflicts are rooted within the family of Abraham. The Ishmaelites (Arabs) ended up selling Joseph, son of Jacob, as a slave in Egypt. The Edomites turned the Hebrews away when they came up out of Egypt, refusing them safe passage. Now these rivals are going to suffer the Assyrian invasion along with Israel.

The prophecy against Edom reads like a riddle. The watchman who keeps watch out for threats to the city is asked, "What is left of the night?” I understand this to be an inquiry about the safety of the nation. In other words the question about night means, "Has the danger passed? Is it safe?" The answer comes as a bit of a riddle. Morning is on the way, but night will follow. I think this means that it may seem safe, but don't be fooled. Danger is soon to follow. Ask me again and I'll tell you the same. (grin)

The Arabs will also suffer destruction with only a few survivors. While they may provide for the needs of war refugees, the war is coming to them too. Within a year, Isaiah is very specific, the Arabs will suffer their end.

As I read Isaiah's litany of prophecies against various nations, I get the feeling God is cleaning house. God is punishing Idolaters and enemies of the Jews, at least that's the interpretation of the prophet and his followers. I am more apt to believe that Assyria's grab for power is the reason these nations all suffer destruction and displacement, but the ancient Hebrew understood God to be behind everything that happens. A biblical theology concurs that God uses military powers that are in play for His divine purposes.

It's important to remember what is God's purpose. God separates light from dark, waters of chaos from dry land. God creates safe places for holy life to flourish. He gave the land of Canaan to the descendants of Abraham because Abraham obeyed the Lord. His faith credited him as a righteous man. So Israel, the children of Abraham, is God's holy project. By nourishing holy life through a covenant keeping people God is building a nation filled with the knowledge of God. They practice charity, hospitality, mercy and compassion. They live according to the righteous will of God and their society is just. That's the idea anyway. All the nations are supposed to be blessed by the life of holy community.

Of course not many of the nations wish to participate in the holy life offered by Israel's God. Instead they prefer playing the worldly games of idol worship, warfare and oppression. So just as God separates dark from light, God uses military powers to separate destructive societies from his holy people. When God's chosen people fail to nurture holiness, God lets them fall prey to their enemies to correct them. It's how the Jews understand their relationship with Yahweh. Obedience brings blessings from God. Disobedience brings curse. While Israel is chosen for this special task to be holy as God is holy, God cares about all nations and shapes them too. Edom and Kedar are not innocent bystanders, but also part of what God is doing in the world through Assyria.

The question that is asked of me by this text is whether I am actively part of his work to nurture holy community or am I creating chaos, disturbing His holy project through sinful behavior. Am I distracted and obsessed with American versions of idols we worship? And what is God up to with current military conflicts? How is God shaping our world according to His divine purpose? What will the fall out be for me and mine? Ultimately I must rely on the belief that God is good and all things, even war, work together for good.

May I be found to be on the right side.