Prophecy warns. God sent a warning message to those who were oppressing His people. Isaiah 9: 4 For you (God) will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. [1]
God will destroy those who oppress His people. The God of justice gives the warning so that the oppressors can turn from their sin and repent. God is a Lord of mercy and grace, but there comes a time when it is not loving to let injustice continue. When oppressors choose to continue in their rebellion, God will destroy them.
The Oppressors of Isaiah’s Time
The Assyrians captured the northern Kingdom of Israel during Isaiah’s lifetime. Then, the army marched south to capture Judah and Jerusalem. King Hezekiah and the people prayed for God to save them, and He did so supernaturally. Isaiah 37: 36 That night the angel of the Lord went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. When the surviving Assyrians woke up the next morning, they found corpses everywhere. 37 Then King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and returned to his own land.[2]
Isaiah also referenced the destruction of the Midian army. This happened during the time of Gideon. God called a farm boy, Gideon, to lead an army against Midian, who was oppressing Israel. The soldiers of the combined army of Midian and her allies were too many to count. Yet, God used Gideon’s 300 men to defeat them.
Our Oppressors
Isaiah’s prophecy continues to speak to us today. Unfortunately, oppressors abound in our sinful world. Yet, God knows and sees what is happening. Psalm 82: 1 God presides over heaven’s court; he pronounces judgment…3 “Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. 4 Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people. [3]
God warns so that oppressors can turn away from their sin and back to Him. Jeremiah 26: 3 Perhaps they will listen and turn from their evil ways. Then I will change my mind about the disaster I am ready to pour out on them because of their sins. [4] But if the oppressors refuse to turn to God and remain in rebellion, they bring their destruction.
The God of Justice and Love
Our sin condemns us before God. But since God is just and merciful, He provided a way to pay our sin debt. Jesus came to earth to pay the price we cannot pay. We don’t deserve the gift of salvation; He gives it out of love for us.
Romans 5: 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. [5] To learn how prophecy warns, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/prophecy-of-messiah
[1-5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.