Realising Forgiveness
My first real experience of snow was in Hogsback in the Eastern Cape. We'd been hiking and slept in an overnight hut. In the morning we discovered that the drab brown winter countryside had been transformed by snow that had fallen in the night.
Lent starts with Ash Wednesday - the realisation of my mortality and brokenness along with the reminder that I am forgiven.
Isaiah writes to a broken Israel - they are hard-hearted, corrupt and unfaithful. They're on a path toward destruction - they're going to implode morally, politically and spiritually. The first 17 verses of this opening chapter lament the hardness of their hearts to the extent that even their religious observances have become a sham.
Then, in an unexpected shift, God offers hope.
There is forgiveness available.
"Let's sit down and talk about it:
- You're in a bad way, but I can forgive you."
The language Isaiah uses is the language of a closing argument in a court case. When it comes to court cases we're used to pronouncements of guilt or innocence. We're not used to pronouncements of pardon. And that is what this is.
This beautiful image of pardon is illustrated with an image of washing. (I always think of the adverts for laundry detergents!)
"You'll be washed sparkling clean."
"You'll be transformed like snow transforms the country-side."
Imagine yourself sitting in the dock.
You're guilty - you know it.
But in His closing pronouncement the Judge offers you a pardon!
You're forgiven!
But what will you do with this forgiveness?
You have two choices:
The English translation obscures Isaiah's clever pun:
You can "eat" or "be eaten"(devoured).
If, in response to our pardon, we are willing and obedient, we will eat of the best of the land.
Or we can resist and rebel and then we will be "eaten" by the violence our rebellion brings.
The message of the cross is pardon - full and unconditional.
We really can be washed clean.
But this pardon cannot be taken for granted.
We need to willing and obedient.
It's not a condition, but it is a fitting response.
| "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; 20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (Isaiah1:18-20) |
