Only the Lord Will Be Exalted

Sustaining Hope
The Days Are Surely Coming
A Vision of the Future

Isaiah 2:10-19  The Message

Pretentious Egos Brought Down to Earth

¹⁰ Head for the hills,
    hide in the caves
From the terror of God,
    from his dazzling presence.

^11-17 People with a big head are headed for a fall,
    pretentious egos brought down a peg.
It’s God alone at front-and-center
    on the Day we’re talking about,
The Day that God-of-the-Angel-Armies
    is matched against all big-talking rivals,
    against all swaggering big names;
Against all giant sequoias
    hugely towering,
    and against the expansive chestnut;
Against Kilimanjaro and Annapurna,
    against the ranges of Alps and Andes;
Against every soaring skyscraper,
    against all proud obelisks and statues;
Against ocean-going luxury liners,
    against elegant three-masted schooners.
The swelled big heads will be punctured bladders,
    the pretentious egos brought down to earth,
Leaving God alone at front-and-center
    on the Day we’re talking about.

¹⁸ And all those sticks and stones
    dressed up to look like gods
    will be gone for good.

¹⁹ Clamber into caves in the cliffs,
    duck into any hole you can find.
Hide from the terror of God,
    from his dazzling presence,
When he assumes his full stature on earth,
    towering and terrifying.

For Reflection

Many of us feel as though we have very little impact, if any, on the big issues of peace, justice and reconciliation.  But this is hardly the truth.  The truth is that we each have a choice to make.  Even under tremendous pressure we can be brave and say no to turmoil, injustice and Godlessness.

Jack Benny, who could pull off sight gags on the radio, responds to the threat from a mugger.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tVzdUczMT0  Funny, yes!   But, courageous.

Pray

for the courage to face down the injustices in your world.  Pray for the wisdom to observe that which is God's doing.  Pray for the peacemakers who seek justice and forgiveness.