Woe to Those Striving with God

God's Prophets Demand Justice
Amos Rails against Injustice

Micah Calls for Justice among Unjust People


No Tolerance for Corrupt Leaders and People

Isaiah 45:5-13 The Message

The God Who Forms Light and Darkness

45 ^1-7 God’s Message to his anointed,
    to Cyrus, whom he took by the hand
To give the task of taming the nations,
    of terrifying their kings—
He gave him free rein,
    no restrictions:
“I’ll go ahead of you,
    clearing and paving the road.
I’ll break down bronze city gates,
    smash padlocks, kick down barred entrances.
I’ll lead you to buried treasures,
    secret caches of valuables—
Confirmations that it is, in fact, I, God,
    the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.
It’s because of my dear servant Jacob,
    Israel my chosen,
That I’ve singled you out, called you by name,
    and given you this privileged work.
    And you don’t even know me!
I am God, the only God there is.
    Besides me there are no real gods.
I’m the one who armed you for this work,
    though you don’t even know me,
So that everyone, from east to west, will know
    that I have no god-rivals.
    I am God, the only God there is.
I form light and create darkness,
    I make harmonies and create discords.
    I, God, do all these things.

^8-10 “Open up, heavens, and rain.
    Clouds, pour out buckets of my goodness!
Loosen up, earth, and bloom salvation;
    sprout right living.
    I, God, generate all this.
But doom to you who fight your Maker—
    you’re a pot at odds with the potter!
Does clay talk back to the potter:
    ‘What are you doing? What clumsy fingers!’
Would a sperm say to a father,
    ‘Who gave you permission to use me to make a baby?’
Or a fetus to a mother,
    ‘Why have you cooped me up in this belly?’”

^11-13 Thus God, The Holy of Israel, Israel’s Maker, says:
    “Do you question who or what I’m making?
    Are you telling me what I can or cannot do?
I made earth,
    and I created man and woman to live on it.
I handcrafted the skies
    and direct all the constellations in their turnings.
And now I’ve got Cyrus on the move.
    I’ve rolled out the red carpet before him.
He will build my city.
    He will bring home my exiles.
I didn’t hire him to do this. I told him.
    I, God-of-the-Angel-Armies.”

For Reflection 

Sometimes we get the feeling that those whom we choose to lead us are worthless unless they are perfectly pure.  Does such a person exist?  Who are we, that we are so pure, that we can sit in judgement of others?  This is a humbling thought.

And yet, in today's world we have choices among the "not so perfect."  We have distaste for the taboo topics of religious and civil politics.  "Avoid talking about politics and religion." we say.  This is especially true when we talk politics in religious settings.  If we do, we open the door for all the sacred cows to escape and we are confronted with alternative beliefs.  What if "they" are right and "we" are wrong?  Are "we," like "they," hiding behind the Bible?

It takes courage to be a Christian in our times, just as it did in the early church.  The most courageous Christian act is to challenge one's self by openly thinking and discussing our political and religious beliefs.  Simply claiming the words of the Bible is not enough.  Our action needs to be faithful. Our voice needs to proclaim truth. 

Most importantly, Christians need to study, discuss, and pray about God's will.  The Christian faith is not a static thing.  What you believed as a child is not what you believe now that you are older.  As you confront the challenges of today, your faith grows.  Christians grow into the grace of God.

Pray

for those who challenge us.  Pray for the wisdom and trust in God that permits us to discuss our faith in challenging ways. Pray that you will grow in grace as you tackle the difficult questions about your belief.