From Rebellion to Rest

The last few weeks at church we have been talking about the prodigal son. This is probably one of the most familiar stories of the Bible, yet one that no matter how many times I hear it works its way straight to my heart. It is the story of the younger son who ran away, devalued his father, and despised his inheritance. It is the story of an older son who worked hard, was self-righteous, and had a rebellious heart. But ultimately, it is a story of a father’s love.

Both sons were unable to experience the love their father was offering because they refused to walk in the way of their father. Despite his sons’ unfaithfulness, the father was consistent. He loved, he patiently waited, and he embraced the returning son with open arms. And that father is a picture of our heavenly Father – patiently waiting, consistently loving, and ready to restore us.

The past few weeks in this blog we have been looking at Isaiah 30, another story of rebellion and redemption. The sons of Israel thought they knew best and insisted on their own way. They continued on the path of destruction despite God’s warning to turn back. They refused to listen and accept God’s offer of rest. And the entire time, God stood by waiting for them to return, longing to be gracious to them.

After pleading with His people, God painted a picture for them of what their future could be. A picture of what it looks like to return after rebellion.  Aren’t you thankful God gives us a path to turn back to Him? It is never too late to listen. It is never too late to find peace. It is never too late for restoration. In rebellion, there is always a place for returning.

The picture God paints shows us a few things:

God’s response is immediate.

“He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you.” (Isaiah 30:19 NASB)

As humans, we usually want people to prove themselves before we will restore them. We want them to earn their place again. But not our God. He is waiting for us and He immediately welcomes us. As soon as He hears the cry of His children, He responds.

God wants us to know Him. He is not hiding.

“Although the Lord has given you bread of privation and water of oppression, He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher.” (Isaiah 30:20 NASB)

God uses circumstances to turn us back to Him. Sometimes He withdraws in order to draw us closer to Him. But God’s ultimate desire is for us to know Him and to spend time in His presence. When we return to God we are invited to know Him even more. Just think, despite all the things we have done wrong, God wants to spend time with us. He wants to teach us even more and take us even deeper.

When we turn to God, He directs our steps.

“Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” (Isiah 30:21 NASB)

Often one the hardest things about returning to God is the question – what’s next? If we are letting go of our own way that means we will be going in a new direction. The good news is when we follow God, He directs our step. When we don’t know what to do, He does. When we are unsure of the future, He is confident. We just need to step forward and trust that He will show us the next step, and the next step, and the next step, and the step after that.

Returning always involves cleansing.

“And you will defile your graven images overlaid with silver, and your molten images plated with gold. You will scatter them as an impure thing, and say to them, ‘Be gone!’” (Isaiah 30:22 NASB)

God’s presence confronts the unhealthy things in our life. When we turn back to Him, He will cleanse us. This means certain behaviors need to go, certain attitudes need to change, certain steps of faith will result. We cannot encounter God and stay the same. But don’t get the order here wrong. Change begins with God’s presence, not with personal reform. You don’t clean yourself up in order to know God. Instead you spend time with God and as a result, you begin to change.

Returning always involves renewal.

“Then He will give you rain for the seed which you will sow in the ground, and bread from the yield of the ground, and it will be rich and plenteous; on that day your livestock will graze in a roomy pasture.” (Isaiah 30:23 NASB)

When we walk in rebellion, we deny the provision of God. When we turn back to Him, we experience that provision again. Rebellion is a time of spiritual drought, coming back to God signifies renewal. As a good Father, God provides for our needs. This includes our internal, spiritual needs as well as the physical needs we encounter on our path of walking with Him.

It is never too late. No area is past restoration. No sin is beyond forgiveness. No rebellion is permanent. But we have to turn to God. Just as the prodigal son ran home to his father, we have to come home to our Father. And when we do, He is waiting and ready to welcome us and restore us.