His Anger Is Not Turned Away, His Hand Is Still Upraised (Isaiah 5:18-30)

His Anger Is Not Turned Away, His Hand Is Still Upraised (Isaiah 5:18-30)

On the surface, this world may seem peaceful and quiet, but if one looks deeper, it is filled with strife and conflict. At the root of this conflict are human selfishness, greed, and pride. It is no exaggeration to say that the human heart rarely finds true rest, wandering constantly. No matter what one does, there is no true satisfaction. Why is this so? Because human beings are created in the image of God and cannot be satisfied with the perishable things of this world. Only the spiritual blessings of God can truly fill them. God has created people to be this way.

God delights in providing what truly satisfies people. However, the problem lies in the fact that we desire spiritual grace while simultaneously seeking physical comfort and satisfaction. We as Christians wish to do good for the sake of heavenly blessings and desire to hate and shun evil. Yet, we are unable to do good and find ourselves doing the very evil we claim to hate (Romans 7:15). This is because of the weakness of the flesh.

Therefore, God, knowing human frailty, disciplines and refines them. Even in this world, one undergoes rigorous training, like an Olympic athlete, to reach the top, gaining some benefit. However, God's holy discipline is beneficial in every way (1 Timothy 4:8). Indeed, God's discipline is thorough and holy. He chastises relentlessly to remove evil. Today's passage is no exception. Discipline and refinement are painful and sorrowful. The message of God's judgment delivered by Isaiah is one of fear and trembling.

Woe to Those Who Draw Sin with Cords of Deceit

18 Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit, and wickedness as with cart ropes, 19 to those who say, “Let God hurry; let him hasten his work so we may see it. The plan of the Holy One of Israel—let it approach, let it come into view, so we may know it.” (Isaiah 5:18-19)

This is a warning against false prophets. They use deceit as a cord and pull wickedness as with cart ropes. They incite lies against the Lord God and boast arrogantly, saying that the Holy One of Israel should quickly fulfill His plans for them to see. They fail to grasp the fearful and majestic nature of the day of the Lord. Even after witnessing God’s presence on Mount Sinai, they remained ignorant and arrogant. In the last days, scoffers will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?” and mock the truth (2 Peter 3:4).

God commanded, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). Yet, false prophets misled the people of Jerusalem, saying, “Peace, peace,” when there was no peace, even as destruction loomed (Jeremiah 6:14). The false prophets sought greed (Numbers 22:17). Balaam, enticed by Moabite King Balak’s offer of money, attempted to curse Israel but failed. Eventually, he led Israel into sin through Moabite women, causing them to fall into sexual immorality (Numbers 31:16).

In the last days, false prophets and teachers will use sweet and deceptive words to lead people astray (2 Timothy 4:3). Many today disguise themselves under the name of the prosperity gospel, using God’s name to amass wealth. They remain trapped in ignorance, knowing nothing of God. However, all lies hidden in darkness will be exposed in the light (Hebrews 4:13). No one can deceive the God whose eyes are like blazing fire (Revelation 1:14). “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7).

The false prophet Balaam was killed by the sword when the Reubenites attacked the Moabite region (Joshua 13:22). During Jeremiah’s time, the false prophet Hananiah falsely declared that God had broken the yoke of Babylon and that within two years, the temple articles and the exiled leaders would return (Jeremiah 28:1-4). Through Jeremiah, God declared that Hananiah would be removed from the earth because he had preached rebellion against the Lord. That same year, he died (Jeremiah 28:16-17).

Woe to Those Who Deny the Truth

20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. (Isaiah 5:20)

Truth is unchanging and eternal. God created light and separated it from darkness (Genesis 1:3-4). God is light; in Him, there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). He is the only true door leading those under sin into eternal life. Yet, there are those who deny that Jesus is the Son of God—these are the antichrists (1 John 2:22).

False teachers rise, calling evil good and good evil, attempting to obscure the truth. They falsely claim that bitterness is sweetness and sweetness is bitterness, boldly perpetuating lies. This is a contempt of God’s patience and grace (Romans 2:4). The sons-in-law-to-be of Lot in Sodom dismissed the angels’ warning of imminent destruction as a joke (Genesis 19:14). During Micah’s time, people persecuted the prophets, saying, “Disaster will not overtake us” (Micah 2:6). In Malachi’s time, people dishonored the Lord by offering blemished sacrifices and then questioned how they had shown contempt for His name (Malachi 1:6-7).

When Jesus cast out demons, the Jews accused Him of doing so by the power of demons (Matthew 12:24). When He forgave the sins of a paralyzed man, they accused Him of blasphemy (Matthew 9:3). When Jesus ate with tax collectors at Matthew’s house, they slandered Him, calling Him a glutton and a drunkard who associated with sinners (Matthew 9:11; Luke 7:34). Jesus told the unbelieving Jews, “You belong to your father, the devil” (John 8:44). The devil is a liar and the father of lies. Those who deny the truth, like the devil, are his children.

Woe to Those Who Are Wise in Their Own Eyes

"Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight." (Isaiah 5:21)

People think they are wise, but they are foolish. They think they have understanding, but they lack wisdom. This is because they have fallen into sin. The essence of sin is not relying on God. Instead, they place themselves in God's position, judging as if they were the ultimate authority. However, wisdom is knowing God. The one who has received the grace of Christ’s redemption and has been justified is truly wise. Those who do not know God are by nature children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3). But those who fear and revere the Lord have wisdom, for "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10).

Woe to those who exalt themselves. King Nebuchadnezzar exalted himself and sought his own glory, but before his words fell from his lips, he became like a beast, living in the fields and eating grass for seven years (Daniel 4:33). King Herod heard the people's praise and did not give glory to God but sought his own glory. As a result, he was struck down and eaten by worms, and he died (Acts 12:23). God did not accept the prayer of the Pharisee who exalted himself, compared himself to a tax collector, and boasted of his righteousness (Luke 18:14). But He accepted the prayer of the tax collector, who could not even look up to heaven and beat his chest in repentance.

“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’” (James 4:6)

Woe to Those Who Drink Wine and Love Strong Drink

"Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent." (Isaiah 5:22-23)

Therefore, as fire devours the stubble and dry grass sinks down in the flames, so their roots will decay and their flowers blow away like dust; for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore, the Lord’s anger burns against his people; his hand is raised and he strikes them down. The mountains shake, and the dead bodies are like refuse in the streets. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised. (Isaiah 5:24-25)

Woe to those who indulge in excessive drinking and strong drink—it is never something to boast about. They pervert justice by accepting bribes, declaring the wicked innocent and depriving the righteous of their rights. Their drinking gatherings became places where bribes were exchanged, and verdicts were determined. Judges and officials formed their own exclusive social clubs where they plotted injustice and corruption. Instead of using their God-given positions to lead and guide people in righteousness, they exploited and robbed them like thieves and bandits (Hosea 6:9). They rejected the Lord God, despised His holy word, and treated Him as though He were insignificant.

Then, the fierce wrath of God was revealed from heaven. Just as fire consumed Sodom and Gomorrah, it devoured them like stubble and dry grass in flames. Their roots rotted, and their flowers scattered like dust. God's judgment was thorough and terrifying. But the Lord alone will be exalted (Isaiah 2:11, 17, 5:16). Through His righteous judgment, His holiness is revealed. All evil will be eradicated, and every injustice will be rectified, like unraveling tangled threads.

As God's fierce wrath fell, mountains trembled, and corpses lay in the streets like refuse. It was a truly dreadful and horrific disaster upon Israel. Yet, that was not the end. Even then, the Lord’s anger did not subside, and His hand remained outstretched. His discipline was not yet complete. Until He had completely removed evil from among them, His wrath would not cease.

God’s Fierce Wrath is His Holy Love

This is not because God delights in anger but because He desires salvation through His holy love. How can God's wrath be an expression of His love? Injustice and evil must be judged. Even human courts punish crimes such as murder. Likewise, sin and wickedness cannot be tolerated. But all people are sinners; no one is righteous. Therefore, all are deserving of judgment as children of wrath.

God should have judged and condemned people, casting them into the fires of hell. However, He laid upon His beloved Son the punishment that people deserved. This was the only way for sinners to be saved—through the shedding of the innocent Son’s blood. God did not spare His only begotten Son but gave Him up to atone for the sins of the world. This demonstrates how seriously and righteously God regards sin.

Sin always has consequences. The saying, "You cannot escape the consequences of sin," is true. Adam’s sin resulted in death, just as God had declared: "You will certainly die" (Genesis 2:17). The cruel and agonizing punishment Jesus suffered on the cross was what we deserved for our sins. Because God is holy and just, He cannot overlook sin. Therefore, the forgiveness of sins is the most urgent necessity for all humanity.

God Desires No One to Perish, but All to be Saved

God’s wrath is like a brake warning that sin has consequences. If wrongdoing went unpunished, society would descend into lawlessness and disaster. Once God's final judgment is executed, there will be no turning back, and sinners will be cast into eternal fire. However, God does not want anyone to perish but desires all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). This is why He relentlessly reveals His wrath from heaven. It is an expression of His unchanging, holy love toward sinners.

No one enjoys rebuke or discipline. Even when one is at fault, being reprimanded is uncomfortable and heavy. In Scripture, God repeatedly rebuked, admonished, mourned, lamented, and warned the Israelites about destruction. In the book of Isaiah, there is not a single instance where God praises Israel. This is extremely rare in the entire Bible, with Hebrews 11 being one of the few chapters highlighting faithful predecessors.

In Deuteronomy 28, there are three to four times more curses than blessings. Why? Because of God's holy love. He does not want even one person to stumble but desires all to enjoy eternal blessings with Jesus Christ. Therefore, He disciplines and refines all who believe in Him. After experiencing God’s discipline, they will bear the peaceful fruit of righteousness and receive the crown of life (Hebrews 12:11, Revelation 2:10).

There is Only Darkness and Distress; Even the Sun Will be Darkened by Clouds

"26 He lifts up a banner for the distant nations, he whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Here they come, swiftly and speedily! 27 Not one of them grows tired or stumbles, not one slumbers or sleeps; not a belt is loosened at the waist, not a sandal strap is broken. 28 Their arrows are sharp, all their bows are strung; their horses’ hooves seem like flint, their chariot wheels like a whirlwind. 29 Their roar is like that of the lion, they roar like young lions; they growl as they seize their prey and carry it off with no one to rescue. 30 In that day they will roar over it like the roaring of the sea. And if one looks at the land, there is only darkness and distress; even the sun will be darkened by clouds." (Isaiah 5:26-30)

This depicts foreign armies invading Israel to devour it, leaving devastation. The land of Israel was covered in darkness and distress, with the light obscured by clouds. These refer to the armies of Assyria and Babylon. God used these nations as instruments of discipline for Israel, not because they were righteous, but as His tools of judgment. Eventually, their own sins increased, and they too faced God's judgment (Isaiah 14:24-27, 47:1-15).

God’s love is a painful love. Parents do not want to grieve or discourage their children, but they discipline them to lead them on the right path. How much more will our holy Heavenly Father discipline and refine His beloved children? Through God's discipline, our faith is refined, producing perseverance and hope in His kingdom (Romans 5:3-4)."

March 23, 2025
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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.