Who’s Fault Is It?
Friday December 7, 2012
For Jerusalem will stumble, and Judah will fall, because they speak out against the Lord and refuse to obey him. They provoke him to his face. The very look on their faces gives them away. They display their sin like the people of Sodom and don’t even try to hide it. They are doomed! They have brought destruction upon themselves.
Tell the godly that all will be well for them. They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned! But the wicked are doomed, for they will get exactly what they deserve. Childish leaders oppress my people, and women rule over them. O my people, your leaders mislead you; they send you down the wrong road.
The Lord takes his place in court and presents his case against his people! The Lord comes forward to pronounce judgment on the elders and rulers of his people: "You have ruined Israel, my vineyard. Your houses are filled with things stolen from the poor. How dare you crush my people, grinding the faces of the poor into the dust?” demands the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. (Isaiah 3:8-15 NLT) It would be so easy today to read Isaiah's words and pass the blame for everything that's going wrong to the leaders, the politicians at federal, provincial, and local levels. That's certainly part of what is being said here. Those with power and influence have ruined others around them by their poor choices and their theft from those less powerful than themselves. All the while, the rich call on the poor to make sacrifices and work harder for less money. We hear these stories on the news every day from troubled times in Syria and austerity measures in Europe. We see the need for better housing in our own neighbourhoods and the need for necessary services such as dental care. God has a right to be angry with greedy selfish behaviour. God is right to judge that and to say that those who practice such things are doomed.
Before we raise our fist in the air and join the angry clamour condemning our leaders, we would do well to pause and look at our own attitudes and behaviours. God is speaking against all those who speak against Him and refuse to obey him, those who just go on doing what they know is wrong and don't even try to hide it. When's the last time we called telling lies a sin? Do we believe sex practiced outside of marriage is something God will judge? Spreading gossip can be compared to intentionally taking cancer cells and infecting as many people as possible. Expecting to be fed and taken care of by someone else, including the government, when we are able to work and care for ourselves, is the same as theft in God's eyes. Jesus says forgive and you will be forgiven. Living with bitter resentment towards a person does not invoke the blessings of God in our lives. We are guilty all day long of provoking God to his face and bringing destruction upon ourselves. We are ruining what God has given and God has a valid case against us. 
Advent is a time to remember that God calls us to come, no matter how dirty our sins have made us. Jesus promises to wash away our ugly sins, so we can approach God who is pure and holy. Today, let's get honest about our guilt before God. Let's invite Jesus to wash us again in His cleansing blood and run towards the God who promises that all will be well with us when we do.
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