S) "1 I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, 'Here am I, here am I,' To a nation which did not call on My name."
Isaiah 65:1 (NASB)
O) This passage goes on to describe how Israel had turned their backs on the LORD, so He gave them over to what they wanted: separation from Him. What they weren't expecting, were the consequential effects of that separation. Now, in this beginning verse, we see that God is clearly talking about a different people, different than the Israelites. That would be, Gentiles, who are anyone not descending from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This was clearly fulfilled in Christ Jesus, even if the rest of the chapter isn't necessarily fulfilled. While there have always been individual prostelytes, Gentiles didn't really ever seek the LORD, since they weren't taught to do so. Nevertheless, Jesus revealed the glory of God, to be seen by every nation, whether they were seeking Him or not.
A) My own experience is a little different, in that I grew up going to church as a young kid, and then I was serving God as a teenager, but when I reached adulthood, I slid away. Then the truth of this verse, and God's unchanging character were proven again. I was decidedly not seeking Him, when He revealed Himself to me again. The Holy Spirit called out to me, when I was losing myself. I couldn't see my way through my life. Everything seemed like it was as it should be, but I could see the end of it looming, threatening doom in my marriage, career, and life. But God called to me, saying He was still there. He had never left. This is the beauty of Romans 5:8, and God told us He would do it just like that, through Isaiah's words. This is the grace of the gospel, that draws me to repentance, worship, and service to the LORD my God.
P) Father, thank You for the faithfulness You display. Thank You for always remaining beside me, waiting for me to turn and discover You once more, even though I wasn't seeking You. Keep me, Father God, never let me depart again. It is a comfort to know that, as I now seek You, I will continue to find You. Let me reflect on the grace of the gospel, the grace of the prophecy, and the grace of Your character. May that meditation continue to draw me into genuine worship. Be glorified, in Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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