Isaiah 30:20-21 "And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: (21) And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."
We often hear someone saying, "It seems the Lord has just gone away from
me." In our everyday frame of mind and heart, we know that is not
true; yet, there are times when it can seem as if that is the case. The truth
of the matter is not that God has gone away from me; rather, I have walked away
from God. The verses previous to today's text speak to us of a people who
willingly disregarded the Word of God. In fact, they refused to hear the
prophets as they would speak to them. Remember? God told Isaiah to go speak to
the people but they would not listen to him. There are definite consequences
when anyone decides to walk away from God and go their own way. Today we read those
consequences are called "the bread of adversity and the water of
affliction." Just reading those words causes my heart and mind to
begin to shrink back. There is no Spiritual nutrition in the bread and water
that brings struggle. We know that it is not a literal bread and water. Our
spirits become dry when we are walking in the way of the world rather than
walking with the Lord. It is not a good place to be.
"Though the Lord give you..." those things, "yet your teachers
will not be removed into a corner." These words give to us the promise of
assurance that our God will never leave us nor forsake us. That promise is
given throughout the Bible and it is heartily reinforced in today's verses. But
it is in those moments of adversity and affliction that we must battle through
to the place where we can be still before the Lord. Yes, there is a verse that
speaks to us. "Be still, and know that I am God..." (Psalm 46:10) It
is in the quietness of those still moments that we realize the truth of God's
Word through Isaiah. "Thine eyes shall see thy teachers: And thine
ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it,
when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." God
has not left us, but we must close out the influence of society in order to
calmly listen for God. He has promised and He will provide the
instruction and direction that we need. "Be still, and know."