Isaiah 10:1-4 – A Hand Stretched Out
We see here, in the beginning of chapter ten, that oppression abounds. We read about the nature of this sin of oppression here. It’s making unjust laws that call the evil good and good evil. Why do the wicked want to do this? The aim of this oppression is to remove the rights of the poor, as we see here in these first four verses, as defined by God’s Word, and to get more and more power and more and more wealth, and to grind down the powerless in order to exalt themselves. What will come of all this oppression? What’s the end of the sin? We see here a day of reckoning, a day of judgment, a day of making things right. Disaster will come and they will have no place to escape it, no place of safety, no one to help.
God is not satisfied until and unless all is paid for. His hand is stretched out still. What hope is there? What hope is there for any sinner? What hope is there for any sinful society, people, culture, nation? For must we not acknowledge that God, by rights, might justly destroy us? But in the councils of eternity, God wanted to show that He was holy, and righteous, and just, that he could not stand sin. He wanted to show His love, mercy, kindness, and grace. So in that council of eternity, God decided to save to Himself a people. So when Jesus came to earth, He lived perfectly. He was and is God’s priest. But He offered His own blood. There at the cross, God’s anger was not turned away, but His hand was stretched out still until Jesus paid to the last. It was then that the anger of God was ended. It was then that his hand rested. If you are in Jesus Christ, there is no longer any anger to be turned away. It was turned away by your Saviour there at the cross, who bore it Himself. A hand is stretched out, but it’s not in judgment. It is a Father taking hold and drawing you in, His beloved child. Chapter 10 verse 4 is not the end of the story. The wicked are destroyed, but so is sin. And the wonderful grace of God is that which ends up shining forth.
Questions
- What will come of oppression?
- Who has perfectly satisfied God’s judgement?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks for the salvation we have in Christ.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.