1.1 I’d like to begin by talking about how we define the words we use. As Christians, the way we define terms like ‘Blessing’ or ‘Grace’ actually shapes our entire spiritual journey.

1.2 Growing up in the Korean church, I remember there was a strong emphasis on a specific kind of 'Blessing.' We were often taught that if you have faith, you will succeed, gain wealth, and live a peaceful life. We looked at mega-churches and the prosperity of Western nations as the ultimate 'models' of God’s blessing. We thought, 'They are doing well, so God must be with them.' But we have to ask ourselves: Is outward success really the true measure of a blessing? I’ve been reflecting on this quite a bit during my ordination mentoring sessions. My mentor, Pastor Peter, said something last Wednesday that really moved me. He said:

'Grace is not a commodity. It’s not a tool or a means to get what we want. Grace is the gift of God that transforms us into the image of Christ and empowers us to fulfill our calling.- Hay. P. (2015) Footprints in the Water, ch 8

1.3 When we treat Grace as a 'means to an end,' we come to worship just to 'fill up' on good feelings. We look for a spiritual 'high' or a special experience to consume. But true Grace and true Blessing are not about filling our pockets or our emotions; they are about emptying ourselves to accept a new identity in Jesus. This is exactly what happened to the people of Israel in Isaiah Chapter 2. They were 'filled' with everything the world defines as a blessing—wealth, power, and influence—yet they were walking in darkness. Let’s read Isaiah 2:1-6 together and see why being 'full' of the wrong things can actually lead us away from the Light.

Isaiah 2:1–2 ESV

The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,

Isaiah 2:3–4 ESV

and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

Isaiah 2:5–6 ESV

O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord. For you have rejected your people, the house of Jacob, because they are full of things from the east and of fortune-tellers like the Philistines, and they strike hands with the children of foreigners.

2.1 To truly understand Isaiah Chapter 2, we need to look past the usual headings in our Bibles. Most translations separate verses 1 through 5 as a 'Vision of Hope' and verses 6 through 22 as a 'Message of Judgment.' This can make it feel like we’re reading two completely different stories.

2.2 However, I’d like to invite you to see this chapter as one unified narrative. When we read it as a whole, a powerful and challenging truth emerges. In verse 6, where it says, 'For you have rejected your people,' it isn’t describing a random change in God’s heart. Instead, it reveals the heartbreaking result of 'Self-Rejection.' The people of Israel didn’t just break a few rules; they abandoned their very identity as God’s people. They filled their lives with 'things from the east'—the trends of the world; with 'fortune-tellers'—human wisdom and schemes; and with 'silver and gold'—material pride and security. By filling themselves with these worldly substitutes, they were essentially saying, 'We don't want to be Your people anymore.' In a sense, they rejected their own identity before God ever 'rejected' them. I want to share my translation of Isaiah 2:1-10. 

This is the message that Isaiah, son of Amoz, received regarding Judah and Jerusalem. In the future, the Lord’s house will become the most important place in the world, standing high above everything else. People from every nation will gather there. They will encourage each other, saying, 'Let’s go to the Lord’s mountain and visit God’s house. 

He will teach us how to live, and we will follow His path.' His teachings will spread from Jerusalem to the whole world. God will settle arguments between nations and bring peace. People will turn their weapons into tools for farming; they won't fight anymore or even train for war. So, let’s walk in the Lord's light together. 

Right now, however, people have turned away from God. They’ve filled their lives with superstitions and symbols of wealth like silver, gold, and expensive chariots. They even worship things they made with their own hands. Because of this pride, they will be humbled. When God reveals His greatness, people will try to hide because they are afraid. (Translated by Frankie)

2.3 To take a closer look at this verse, I’d like to share an insight from the original texts that makes this message even richer. If we look at the traditional Hebrew Bible, Isaiah cries out directly to God, saying, 'For You have rejected Your people.' This perspective focuses on the consequence of their sin. It shows a God who, in His holy judgment, has finally stepped back because His people refused to follow Him.

2.4 However, if we look at the Septuagint—the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament—there is an interesting difference. It suggests that 'He' (meaning Israel) has abandoned his own people. This lends even more weight to the idea of 'Self-Rejection' I mentioned earlier. It implies that the people themselves threw away their own identity long before any judgment arrived. But here is the most important point: Whether we read it as God rejecting them or the people rejecting their own identity, the root cause is exactly the same. The tragedy happened because their focus had shifted entirely away from God. Whether the rejection was divine or self-inflicted, the reason was that they had filled their lives with three things:

1. The trends of the world (Worldly influences)

2. The schemes of man (Human wisdom)

3. The obsession with possessions (Material wealth)

Regardless of who did the 'rejecting,' the darkness came because they were full of the world and empty of the Light.

2.5 So, as we walk through this text today, we are going to look at three specific ways they abandoned their identity. But more importantly, we will see how God uses even the 'humbling' of judgment to call us back to our true home. We will find that 'Walking in the Light' (v. 5) isn't a new burden to carry, but a return to our true identity in Jesus Christ—the light that the world cannot give, and the world cannot take away.

Point 1: Cultural Conformity — Following the Crowd Instead of the Light

The Allure of the "East"

3.1 The first reason Isaiah gives for this spiritual crisis is that the people were "full of things from the east." To understand this, we have to look at what the "East" represented back then. Countries like Assyria and Babylon were the superpowers of that time. They were the centers of fashion, philosophy, and what people considered "modern" lifestyles. To the people of Judah, these "things from the east" weren't just strange rituals; they were the latest trends. They represented what it meant to be "successful" and "relevant" in the world.

The Trap of Being "Like Everyone Else"

3.2 Why is this a problem? Because the more they filled their lives with the culture around them, the more they lost their unique identity as God’s people. They thought they were simply "adapting" or "growing," but in reality, they were just conforming. They wanted the same luxuries, the same social status, and the same lifestyle as everyone else. This is the first step of self-rejection. When we try so hard to look like everyone else, we are essentially saying that our identity in God isn’t enough. We trade being "set apart" for the comfort of "fitting in."

The Secular Flow

3.3 Today, we might not be looking to the ancient "East," but we are constantly pressured by the "secular flow" around us. We see it in how we define success, how we spend our time, and what we value in our families. We often hear, "Everyone else is doing it," or "This is how you get ahead these days." Sometimes, we even call it a "blessing" when we finally manage to fit into the mainstream.

3.4 But we have to ask ourselves: Are we becoming a better version of the world, or are we becoming more like Jesus? If our values and priorities are exactly the same as the world around us, we haven't been blessed—we’ve just blended in. We’ve given up our calling to be a "City on a Hill" to be just another house in the valley. As Paul warns us in Romans 12:2, 

Romans 12:1–2 NLT

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

3.5 I remember my time back in seminary in Korea. Even in a place meant for training servants of God, that 'secular flow' was very much present. I saw many students whose ultimate dream wasn't just to serve, but to become the leader of a 'mega-church.' To them, ministry often felt synonymous with worldly success. They believed that reaching the top of a large institution was the ultimate proof of God’s blessing. It wasn’t just the students; it was the culture around us. I remember how, at the time, pastors were often considered the 'top choice' for marriage. Why? Because on the outside, they looked respectable in their sharp suits and held authority behind the pulpit. If they were in a large church, they seemed to have financial stability. It was more about the image than the heart.

3.6 This is a clear example of what happens when we define God’s work through the lens of worldly trends. When we mix God’s calling with the world’s version of 'success,' we create a hybrid faith. I have seen the tragic results of this far too many times: when life gets hard or trials come, people with this kind of faith are often the first to abandon God and choose the world’s way to survive. If our idea of 'blessing' is built on worldly trends, it will crumble when the world shakes. We must be careful never to mix the holy work of God with the fleeting fashions of this world. We simply cannot walk in the Light while keeping one foot in the 'East.'

Point 2: Human Wisdom — Trusting in Schemes Instead of the Spirit

The Quest for Control

4.1 The second indicator of this spiritual decline is found in verse 6: "they are full... of fortune-tellers like the Philistines." Why do people go to fortune-tellers? It is because of fear. We want to know the future so we can control it. The Philistines were known for their divination, searching for "signs" to tell them when to move or when to hide. The people of God, who had the living Word and the presence of the Spirit, chose instead to rely on human predictions and "expert" calculations.

4.2 Isaiah adds another detail: "they strike hands with the children of foreigners." In the biblical context, "striking hands" refers to making treaties, business deals, or unholy alliances. They were networking and making strategic partnerships based on human logic and mutual interest rather than trusting in God's covenant. They believed that their survival depended on who they knew and how clever their contracts were. They chose the "wisdom of the world" over the "wisdom of the cross."

4.3 Again, we see the theme of "Self-Rejection." When we rely on our own schemes, we are saying, "God, Your ways are too slow, and Your Word is too simple. I need a strategy that actually works in the real world." We often mistake our cleverness for God's anointing. We call it a "blessing" when our human plans succeed, when our networking pays off, or when we manage to "game the system" to our advantage.

4.4 Today, this looks like a life driven by anxiety and calculated risks rather than faith and obedience. We see it even in the church, where we sometimes prioritize "management techniques" and "marketing strategies" over prayer and the movement of the Holy Spirit. If our first instinct when facing a crisis is to look at our spreadsheets or our social networks rather than falling to our knees, we are "striking hands with foreigners." We are relying on a wisdom that cannot save. As James 3:17 reminds us, true wisdom is first of all pure, then peace-loving and full of mercy. Walking in the light means letting go of the steering wheel and trusting the One who already knows the end from the beginning.

Point 3: Material Pride — Relying on What We Have Instead of Who We Are

5.1 The third way Israel rejected their identity was by relying on wealth and power. Verse 7 says their land was "filled with silver and gold" and "filled with horses and chariots." In any other situation, we would call this a "Golden Age." Usually, when a nation has a thriving economy and a strong military, we say they are "blessed." But in Isaiah’s eyes, this abundance was actually a spiritual trap.

5.2 Why was it a trap? Because they forgot the difference between the Gift and the Giver. They looked at their wealth and their "chariots" and felt a false sense of security. They no longer felt the need to pray for "daily bread" because their barns were already full. They didn't feel the need for God’s protection because their army was strong. This is the ultimate form of self-rejection: when we become so satisfied with what we have that we forget whose we are. We trade being "children of God" for the illusion of "self-made success."

5.3 Isaiah makes a striking point in verse 8: "Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands." This is the irony of material pride. We work hard, we build a career, and we grow our bank accounts—but then we end up worshipping the very things we created. We become slaves to our own success. We spend all our energy protecting our "chariots," and in doing so, we walk further away from the Light.

5.4 In our lives today, our "chariots" might be our investments, our homes, or our professional reputations. There is nothing inherently wrong with these things. The danger starts when these things become our identity. If we feel like we’ve lost our soul just because we lost a job or an investment, it means we’ve turned it into an idol. To walk in the Light is to realize that our true security doesn't come from what we hold in our hands, but from the One who holds us in His hands.

Conclusion: From Self-Rejection to Divine Acceptance

6.1 As we look at the rest of Isaiah 2, the tone seems quite harsh. It talks about "lofty trees" being brought low and high walls falling down. But we must see this through the "lens of Grace." If our "blessings"—our trends, our schemes, and our wealth—have blinded us, then God, in His mercy, sometimes takes them away so we can see again. God doesn't humble us to destroy us; He does it to strip away "fake grace" so we can receive the True Grace.

6.2 The invitation from verse 5 is still open to us today: "Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord." Walking in the Light is an act of acceptance. It is accepting that we are not defined by the world’s trends, our own cleverness, or our success. We are defined by the Light of Jesus Christ.

6.3 This week, I challenge you to look at your life. What are you "full" of? Is it worldly trends, human schemes, or material "chariots"? Let’s empty our hands of the idols we’ve made. Let’s stop trusting in fragile human strength and return to our true home. Let’s walk together in the Light, where our true identity is found, and where we find the grace that truly transforms us into the image of Christ.

January 18 2026

Frankie / General Adult

The Blessing that Blinds: Reclaiming Our Identity in the Light: Isaiah 2:1-6

1.1 I’d like to begin by talking about how we define the words we use. As Christians, the way we define terms like ‘Blessing’ or ‘Grace’ actually shapes our entire spiritual journey.

1.2 Growing up in the Korean church, I remember there was a strong emphasis on a specific kind of 'Blessing.' We were often taught that if you have faith, you will succeed, gain wealth, and live a peaceful life. We looked at mega-churches and the prosperity of Western nations as the ultimate 'models' of God’s blessing. We thought, 'They are doing well, so God must be with them.' But we have to ask ourselves: Is outward success really the true measure of a blessing? I’ve been reflecting on this quite a bit during my ordination mentoring sessions. My mentor, Pastor Peter, said something last Wednesday that really moved me. He said:

'Grace is not a commodity. It’s not a tool or a means to get what we want. Grace is the gift of God that transforms us into the image of Christ and empowers us to fulfill our calling.- Hay. P. (2015) Footprints in the Water, ch 8

1.3 When we treat Grace as a 'means to an end,' we come to worship just to 'fill up' on good feelings. We look for a spiritual 'high' or a special experience to consume. But true Grace and true Blessing are not about filling our pockets or our emotions; they are about emptying ourselves to accept a new identity in Jesus. This is exactly what happened to the people of Israel in Isaiah Chapter 2. They were 'filled' with everything the world defines as a blessing—wealth, power, and influence—yet they were walking in darkness. Let’s read Isaiah 2:1-6 together and see why being 'full' of the wrong things can actually lead us away from the Light.

Isaiah 2:1–2 ESV

The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,

Isaiah 2:3–4 ESV

and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

Isaiah 2:5–6 ESV

O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord. For you have rejected your people, the house of Jacob, because they are full of things from the east and of fortune-tellers like the Philistines, and they strike hands with the children of foreigners.

2.1 To truly understand Isaiah Chapter 2, we need to look past the usual headings in our Bibles. Most translations separate verses 1 through 5 as a 'Vision of Hope' and verses 6 through 22 as a 'Message of Judgment.' This can make it feel like we’re reading two completely different stories.

2.2 However, I’d like to invite you to see this chapter as one unified narrative. When we read it as a whole, a powerful and challenging truth emerges. In verse 6, where it says, 'For you have rejected your people,' it isn’t describing a random change in God’s heart. Instead, it reveals the heartbreaking result of 'Self-Rejection.' The people of Israel didn’t just break a few rules; they abandoned their very identity as God’s people. They filled their lives with 'things from the east'—the trends of the world; with 'fortune-tellers'—human wisdom and schemes; and with 'silver and gold'—material pride and security. By filling themselves with these worldly substitutes, they were essentially saying, 'We don't want to be Your people anymore.' In a sense, they rejected their own identity before God ever 'rejected' them. I want to share my translation of Isaiah 2:1-10. 

This is the message that Isaiah, son of Amoz, received regarding Judah and Jerusalem. In the future, the Lord’s house will become the most important place in the world, standing high above everything else. People from every nation will gather there. They will encourage each other, saying, 'Let’s go to the Lord’s mountain and visit God’s house. 

He will teach us how to live, and we will follow His path.' His teachings will spread from Jerusalem to the whole world. God will settle arguments between nations and bring peace. People will turn their weapons into tools for farming; they won't fight anymore or even train for war. So, let’s walk in the Lord's light together. 

Right now, however, people have turned away from God. They’ve filled their lives with superstitions and symbols of wealth like silver, gold, and expensive chariots. They even worship things they made with their own hands. Because of this pride, they will be humbled. When God reveals His greatness, people will try to hide because they are afraid. (Translated by Frankie)

2.3 To take a closer look at this verse, I’d like to share an insight from the original texts that makes this message even richer. If we look at the traditional Hebrew Bible, Isaiah cries out directly to God, saying, 'For You have rejected Your people.' This perspective focuses on the consequence of their sin. It shows a God who, in His holy judgment, has finally stepped back because His people refused to follow Him.

2.4 However, if we look at the Septuagint—the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament—there is an interesting difference. It suggests that 'He' (meaning Israel) has abandoned his own people. This lends even more weight to the idea of 'Self-Rejection' I mentioned earlier. It implies that the people themselves threw away their own identity long before any judgment arrived. But here is the most important point: Whether we read it as God rejecting them or the people rejecting their own identity, the root cause is exactly the same. The tragedy happened because their focus had shifted entirely away from God. Whether the rejection was divine or self-inflicted, the reason was that they had filled their lives with three things:

1. The trends of the world (Worldly influences)

2. The schemes of man (Human wisdom)

3. The obsession with possessions (Material wealth)

Regardless of who did the 'rejecting,' the darkness came because they were full of the world and empty of the Light.

2.5 So, as we walk through this text today, we are going to look at three specific ways they abandoned their identity. But more importantly, we will see how God uses even the 'humbling' of judgment to call us back to our true home. We will find that 'Walking in the Light' (v. 5) isn't a new burden to carry, but a return to our true identity in Jesus Christ—the light that the world cannot give, and the world cannot take away.

Point 1: Cultural Conformity — Following the Crowd Instead of the Light

The Allure of the "East"

3.1 The first reason Isaiah gives for this spiritual crisis is that the people were "full of things from the east." To understand this, we have to look at what the "East" represented back then. Countries like Assyria and Babylon were the superpowers of that time. They were the centers of fashion, philosophy, and what people considered "modern" lifestyles. To the people of Judah, these "things from the east" weren't just strange rituals; they were the latest trends. They represented what it meant to be "successful" and "relevant" in the world.

The Trap of Being "Like Everyone Else"

3.2 Why is this a problem? Because the more they filled their lives with the culture around them, the more they lost their unique identity as God’s people. They thought they were simply "adapting" or "growing," but in reality, they were just conforming. They wanted the same luxuries, the same social status, and the same lifestyle as everyone else. This is the first step of self-rejection. When we try so hard to look like everyone else, we are essentially saying that our identity in God isn’t enough. We trade being "set apart" for the comfort of "fitting in."

The Secular Flow

3.3 Today, we might not be looking to the ancient "East," but we are constantly pressured by the "secular flow" around us. We see it in how we define success, how we spend our time, and what we value in our families. We often hear, "Everyone else is doing it," or "This is how you get ahead these days." Sometimes, we even call it a "blessing" when we finally manage to fit into the mainstream.

3.4 But we have to ask ourselves: Are we becoming a better version of the world, or are we becoming more like Jesus? If our values and priorities are exactly the same as the world around us, we haven't been blessed—we’ve just blended in. We’ve given up our calling to be a "City on a Hill" to be just another house in the valley. As Paul warns us in Romans 12:2, 

Romans 12:1–2 NLT

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

3.5 I remember my time back in seminary in Korea. Even in a place meant for training servants of God, that 'secular flow' was very much present. I saw many students whose ultimate dream wasn't just to serve, but to become the leader of a 'mega-church.' To them, ministry often felt synonymous with worldly success. They believed that reaching the top of a large institution was the ultimate proof of God’s blessing. It wasn’t just the students; it was the culture around us. I remember how, at the time, pastors were often considered the 'top choice' for marriage. Why? Because on the outside, they looked respectable in their sharp suits and held authority behind the pulpit. If they were in a large church, they seemed to have financial stability. It was more about the image than the heart.

3.6 This is a clear example of what happens when we define God’s work through the lens of worldly trends. When we mix God’s calling with the world’s version of 'success,' we create a hybrid faith. I have seen the tragic results of this far too many times: when life gets hard or trials come, people with this kind of faith are often the first to abandon God and choose the world’s way to survive. If our idea of 'blessing' is built on worldly trends, it will crumble when the world shakes. We must be careful never to mix the holy work of God with the fleeting fashions of this world. We simply cannot walk in the Light while keeping one foot in the 'East.'

Point 2: Human Wisdom — Trusting in Schemes Instead of the Spirit

The Quest for Control

4.1 The second indicator of this spiritual decline is found in verse 6: "they are full... of fortune-tellers like the Philistines." Why do people go to fortune-tellers? It is because of fear. We want to know the future so we can control it. The Philistines were known for their divination, searching for "signs" to tell them when to move or when to hide. The people of God, who had the living Word and the presence of the Spirit, chose instead to rely on human predictions and "expert" calculations.

4.2 Isaiah adds another detail: "they strike hands with the children of foreigners." In the biblical context, "striking hands" refers to making treaties, business deals, or unholy alliances. They were networking and making strategic partnerships based on human logic and mutual interest rather than trusting in God's covenant. They believed that their survival depended on who they knew and how clever their contracts were. They chose the "wisdom of the world" over the "wisdom of the cross."

4.3 Again, we see the theme of "Self-Rejection." When we rely on our own schemes, we are saying, "God, Your ways are too slow, and Your Word is too simple. I need a strategy that actually works in the real world." We often mistake our cleverness for God's anointing. We call it a "blessing" when our human plans succeed, when our networking pays off, or when we manage to "game the system" to our advantage.

4.4 Today, this looks like a life driven by anxiety and calculated risks rather than faith and obedience. We see it even in the church, where we sometimes prioritize "management techniques" and "marketing strategies" over prayer and the movement of the Holy Spirit. If our first instinct when facing a crisis is to look at our spreadsheets or our social networks rather than falling to our knees, we are "striking hands with foreigners." We are relying on a wisdom that cannot save. As James 3:17 reminds us, true wisdom is first of all pure, then peace-loving and full of mercy. Walking in the light means letting go of the steering wheel and trusting the One who already knows the end from the beginning.

Point 3: Material Pride — Relying on What We Have Instead of Who We Are

5.1 The third way Israel rejected their identity was by relying on wealth and power. Verse 7 says their land was "filled with silver and gold" and "filled with horses and chariots." In any other situation, we would call this a "Golden Age." Usually, when a nation has a thriving economy and a strong military, we say they are "blessed." But in Isaiah’s eyes, this abundance was actually a spiritual trap.

5.2 Why was it a trap? Because they forgot the difference between the Gift and the Giver. They looked at their wealth and their "chariots" and felt a false sense of security. They no longer felt the need to pray for "daily bread" because their barns were already full. They didn't feel the need for God’s protection because their army was strong. This is the ultimate form of self-rejection: when we become so satisfied with what we have that we forget whose we are. We trade being "children of God" for the illusion of "self-made success."

5.3 Isaiah makes a striking point in verse 8: "Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands." This is the irony of material pride. We work hard, we build a career, and we grow our bank accounts—but then we end up worshipping the very things we created. We become slaves to our own success. We spend all our energy protecting our "chariots," and in doing so, we walk further away from the Light.

5.4 In our lives today, our "chariots" might be our investments, our homes, or our professional reputations. There is nothing inherently wrong with these things. The danger starts when these things become our identity. If we feel like we’ve lost our soul just because we lost a job or an investment, it means we’ve turned it into an idol. To walk in the Light is to realize that our true security doesn't come from what we hold in our hands, but from the One who holds us in His hands.

Conclusion: From Self-Rejection to Divine Acceptance

6.1 As we look at the rest of Isaiah 2, the tone seems quite harsh. It talks about "lofty trees" being brought low and high walls falling down. But we must see this through the "lens of Grace." If our "blessings"—our trends, our schemes, and our wealth—have blinded us, then God, in His mercy, sometimes takes them away so we can see again. God doesn't humble us to destroy us; He does it to strip away "fake grace" so we can receive the True Grace.

6.2 The invitation from verse 5 is still open to us today: "Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord." Walking in the Light is an act of acceptance. It is accepting that we are not defined by the world’s trends, our own cleverness, or our success. We are defined by the Light of Jesus Christ.

6.3 This week, I challenge you to look at your life. What are you "full" of? Is it worldly trends, human schemes, or material "chariots"? Let’s empty our hands of the idols we’ve made. Let’s stop trusting in fragile human strength and return to our true home. Let’s walk together in the Light, where our true identity is found, and where we find the grace that truly transforms us into the image of Christ.

Short-Answer Quiz

Instructions: Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences, based on the provided source material.

1. According to Pastor Peter's quote, what is the true definition of "Grace," and how does it contrast with the idea of grace as a "commodity"?

2. What is the central argument of "Self-Rejection" as it relates to the people of Israel in Isaiah 2?

3. The analysis of Isaiah 2:6 states that the people of Israel filled their lives with three specific types of worldly substitutes. What are they?

4. In the context of Isaiah's time, what did being "full of things from the east" represent, and why was it a spiritual problem?

5. What is the modern-day equivalent of being "full of things from the east," referred to in the text as the "secular flow"?

6. Explain the spiritual significance of Israel being "full of fortune-tellers like the Philistines" and "striking hands with the children of foreigners."

7. Why was Israel's abundance of "silver and gold" and "horses and chariots" considered a spiritual trap rather than a blessing?

8. How does the interpretation of Isaiah 2:6 differ between the traditional Hebrew Bible and the Septuagint, and what is the common root cause in both readings?

9. According to the conclusion, how can God's humbling judgment be viewed through a "lens of Grace"?

10. What does the invitation "Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord" (Isaiah 2:5) mean in the context of this analysis?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Answer Key

1. Grace is not a commodity or a tool to get what we want, but rather the gift of God that transforms us into the image of Christ and empowers our calling. This contrasts with treating grace as a "means to an end" or a spiritual "high" to be consumed for good feelings.

2. The argument is that the people of Israel abandoned their very identity as God's people before any divine judgment occurred. By filling their lives with worldly substitutes for security and meaning, they were essentially saying they no longer wanted to be God's people.

3. The people of Israel filled their lives with three worldly substitutes: the trends of the world (worldly influences), the schemes of man (human wisdom), and the obsession with possessions (material wealth).

4. "Things from the east" represented the trends and "modern" lifestyles of the superpowers of the time, such as Assyria and Babylon. It was a spiritual problem because by conforming to this culture to seem "successful," the people of Judah lost their unique identity as God's people.

5. The modern-day equivalent is the "secular flow," which pressures individuals to adopt the world's definitions of success, values, and priorities. This can lead to a "hybrid faith" where God's calling is mixed with the world's version of success.

6. Relying on "fortune-tellers" signifies a fear-driven desire to control the future through human predictions rather than trusting in God's word. "Striking hands with foreigners" refers to making unholy alliances and strategic partnerships based on human logic and mutual interest, choosing the "wisdom of the world" over God's covenant.

7. This material abundance was a spiritual trap because it created a false sense of security, causing the people to forget the difference between the Gift and the Giver. They became so satisfied with what they had that they forgot whose they were, ultimately worshipping the things they had created.

8. The Hebrew Bible suggests God rejected His people as a consequence of their sin, while the Septuagint suggests the people (Israel) abandoned their own identity. Despite this difference, the root cause is the same: their focus had shifted entirely away from God and onto worldly things.

9. God's humbling judgment is seen as a merciful act to strip away the "fake grace" and blinding "blessings" of the world, such as wealth and worldly success. By taking these things away, God allows people to see again and receive True Grace.

10. "Walking in the Light" is an act of acceptance—accepting that true identity is not defined by worldly trends, human cleverness, or material success. It is a return to a true identity found only in the Light of Jesus Christ.