July 29

Isaiah 54-58
This section is filled with Messianic prophecies, as well as, instruction and explanations.  Through His man, Isaiah, God reveals aspects of Himself that are useful to His followers, and, if heeded, to those in rebellion.  I found one phrase particularly fascinating to me: “. . . the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.”  We often wonder why it seems that the good die young.  Well, this is one possible reason.  I lost my brother at a very young age.  He was twelve days short of ten when leukemia took his life.  We were extremely close, being just nine months and seven days apart in age.  When we found out that he was going to die, I pleaded with God to let me take his place, because Gene was such a good person.  I felt like he was a much better boy than I, and that he deserved life more than I did.  As I grew up through the turbulent sixties, I began to see that it was a far better thing for Gene to not have had to go through the turmoil.  The more I witness our nation sinking further into degradation, the more I realize that my little brother is the fortunate one, for he has been spared from evil.  This passage fits so well.  Indeed,  the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil!