Isaiah 2:7-11 - Go into the rocks and hide in the ground

2:7-9

The land seemed to be rich. It had plenty of silver and gold, it had horses and chariots. But it was also full of idols, and people bowed down to the things that they had made. The result would be that God would bring them low. And Isaiah calls on God not to forgive them. We might think that that is not a very Christian attitude to have, but let’s put it another way. “Do not overlook their sin”. We are all too ready to overlook someone’s sin, and all too ready to expect God to overlook our sin. The gospel is not a matter of overlooking sin, but of dealing with sin. This above all else involved the cross, but it also involves the work of God in our lives. So if God is being merciful towards me then part of this will be that He deals with the sin in my life. And if you or I know someone who is not a Christian and we want God to show mercy to that person, then part of that showing mercy will involve God confronting them with their sin.

2:10,11

Revelation 6:15,16 also speaks of men hiding in rocks at the opening of the sixth seal. In order to have any chance of understanding Revelation it is essential to appreciate its Old Testament roots and imagery. Both here and in Revelation the key message is that ultimately me cannot escape the glory of God. For a time men may strut the earth, seeming to be dominant and getting their own way, and blaspheming God in the process, but there comes a point when they are brought face to face with reality. The glory of the Lord will overwhelm them, and all of us need to know this. In looking at the world we always need to be aware that the Lord is God, He alone has all power and authority.Man, for all his strutting about, boasting of his so-called wisdom and power, will be humbled. On that day the Lord alone shall be exalted.