Isaiah 17:7,8 - Man will look to his maker

17:7,8

The purpose of all this is that people look to the Lord. “In that day ..” The people will look to God, the Holy One of Israel. They will no longer look to the altars that they had made, no longer make offerings to false gods. This prophecy has been talking about Damascus and Jacob. So who is it that is going to turn to the Lord? Both! One of the many features of Isaiah is the global nature of God’s work. One might ask is there not an easier way of doing this? Is all the suffering really necessary? Could God not find a better way? The answer has to be no, and in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus asked the same question, knowing there was no alternative. But in asking this question we are looking in the wrong direction, we are looking as if the problem lies with God. The problem lies with us. We are the ones who rebelled, we are the ones whose hearts are deceitful above all things. Until we come to grips with that problem we will never see the truth.