Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by Him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 NRSV.

Worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water. Revelation 14:7 NKJV.

I don’t think we can truly understand the need for or the concept of surrendering all we are to Creator God – Father…Son…Spirit, until we realize how wrong our ideas are and that true life-giving wisdom does not originate with us. I have been fortunate to receive God’s correction. It brings me out of my inward place of self-righteousness and hardness. Yesterday in a group text we were asked to pray for a friend who opted to stay during a massive hurricane heading their way. I was irritated they didn’t heed warnings and put themselves and rescue workers in harms way. God gently asked me this morning if it was truly a hardship for me to pray for them? Was I being put out because I thought they didn’t deserve prayer, as though the help itself was mine to grant? And I had to ask myself, how dare I? We think we understand but look how much I miss when I don’t trust God, and blindly go my own way. His correction in me is always needed for my good in Him.

And reading our chapter, Isaiah 28, resonated for the same reasons. We think we know best and we grow irritated at any suggestion we should obey God or anyone else. “Who is it he is trying to teach? To whom is he explaining his message? To children weaned from their milk, to those just taken from the breast? For it is: Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a little there.” v. 9-10. The people of Judah and Israel then didn’t want to listen to the prophets or receive correction from God. So what did God say? Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people, to whom He said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose” – but they would not listen. So then, the word of the Lord to them will become: Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a little there – so that as they go they will fall backward; they will be injured and snared and captured. v. 11-13. Because they didn’t want to believe the truth God gives…Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem. You boast, “We have entered into a covenant with death, with the realm of the dead we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.” v. 14-15. They trusted others in their fear of the Assyrians. It didn’t save them. God knew it wouldn’t. So this is what the Sovereign Lord says, “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place. Your covenant with death will be annulled; your agreement with the realm of the dead will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by, you will be beaten down by it. As often as it comes it will carry you away; morning after morning, by day and by night, it will sweep through. v. 16-19.

In being willing to receive correction, I am enabled to see where I am wrong. The hardness in my heart is exposed. I thought I understood where I was indulging in self-righteousness…but there was more. This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth….But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7. How can we walk in the light if we cling to the darkness…a lie…a falsehood? Just as I cannot fathom how God created all that is, I cannot fathom the truth of His love and will without His wisdom guiding me. If you are willing, you will find His correction is gentle and always for your good in Him. Why surrender all to God? Because I need Him!