Unit 3: Courageous Prophets of Change
Isaiah: Offering Hope for the Future Bible Background • ISAIAH 29 Printed Text • ISAIAH 29:13-24 | Devotional Reading • JEREMIAH 29:10-14
AIM FOR CHANGE
By the end of this lesson, we will CONSIDER how God’s promise of mercy will triumph over God’s judgment, BELIEVE that an essential characteristic of God’s nature is forgiveness, and REJOICE in the manifestation of God’s love in our own lives.
IN FOCUS
Pamela was in a bind and needed help with an unexpected car repair, so she called in a favor from her friend Aisha who was always willing to lend a helping hand. What Pamela didn’t know was that Aisha was fed up with being her emergency fund and had already determined the next time she made one of her 9-1-1 calls for financial help she was not going to help. The reason: Pamela was not a good steward over her finances and was known for making poor choices. Aisha loved her friend but for her well-being and the sake of their friendship, she had to set that boundary. Also, Pamela was slow to return what she borrowed, and when she did, there was always an excuse for not repaying the full amount.
]She called Aisha and asked for a five hundred dollar loan and said: “I promise I will pay you back next week when I get paid. I will set it up to send electronically.” Aisha thought, “My Father in heaven is rich, but I am not your bank!” But instead, she responded, “Girl, I don’t have the full amount, but I will give you half. I am so sorry that’s all I can do right now.”
“I understand,” Pamela said, “I have been to your well too many times. I need to make changes.”
If someone was a repeat offender, would you continue to give your resources to help them?
FOCAL VERSES
KJV Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
17 Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
20 For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:
21 That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.
22 Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.
23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.
24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.