If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea. (Isaiah 48:18)In these chapters the writer, speaking for Yahweh, makes it clear that Babylon was his tool, employed to discipline Judah, not to destroy it (47:6). Her harshness toward Judah will result in her own punishment. The virgin daughter of Babylon will live as a princess no longer (47:1).
Then God explains to those who will listen: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you (48:17). He says that if Judah had listened in the first place, the discipline enacted upon it would not have been necessary. How many times have we said that to our kids? How many times have we heard that ourselves?
The fruit of discipline is obedience. The fruit of obedience is peace. Therefore, when God disciplines us, he really is doing it for our own good.
It seems to be our nature to challenge the limits. As long as we think we can get away with it, we'll try. But just like we can't play with fire very long without getting burned, we cannot go on living in disobedience without paying the consequences.
Better to live according to God's plan and know peace than to struggle against what we perceive as restraints, but are really boundaries for our protection.
Have you ever had to admit that God really does know best?
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