I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Isaiah 29-31.

Isaiah warns that sorrow will soon befall those who think that they can hide their evil plans from God,. They foolishly think that they can ignore God’s commands, but God is their Creator and can see what they think is hidden.  Further, Isaiah tells us that when God’s judgement comes on those people the deaf will hear and the blind will see.  It really seems to me that Isaiah is telling those in positions of power that the evil deeds which they think they have hidden away from the common people will soon be revealed.  The elites believe that they have hidden their crimes and evil actions from the common man so that they will never be exposed, but Isaiah tells us that such belief is foolish.  Their evil behavior is known to God, and He will reveal it for all of the world to see.

I am not sure what the connection is between this next section and the one I discussed in the previous paragraph.  Isaiah warns the people that sorrow awaits those who make plans contrary to God’s plans.  He refers to the alliance against Assyria which Judah entered into with Egypt, but such plans happen time and again through history.  Judah entered into that alliance without consulting God before doing so.  Isaiah tells them on behalf of God that they will get nothing in return for the gold they sent to Egypt.  I am reminded of the political alliance which politically active conservative Christians attempted to enter into with the Muslim community in the late 1990s.  Their logic was impeccable, but had two fatal flaws.  God does not call Christians to stop others from sinning.  He calls on them to be transformed by the Holy Spirit to stop sinning themselves, and then to witness to others how that transformation has made their lives better.  God does not desire for us to change people’s actions by changing the laws.  He calls on us to change people’s actions by transforming their hearts (or, more precisely, He calls on us to act as agents of His Holy Spirit, and He will transform their hearts).  Even today, too many Christians seek to change this country by changing its government instead of by transforming the hearts of its people.